Officials feeling safe during pandemic
Without officials, there are no games. So what is happening with Arizona Interscholastic Association’s officials during the coronavirus pandemic.
Are they on board?
Will they feel safe?
Brian Gessner, commissioner of officials for the AIA, said there is no panic as far as having enough officials to work the football, volleyball and badminton games, and the cross country and swimming and diving and golf events this fall as the AIA attempts to return to sports after cutting the spring shorts short in mid-March.
“Numbers are good, right on course,” Gessner said. “It’s encouraging. A lot of it has to to do with the economy. When the economy goes bad, we know that officials are looking to earn extra money. That’s happening. I don’t know what the attrition rate is going to be.”
Gessner said that some officials have said they’re going to sit out this year and wait out a vaccine.
But he has seen the registration process and feels encouraged enough referees will be working high school sporting events across the state.
“We are expecting a tremendous impact,” Gessner said. “As soon as we know we’re playing games, we’ll have a huge impact on officials registrations. There are 600 pending officials who started the registration process but not completed it yet.
“I think they’re waiting.” On Wednesday, the AIA Executive Board is expected to give the final timeline to fall football. Right now, the season is set to open Sept. 30 with most opening games falling on Oct. 2.
Teams are waiting to get the final clearances from their school districts to start official practices with helmets on Sept. 7.
Golf matches have finished the first week of the season. Cross country meets begin Sept. 12 with swimming and diving on Sept. 17.
Gessner said expect to see a five-ball rotation for volleyball, instead of a three-ball rotation with constant sanitizing.
For football, there will be masks worn on sidelines and officials will wear masks but it won’t be required for all officials. Some officials may have a harder time breathing in a mask. Gloves could be worn. Officials will have their own water bottles stationed on the sidelines.
Timeouts may run a little longer for water breaks players and officials having their own water bottles.
There will be electronic whistles. Refs will stay in the end zone for pregame and halftime and will be asked not to carpool, Gessner said.
Gessner said the keyword this fall for everybody will be “flexibility.” He wants to make sure there is lots of flexibility officiating games this school year with all safeguards taken from schools and officials.
He said in basketball there is a possibility the tip-off to open games will be eliminated. They may just go with the visiting team inbounding to start games and going with alternating possessions from there.
Gessner understands that referees sometimes are given a bad rap, but he is impressed by the commitment he has seen with his officials.
He said written pandemic safe protocols have been sent to all of the state’s high school officials.
“Some officials feel comfortable officiating,” Gessner said. “Others are taking precautions.
“A small number said they’re going to take the year off. More guys say they’re going to wait and see if they’re going to play.”
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