High school officials faced unique challenges this season
For the first time in 30 years, Steve Richetelli did not officiate high school hockey.
Partly because his new work schedule did not allow the time, but mainly because he believed it would have been too hard to balance focusing on game rules and regulations on top of mandating COVID-19 protocols.
Officiating wouldn’t just be about playing the game, but would now include the responsibility of monitoring players and coaches in following safety protocols and proper mask-wearing.
“I thought I would be more preoccupied reffing worrying about making sure all the kids were doing what they were supposed to be doing than worrying about the game,” said Richetelli, the CIAC ice hockey official representative.
Richetelli is just one of many officials across various sports in Connecticut who chose to opt out of officiating this season due to concerns around the virus and its protocols among high school athletics.
The absence of officials during the 2020-21 school year has forced board associations to assign officials to more games — and more doubleheaders — than ever before. Games look different. Officials have more responsibilities throughout the game to keep themselves, players and coaches safe.
And to many it was all worth it just to give high school athletes the chance to compete in a winter season and now a spring season as well.
“It’s been an adjustment for our officials, just like it’s been an adjustment for the coaches and the players,” said Dan Scavone, the CIAC director of officials.
Before each season, the CIAC works with representatives from official