Referees are examined, even in Division III
by Mike Prada
Sports Editor
Sports | 8/28/07
Posted online at 11:40 PM EST on 8/27/07
/ Last updated at 12:34 PM EST on 8/27/07
Before federal conspiracy charges of gambling on National Basketball Association games surfaced against former league referee Tim Donaghy-who plead guilty to the allegations this month-Steve Bamford monitored referees in anonymity. But in the wake of this scandal, even the Division III referees he supervises may be under the microscope as they've never been before.
"[Donaghy's] actions and behavior has tainted officials in all sports," Bamford said, choosing his words carefully. "He has tainted the way spectators, fans and administrators look at officials."
Bamford served as an associate officiating commissioner of the East Coast Athletic Conference for the past six years before being promoted to Associated Commissioner this summer. He is in charge of assigning, evaluating, training and hiring officials for games involving the 319 ECAC member schools.
Brandeis participates in the University Athletic Association conference, but because the UAA is not geographically configured, the league seeks out local bodies to handle its officiating. The ECAC supervises referees for east coast UAA schools like Brandeis.
Division III is a significant step down from the NBA, but the ECAC and the NCAA have several measures in place to protect the integrity of their referees. Bamford and UAA Executive Secretary Dick Rasmussen admit that the process by which Division III evaluates its officials pales in comparison to the NBA's process, which administers random background checks and features a security network that includes a representative for every team. Still, the NCAA provides pamphlets and instructional videos on the perils of gambling to all of its officials, who are primarily part-time employees. Background checks are only administered to Division I referees. "I'm not too concerned [about gambling]," Rasmussen said. "This is something the NCAA has been very proactive about."
Bamford's training process for his officials is extensive. Every one of an estimated 225 New England basketball officials must have a minimum of three to four years of high school referee experience before they can be considered for jobs, and they all must have completed a certification course for basketball referees run by Excel Sports Officiating. Prospective ECAC officials also need to complete a membership application, and, with a few exceptions, wait at least a year before being accepted. Those who are accepted try out in groups of 25 referees where they are evaluated and ranked. Bamford said only three or four are usually hired from those groups.
"[Donaghy's] actions and behavior has tainted officials in all sports," Bamford said, choosing his words carefully. "He has tainted the way spectators, fans and administrators look at officials."
Bamford served as an associate officiating commissioner of the East Coast Athletic Conference for the past six years before being promoted to Associated Commissioner this summer. He is in charge of assigning, evaluating, training and hiring officials for games involving the 319 ECAC member schools.
Brandeis participates in the University Athletic Association conference, but because the UAA is not geographically configured, the league seeks out local bodies to handle its officiating. The ECAC supervises referees for east coast UAA schools like Brandeis.
Division III is a significant step down from the NBA, but the ECAC and the NCAA have several measures in place to protect the integrity of their referees. Bamford and UAA Executive Secretary Dick Rasmussen admit that the process by which Division III evaluates its officials pales in comparison to the NBA's process, which administers random background checks and features a security network that includes a representative for every team. Still, the NCAA provides pamphlets and instructional videos on the perils of gambling to all of its officials, who are primarily part-time employees. Background checks are only administered to Division I referees. "I'm not too concerned [about gambling]," Rasmussen said. "This is something the NCAA has been very proactive about."
Bamford's training process for his officials is extensive. Every one of an estimated 225 New England basketball officials must have a minimum of three to four years of high school referee experience before they can be considered for jobs, and they all must have completed a certification course for basketball referees run by Excel Sports Officiating. Prospective ECAC officials also need to complete a membership application, and, with a few exceptions, wait at least a year before being accepted. Those who are accepted try out in groups of 25 referees where they are evaluated and ranked. Bamford said only three or four are usually hired from those groups.
0 
Be the first to comment on this story