By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
In last Friday’s story on Great Bend Post, longtime sports official Mark Goodheart referenced a possible state legislature bill to deter the abuse of referees is greatly needed for a profession that is seeing declining numbers.
RELATED STORY - Goodheart: Kansas being proactive with bill to protect referees
At last week’s Great Bend Recreation Commission meeting, Rec Sports Supervisor
Aaron Fuller said there are unfortunately instances even at the Rec level with
bad interactions with officials.
"I ask my coaches first to handle it with the parents," said Fuller. "If they can't handle it, I'm the one they need to go to. I'm in charge of all the officials so they don't need to be getting on them, they can get on me."
House Bill 2139 states abuse of a sports official is intentionally “striking,
shoving, kicking, spitting on or otherwise causing physical contact with a
sports official or threatening to engage in such conduct.” There are also
provisions for other verbal and non-verbal attacks and threats.
"It's hard sometimes," said Fuller. "The officials do their best, just like the players do their best. We ask the parents to do their best to be a parent."
Rec Enrichment Director Garet Fitzpatrick said the Kansas State High School Activities Association has tried to emphasize the better treatment of officials. Fitzpatrick's wife officiates volleyball and she said this was her best year dealing with parents and fans.