Strong football players are not the only ones who have opportunities for team work and advancement into the CFL. Referees can also say the same. Bob Rasmuson, an official for the Weyburn Minor Football Association, is close to earning himself the prospect of working the sidelines at a Saskatchewan Roughriders game.
Even if one does not aspire to the CFL as a referee or a player, the WMFA offers local football fans the chance to expand their love of the game by becoming referees.
Rasmuson said that their games usually have a six-man referee team, but there have been some games, when they only had three or four.
"That's really hard to do," he said.
For the limited number of refs, it's a long day, beginning with the younger players' games and ending up at the end of the day officiating the faster-paced bantam games.
Rasmuson said he is hoping to have a pool of about 15 referees.
Having worked the sidelines at Regina Rams and Prairie Thunder games and speaking with their officials, he said that they are more harshly graded as referees for being out of position than for making bad calls. Good position is critical for good officiating.
"You need to move down the field together as a unit," he said, adding that the goal is to keep the play between the referees, in a coordinated effort. With the referee training that begins this August, the focus will be on proper position, what to watch for and, of course, how to cohesively move together.
"There are guys I worked with doing Rams games last year who are doing CFL games this year," said Rasmuson, adding that although he wishes he had started when he was 18, officiating has enhanced his experience as a football fan.
Corey Morrisette is also an Assistant Coach for the Bantam league Falcons. His concern is that we may not see as many home games if we don't find more referees.
"We have the new field coming, in a year or two, if we don't have officials we won't have home games," he said, "which would be pretty sad for all the work everyone's doing now to have it."
He said that recruits don't even need to know how to play football.
"You don't need to know all of the rules. Especially if you're just a line judge, you're really only focusing on one part of the game," he said. "We are not asking you to come in and be the head ref."
Doug Bresciani is the Head Referee. He and Morrissette, both board members for the WMFA, have formed a sub-committee on behalf of the referee shortage.
Morrissette said that the WMFA is hoping to create a 'football event' evening that will one day be an exciting part of community involvement.
"Football is one of the fastest growing sports in this country, especially in Weyburn," he said, stating that the WMFA, which offers playing opportunities for young boys and girls ages six to fifteen, used to have difficulty filling up teams, but now there are wait lists.
Morrissette, who is also a Producer for Access7, is hoping to find volunteer camera operators, as the local television station films every game played by the WMFA, including away games.
Weyburn's referees can work three or four days, each consisting of three games, throughout the season of home games, with a $30 compensation per game day.
"It's fun, you learn more about the sport, especially if you're a football fan, you really get to appreciate officiating," said Morrissette. "There are opportunities for advancement."
He added that WMFA is also in need of volunteer announcers.
Ultimately, it's all about the kids reaching their potential, while having fun.
"The kids deserve the best job we can do," said Rasmuson. "The more of us that are doing it and working as a team, the better job the kids are going to do. They put their hearts and souls into it."
For more information about getting involved in officiating for the WMFA, contact Bob Rasmuson at 861-9455 or [email protected].
