Prep grid zebras an endangered species
Like a lot of average-sized high school joes, Hook was crazy about football. He wasn't the biggest or the strongest or the fastest kid on his Bolivar High squad.
But that didn't matter to him. When Hook set foot on the gridiron, he just came alive."There was just something about the game that pulled me in," Hook said. "I couldn't get enough of it."
But when their prep careers came to an end, guys like Hook, who weren't built for the college game, had no outlet for their passion for the pigskin.
"I loved playing and just wanted to get back into it," Hook said.
So Hook became a high school football official. And as he figured, Hook was hooked.
After 35 years and too many games to count, Hook, who will be 63 this month, is still going strong. A few years back, he retired from his job in sales with Proctor & Gamble. But every Friday night, he's out there on a high school gridiron.
"I love it," Hook says. "It keeps me young."
Today Hook serves as secretary for the St. Louis Officials Association, an organization that trains and supplies officials for area high school football, basketball and volleyball games. While two of the sports continue to have decent numbers, football has been on the decline for some time.
"With one being the worst, right now we are at three," Hook says. "We're just barely meeting the demands. There are Fridays this year when I show no one available."
Hook said the association has approximately 180 officials, 30 to 40 who are experienced enough to serve as crew chiefs. But supply is not keeping up with demand.
"The same thing occurs in other businesses; people retire or they get transferred," Hook said. "The difficulty lies in trying to find new people to take up the sport. Everyone has so much to do in this day and age."
Though he is more heavily involved in basketball, Lutheran South athletics director Mark Probst schedules football officials for the Archdiocesan Athletic Association, ABC Conference and several independent high schools. He says it is getting tougher every year.
"In basketball, we're in pretty good shape," Probst said. "But in football, we're dying. We have more guys over 55 than under. Our key officials are getting up there in age.
"It is really difficult to fill the lower level games. Because of the lack of officials, some have to learn as they go."
On the job training may be OK in some venues, but not in high school sports. In terms of talent, the bar gets raised every year, and officiating is expected to keep up. Complaints toward veteran officials from some parents and coaches are bad enough; imagine the comments that might be directed at inexperienced ones.
Almost all of those who work as football officials do it for the love of the game. It sure isn't for the overwhelming pay. According to Hook, football officials receive about $77 for varsity games while lower level games pay $48.
Donald Meyer, a retired police officer who teaches physical education at Queen of All Saints, has been officiating high school football for 27 years. He says just like in any other endeavor, preparation is crucial. Those who think officials can just show up 10 minutes before a game are mistaken.
"You have to get prepared just like the players do," Meyer said. "We have to stretch and warm up. Every season we get a year older while the kids stay the same age."
A varsity crew consists of five officials: a referee, umpire, linesman, line judge and back judge. Officials are expected to be at the site 90 minutes before game time and are required to be on the field 30 minutes before kickoff. Hook said the latter is a National Federation and Missouri State High School Activities Association rule.
"There's a lot we have to go over with each other and the coaches," said Meyer, who has been serving as a crew chief since 1999. "Sometimes we get some pretty hot rivalries, and we have to be in control."
Meyer believes a tough job market is at least partially to blame for the dip in numbers. Potential young officials can't just leave their jobs at 4 p.m. on a weekday to work a freshman football game. Furthermore, some budding officials available on Saturdays aren't getting as many opportunities now. More schools are adding lights so their varsity games can be played on Friday nights.
Some who belong to other organizations believe MSHSAA, and in turn, the association make potential recruits jump through way too many hoops. Hook feels that isn't the case.
"I think those interested in this want to do a good job," Hook said. "Being there for five hours on a Friday night isn't too much to ask."
The only prerequisite for those looking to apply is to be registered with MSHSAA (a $45 fee) and pass a background check. Later on there is an open book test and a rules interpretation meeting, which is required for both officials and coaches. Those interested in being an official should check out the web page at stlofficials.com.
Hook said the training program, headed by officials Sean Nolan and Bill DuPont, is excellent. The last few years, Charter Communications has stepped up by offering game tapes to help with officials' training.
Hook said former NFL referees Gene Barth, Dick Hantak and Bob Wagner all were members of the organization. Other alumni now working in the NFL include business owner Carl Madeson and Bridgeton Municipal Court Judge Joe Larrew.
"Several of our members are working major college right now," Hook said. "Anything is possible. Like in anything else, you start at the bottom and work your way up...But the higher up you go, the more time you have to put in. We still have some great officials who have stuck around."
