Barry Mano, publisher
Referee Magazine

"The general wisdom is that fans, parents, coaches and players need to 'get a life' and keep themselves in check during sporting events, especially at the youth level. I have no disagreement with that position. What is missing, however, is the role officials play in causing some of that bad behavior. ...

"By and large, the men, women and young people who are asked or permitted to officiate at the youth and volunteer levels are seldom properly trained. ... (T)he problem as I see it is less about having knowledge of the rules and mechanics than it is knowing the proper techniques of game and people management. It is in those two areas that officials must have to deal with unsporting behavior.

"It is completely understandable that this has occurred. The challenge of finding enough refs overrides the challenge of training them properly. Quantity trumps quality. So, what should be done? Well, it is easy enough to remove the supply shortfall. If the reward/return on the official's time goes up, then the supply of those willing to engage in officiating also will rise. The market mechanism does work.

"But there isn't enough money to have a clear market. In terms of supply and demand, monetary compensation will never clear the market at the lower levels of sport. One key is to provide more 'psychic income' for the officials. ... Empower them with knowledge and skills to better manage what is, with little argument, a very stout undertaking. When officials are better at what they do, the games will be better and more fulfilling for those who also have a stake in them. The game will be healthier and will better be able to fulfill its potential as an educational experience that is fun."

Athletics spending

Glen Mason, head football coach
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Associated Press

"The problem is football, and the solution is football. Football should be making more money, any way you look at it. And if you want a big, comprehensive (athletics) program, you need a successful football program."

Enforcement

Thomas E. Yeager, commissioner
Colonial Athletic Association
Chronicle of Higher Education

"For the most part, (compliance staffs) are catching cases at much earlier stages than they did 10 years ago. It's like catching cancer early, as opposed to (having cases) go undetected for a much longer period of time, before they multiply into huge cases."