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Football Officiating => General Discussion => Topic started by: StudyingFutureZebra on November 19, 2013, 01:52:57 PM
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Will they still take you as an official if you're overweight? I've been working out and trying to at least build speed, but is just being overweight a disqualifier? Between you and me, in the spring, I'm going to have the Lap Band surgery done, and it's not for this purpose, but mainly for my own health. All that extra weight is going to do is shorten my lifespan, and I don't think anybody would want that, now would they?
I think I've seen a few at the high school level, but none of them weighed close to what I do, and it seems like at the collegiate level, they're mostly really skinny and athletic.
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I can't say how things are in US but in Europe (Finland, to be precise - I don't remember any international level official being grossly overweight) we've had a couple of overweight officials (I think one of our umpires was around 300 pounds).
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I can't speak for the rest of the state but we've had one official lose his WH because he was immobile and unable to move and adjust to the play due to his weight. I'm on the heavy side (298), and I'm mobile enough to be in position 95% of the time, but I am going on a weight loss regimen this offseason.
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I'm on the heavy side, and have lost 30 pounds in the last 18 months or so, and I'm not by any stretch the largest man in our association. I'm still hoping to lose about 30 more.
If you're just looking at high school ball, the weight shouldn't be an issue. It's been hinted to me - way, way off the record - that the fact that I don't pass the "eye test" might be affecting my opportunity to move into college ball, though.
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Being overweight and being immobile are two distinct issues. Mobility is absolutely essential at any level of football officiating as each officiating position requires the ability to keep pace with whatever level you may be working. The higher the level, the more significance seems to be placed on the relationship of height and weight, by itself.
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(http://i1.cpcache.com/product/484081872/garfield_quotim_undertallquot_posters.jpg?height=350&width=350)
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This is like a discussion about grades. Only C and D students say "grades don't matter". A students never say that. As someone who has been horizontally challenged most of my adult life, I wish I had consistently been 50-60 pounds lighter in my working days. It would have made me a better official.
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I'm currently 6'2" 245lbs. I'm a deep judge and won't even consider getting in front of a college supervisor until I've lost 40 lbs. I'm 32 and hopefully will be going to a camp this spring with my weight gone.
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For HS: ensure you can keep up w/ the game.
For college: generally, if you're not close to height/weight proportion many will not consider you.
Speaking of big officials though, I met a C-USA official over the weekend at the airport. He had to be every bit of 6'7". GREAT guy too.
He did mention he generally has neg comments on his weight & constantly works on it. Tell the truth, he looked like a 6'7" athletic guy though.
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I didn't know they could demote you like that. There was one WH at a HS game I worked the chain gang at who was probably the same weight as me (My BMI is 44 just based on height and weight). After each play, he was walking to the line of scrimmage, and stayed stationary during most of the plays. Now I can run, just not that fast. That was one of the reasons I waited so long was because conventional logic would lead you to believe that if you can't bolt up and down the field every play and be able to get up there to see if, say, the runner stepped out of bounds before crossing the goal line, then they wouldn't take you.
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http://officiallyfit.net/home/index.html (http://officiallyfit.net/home/index.html)
(http://officiallyfit.net/_img/officially_fit_logo.png)
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Personally I always find web-sites suspect that have a 'Free trail membership' and have no information about the membership after the trail is over.
I clicked on every link on that site (didn't watch the videos) and couldn't find any real information.
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http://officiallyfit.net/home/index.html (http://officiallyfit.net/home/index.html)
(http://officiallyfit.net/_img/officially_fit_logo.png)
Eat less, move more...
Limit carbs, stop drinking anything carbonated and or with sugar or artificial sweeteners,
eat more protein and fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc...
cardio with strength training...
done...
Many HS associations are just looking for warm bodies, we have too much trouble getting all games covered to worry about who looks good in a uniform. If you are looking to work anything higher than HS football, or even in some areas high levels of HS football, you need to be aware that how you look has a big influence on your ceiling.
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That was one of the reasons I waited so long was because conventional logic would lead you to believe that if you can't bolt up and down the field every play and be able to get up there to see if, say, the runner stepped out of bounds before crossing the goal line, then they wouldn't take you.
Some of us weren't able to keep up with the kids when we were their age, though. I've joked with a couple of kids after a handful of long runs "you've got to understand, I wasn't fast when I was your age, and I haven't gotten any faster since." ;D
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We have officials that are obese. We have officials that are overweight. We have officials who need to eat a sNiCkErS
Being overweight is an issue in our association, it will affect post season assignment. But one of the best things about officiating it gives you some motivation to get fitter. So use officiating as motivation to say on a diet and exercise.
I have worn my GPS watch a few of times this year and that as an umpire I move between 2 and 4 miles during a high school varsity game. Being fit is an important aspect so you can keep up.
Funny thing is each I'm a year older but the kids are all still 17.
After taking a couple of years off from jogging, I used a program called Couch Potato to 5K to get running again. It help my officiating.
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I personally am also overweight.
I've always been big, but being an active player kept it (mostly) as muscle and I had good speed. After quitting as a player 2 years ago, my brain/body has been having a hard time adjusting its intake to the reduced activity. I eat fairly healthy, just too much...
What I personally need to do is break my rut of thinking - 'next week', or 'tomorrow' and just put my nose to it and get started. I know from previous experience, once you do something on a regular basis, jogging, swimming, gym... it is not hard to keep going. It is the overcoming the inertia at the start that is the big problem.
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you've got to understand, I wasn't fast when I was your age, and I haven't gotten any faster since."
This +1
I am 5'9, weight fluctuates from 209-215, 50 yoa. For my age group, I feel I am in fairly good shape but could be better.
I have done better at not stopping at McDonald's for the post-game two dbl chez burger, large fry, large drink meal this year. I don't have the best diet in the world, admittedly. My biggest wish is to eliminate the spare tire. My legs are proportionate, arms and chest could use some work in the weight room.
I do have a workout routine. It's not P90X or Insanity but I work on the things my position needs to do to prepare and get through the season. I do need to hit the weights harder. At this point in the season though, my heel problems are keeping me from doing anymore running than necessary. My right hammy tweaked on the leg press earlier this week so I have pretty much kept to the stationary bike and elliptical.
My last game, barring any emergency call up, is tonight (2nd round). I will keep the workout light through the end of the month then begin to pick it up in December. Hopefully, the heels will back down to where I can jog around the Christmas holidays.
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A lot of HS officials are overweight.
That said, our entire crew has pledged to loose at least 30 pounds each by next season. We can cover the field well now but hopefully it will help us meet the "eye test".
Good luck!
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After taking a couple of years off from jogging, I used a program called Couch Potato to 5K to get running again. It help my officiating.
C25k is a good program.
also www.jeffgalloway has very good programs for beginner runners to start running, to 5k runs, all the way to a full marathon.
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On the general topic of weight, I know several FCS and DII conferences have their officials get on the scale at their pre-season meeting in July.
Should any official be >+5lb from the previous year, he is really given a stern talking-to.
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On the general topic of weight, I know several FCS and DII conferences have their officials get on the scale at their pre-season meeting in July.
Should any official be >+5lb from the previous year, he is really given a stern talking-to.
I know Big Sky and Mountain West both do this. When I was at Fresno HS Football Officials Camp several of our instructors were talking about going to their preseason meeting and getting weigh and doing a physical fitness test.
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At the Tom Beard clinic last year, a statement from one of the Southern Conference commissioners stuck with me.
"Thin is In" he said in a thick Southern drawl.
Then, at the Lehigh Valley clinic, (which is run by the Centennial Conference), they spent a lot of time talking about weight loss and fitness.
That being said, most of the officials on my board (especially the umpires) are overweight, and many are obese. Yet, this includes some of the best ones on the board. What separates them from other guys is their anticipation of plays, soundness of their mechanics, and fundamental rules knowledge.
In my opinion, physical fitness and conditioning is a very important part of being the best official you can be, but it is only a part. Rules knowledge, mechanics, and game management skills are also extremely important. In the off season, you do have more control over your fitness and weight than some of the other skills that come easier during the season. Your weight won't prevent you from getting on a board, but any lack of willingness to improve in ALL aspects of officiating will definitely affect your progress and how long you remain an official.
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Perception is reality.
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Perception is reality.
Only to the perceiver...
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and the 'perceiver' is the one the one receiving the message you are sending out. That is the reality.
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Perception is reality.
A very, very old maxim. In fact, we used to say, esse ist percipi.
maven
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Only if the perceiver is someone who matters.
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and the 'perceiver' is the one the one receiving the message you are sending out. That is the reality.
Exactly right.
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At the Tom Beard clinic last year, a statement from one of the Southern Conference commissioners stuck with me.
"Thin is In" he said in a thick Southern drawl.
Then, at the Lehigh Valley clinic, (which is run by the Centennial Conference), they spent a lot of time talking about weight loss and fitness.
That being said, most of the officials on my board (especially the umpires) are overweight, and many are obese. Yet, this includes some of the best ones on the board. What separates them from other guys is their anticipation of plays, soundness of their mechanics, and fundamental rules knowledge.
In my opinion, physical fitness and conditioning is a very important part of being the best official you can be, but it is only a part. Rules knowledge, mechanics, and game management skills are also extremely important. In the off season, you do have more control over your fitness and weight than some of the other skills that come easier during the season. Your weight won't prevent you from getting on a board, but any lack of willingness to improve in ALL aspects of officiating will definitely affect your progress and how long you remain an official.
The collegiate conferences (especially the higher level ones) can be this picky. When you have 50 applicants for 3 spots and the top 20 are all equally qualified, weight is definitely going to be a differentiator. Perception is reality and when I see an overweight official (especially one who doesn't move well), I assume they are not a good official. They can be the best rules person and truly understand philosophy and mechanics, but they have already lost a notch in my opinion of them. Coaches tell me the same thing.
And I'm someone who could easily stand to lose 50-60 pounds so it applies to me.
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I moved to D-I last year and we have a BMI requirement. I believe the magic number is 30. Just to give you a frame of reference I'm around 24 (5'8" and 162). You need to remember as you move up so does the athleticism and skill. You need to be in awesome shape to keep up with these athletes. I'm now a back judge and work out about 8 hours a week between lifting and cardio. I still got beat to the goal line in a D-II game this year on a 99.5-yard touchdown pass. It was only by 5 yards but they say "never" get beat. Remember guys it's about the athlethes "not us and our careers" so if you want to be able to keep up with them you need to be able to keep up your own fitness requirements. I saw a back judge at a high school game I attended get beat to the goal line by 10 yards on a 60-yard run. He had a 20-yard head start. That's "crazy" unacceptable! Even you umpires need to have that quickness to get out of the way of crossing routes.
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If you're an overweight official, the first 2 things someone thinks about you when they first see you is that you're 1) dumb and 2) lazy. This might not be the case at all, but that's how people think!!!
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If you're an overweight official, the first 2 things someone thinks about you when they first see you is that you're 1) dumb and 2) lazy. This might not be the case at all, but that's how people think!!!
Don't agree. When you make a call a fan or coach does not agree with you are dumb and when you don't you are dumb and lazy. It does not take a track star to work football and if it did a good number of the NFL officials would be out of a job. I have worked with and observed many overweight officials who have had fine careers and some very fit officials who I would not want to work with. The hiring focus has gotten out of hand. If you are obese it is another story but overweight and good I will take any day.
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Matt, do you think the hiring focus has gotten out of hand because of TV and social media, or is it just another check mark that can be utilized to thin the applicant pool (no pun intended)?
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I moved to D-I last year and we have a BMI requirement. I believe the magic number is 30. Just to give you a frame of reference I'm around 24 (5'8" and 162). You need to remember as you move up so does the athleticism and skill. You need to be in awesome shape to keep up with these athletes. I'm now a back judge and work out about 8 hours a week between lifting and cardio. I still got beat to the goal line in a D-II game this year on a 99.5-yard touchdown pass. It was only by 5 yards but they say "never" get beat. Remember guys it's about the athlethes "not us and our careers" so if you want to be able to keep up with them you need to be able to keep up your own fitness requirements. I saw a back judge at a high school game I attended get beat to the goal line by 10 yards on a 60-yard run. He had a 20-yard head start. That's "crazy" unacceptable! Even you umpires need to have that quickness to get out of the way of crossing routes.
That's a good point. Looking at the BMI chart, to meet the D-1 BMI requirement, I'd need to lose 101 pounds. That's not something that's going to happen any time soon, even with bariatric surgery, which is something I'm intending to do in the near future. Unfortunately, some of us are at a genetic disadvantage on this matter, and for some, surgery is the last option. Now hopefully I'll have recovered enough to maybe take the field this coming season, but who knows. If there's anyone else on here who has had the Lap Band surgery, how long did it take to go back to work?
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Don't agree. When you make a call a fan or coach does not agree with you are dumb and when you don't you are dumb and lazy. It does not take a track star to work football and if it did a good number of the NFL officials would be out of a job. I have worked with and observed many overweight officials who have had fine careers and some very fit officials who I would not want to work with. The hiring focus has gotten out of hand. If you are obese it is another story but overweight and good I will take any day.
I agree with everything you just said, but I was referring more to first impressions by coaches (without seeing any action on the field).
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I agree with everything you just said, but I was referring more to first impressions by coaches (without seeing any action on the field).
I consider myself an overweight official (although not as obviously obese as some I see) and I have this first impression of officials I see for the first time. My opinion can change after watching them work if I see them moving properly or making a key call. For a coach or fan, the only thing they have to go on is appearance. If they see a call they think is incorrect, the first impression will have a huge impact on what they think of your call.
I also realize my weight has an impact on my ability to advance to higher levels of college football. I'm OK with that because I can likely do something about it. If I were a supervisor having to hire college officials and had a large pool of applicants, appearance would definitely be a factor.
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For a coach or fan, the only thing they have to go on is appearance. If they see a call they think is incorrect, the first impression will have a huge impact on what they think of your call.
Yes, this is what I was getting at
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I watched an overweight official from Abilene work the TX 5A state finals and he did an excellent job. He hustled every play, had a great rapport with both coaches, and did a really good job with the mic and 60 yard wide video board in Cowboys/ATT Stadium. He wasn't perfect, but dumb and lazy are not two adjectives you would ever use to describe him. :thumbup :thumbup