Author Topic: Overweight officials (Read 36889 times)

StudyingFutureZebra · « **on:** November 19, 2013, 01:52:57 PM »

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.

Kalle · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2013, 02:02:03 PM »

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).

dcbarisax1 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2013, 02:07:53 PM »

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.

VALJ · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2013, 02:40:19 PM »

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.

AlUpstateNY · « **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2013, 07:30:16 AM »

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.

HLinNC · « **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2013, 09:43:35 AM »

busman · « **Reply #6 on:** November 20, 2013, 10:37:58 AM »

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.

Roscoe · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:21:27 PM »

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.

TampaSteve · « **Reply #8 on:** November 20, 2013, 12:32:48 PM »

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.

StudyingFutureZebra · « **Reply #9 on:** November 20, 2013, 03:24:59 PM »

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.

Aussie-Zebra · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2013, 07:54:56 PM »

http://officiallyfit.net/home/index.html

James · « **Reply #11 on:** November 21, 2013, 02:03:34 AM »

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.

fencewire · « **Reply #12 on:** November 21, 2013, 04:50:20 AM »

Quote from: Aussie-Zebra on November 20, 2013, 07:54:56 PM

http://officiallyfit.net/home/index.html

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.

VALJ · « **Reply #13 on:** November 21, 2013, 07:50:00 AM »

Quote from: StudyingFutureZebra on November 20, 2013, 03:24:59 PM

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."

NorCalMike · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2013, 02:36:23 AM »

We have officials that are obese. We have officials that are overweight. We have officials who need to eat a

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.

James · « **Reply #15 on:** November 22, 2013, 03:41:46 AM »

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.

HLinNC · « **Reply #16 on:** November 22, 2013, 07:53:41 AM »

Quote

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.

Etref · « **Reply #17 on:** November 22, 2013, 08:33:26 AM »

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!

TampaSteve · « **Reply #18 on:** November 22, 2013, 09:19:22 AM »

Quote from: NorCalMike on November 22, 2013, 02:36:23 AM

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.

TampaSteve · « **Reply #19 on:** November 22, 2013, 09:21:20 AM »

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.

NorCalMike · « **Reply #20 on:** December 02, 2013, 12:05:00 AM »

Quote from: TampaSteve on November 22, 2013, 09:21:20 AM

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.

zoom · « **Reply #21 on:** December 06, 2013, 12:29:14 PM »

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.

Rulesman · « **Reply #22 on:** December 06, 2013, 08:32:27 PM »

Perception is reality.

TxSkyBolt · « **Reply #23 on:** December 07, 2013, 09:56:37 AM »

Quote from: Rulesman on December 06, 2013, 08:32:27 PM

Perception is reality.

Only to the perceiver...

jg-me · « **Reply #24 on:** December 07, 2013, 10:15:54 AM »

and the 'perceiver' is the one the one receiving the message you are sending out. That is the reality.

Author Topic: Overweight officials (Read 36889 times)

StudyingFutureZebra

busman

Roscoe

StudyingFutureZebra