Volleyball Refs Feel Heat Mortality Rate Is High For First-Year Officials

There is money to be made refereeing volleyball in the Spokane area. Especially for entry-level officials able to work late-afternoon junior high matches at $35 each.

But a word of caution. The mortality rate for rookie referees is high. Typically, only 25 percent return for a second year.

“It’s very intimidating, especially as a new official,” said Rusty Wellman, a 10-year veteran official. “Your first assignment at a junior high or C squad is very intimidating. A lot of them come in with a false sense of what it takes. They learn very quickly.”

One natural transition might be from player to official. Another as a parent thrown to the wolves. That’s the route Wellman took as he was plucked from the sidelines at his 13-year-old daughter’s matches.

“If I was going to (referee), I wanted to know everything there was to it,” explained Wellman. “I read the rules inside and out. I think I progressed because I was so conscientious.

“Dale (Goodwin) was one of my mentors,” the 47-year-old added. “I saw how they (veterans) did it and mimicked a lot of their motions. I could explain what I called.”

Wellman’s insatiable quest for knowledge led to certification in three sets of rules applicable year-round from collegiate to high school to club levels.

Wellman, who figures the Fairchild Air Force Base budget for a living, serves as a high school rules clinician in Washington. He also travels the U.S. officiating volleyball.

A month ago, Wellman drew his biggest assignment yet - a first-round NCAA Division I women’s tournament match.

Goodwin, a 15-year player and volleyball referee, worked first- and second-round NCAA women’s matches in California. It was the second year in a row the Gonzaga University information director received an NCAA invitation.

“When I worked the last one I thought, ‘Oh, this is extremely exciting,”’ Goodwin, 40, said. “I thought ‘this is a once-in-a-lifetime (thing), go and enjoy it.’ I was very nervous. I was fortunate to have an excellent partner.”

The fact that two Spokane officials were a part of the NCAA’s tournament pool is a credit to the 50-member Spokane Area Volleyball Referees Association.

“A part of that is a core group of experienced officials,” Goodwin acknowledged. “We keep pushing each other by being very good, knowing the rules inside-out, calling good matches. As officials, we watch each other work. Every year (since 1988), we’ve made a very strong effort to stage national training clinics in Spokane.”

Both Wellman and Goodwin rule with a quiet confidence.

“I’ve been asked to (referee) basketball a lot, but I would never do basketball,” Wellman said. “It’s very situational in volleyball, a lot of parents don’t understand that.

“In basketball, you’ve got 10 players, there’s fouls every single second. In volleyball, most violations occur in close proximity to the net, you’re going to catch them.”

Goodwin, a slight 5-foot-4, carries a 6-inch stepstool to better his vantage point, if necessary, as the “up” official standing on the ladder just above net height.

“One of the things people just watching volleyball don’t realize is how important that R2, or ‘down’ official, is to the match,” Goodwin added. “You’ve got to let the coaches coach the game, but you also are diplomatting the game, making sure it doesn’t get out of hand.

“A good R2 keeps the heat off the R1 (‘up’ official) and makes sure the game progresses in a proper manner.”

The loudest match Goodwin has worked was the 1994 Border War, where the Washington State women crossed the state line to defeat the University of Idaho.

“The level of play has increased for two reasons,” Goodwin said. “One is the level of athlete has become better and better. Two, the knowledge and level of coaches has increased and become very excellent. It mushrooms to the younger kids. As it increases, the game gets faster and faster. It’s exciting.”

But don’t ask Goodwin or Wellman the outcome of a match each just refereed.

“When I get done with a match, I sometimes don’t know who won,” Goodwin said.

“I can easily say I don’t know who won,” Wellman added.

“I don’t pay attention to that,” Goodwin continued. “The one thing about officiating any sport, you have to be real focused about what you’re there to do - stay focused and do the job - it’s a real discipline.”

And both know they’ve done a good job after the match is over and nobody knows their name.