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Bar News - February 22, 2002 Dispensing Justice on the Run By: Dan Wise WHILE LAWYERS HAVE to think on their feet, referees have to judge on theirs. Stuart Dedopoulos, a Durham attorney who is in his 31st year of basketball officiating, sports the slim physique of a man whose hobby forces him to literally try to keep one step ahead of lanky adolescents running at full speed on a fast break. Dedopoulos, who practices with the law firm of Bamford & Dedopoulos, is one of four NH Bar members who serve as officials for NH high school basketball. The others are NHBA President Peter E. Hutchins and Rockingham County Superior Court Deputy Clerks Brian D. Kenyon and Cynthia A. Perreault. Dedopoulos said one of the reasons he enjoys officiating is because it enables him to meet people from other walks of life - though they are rarely walking if teamed up at a game. Once the clock starts, basketball officials are immersed in the action. As arbiters, they are unconcerned with the score. Their eyes are glued to the welter of elbows, arms and sweaty torsos jostling under the basket. Every minute involves scores of decisions as the referee intently watches for contact that oversteps the rules. Minor infractions are weighed for impact and intent. A basket is made or a turnover forced and the referee must then hustle down the court. Near the basket again, the referee must anticipate where the ball and the players are headed next. And, yes, referees get to blow whistles a lot and make elaborate hand signals that are unintelligible to the unschooled. Hutchins said, "It's a blast. It's fun to be around kids, and it's such a change of pace from work." Dedopoulos said officiating has made him better appreciate the work of a judge in a courtroom. "You've got to deal with differing emotions, you've got to set param eters and stay in control of the situation." Like judges, referees also catch flak from those who disagree with their calls, and the culture of the basketball court encourages shouting. Dedopoulos said that over the years, he's felt the heat more and more from irate fans. "We are increasingly dealing with people, parents often, who are getting out of line in criticizing the calls. I think it's a reflection of the fact that sports have become more organized, kids have become involved at an earlier age, and the parents have made more of an investment in the success of their kids." The criticism has an impact: "What's the message communicated to kids - it's always someone else's fault?" Dedopoulos asked. "I fear that excessive criticism may be driving people away from officiating." Fortunately, newcomers do continue to enter officiating. Cindy Perreault started officiating only a couple of years ago, after her husband stopped coaching, because she saw an opportunity to right an imbalance. "When I was at my husband's games, I noticed there weren't many women officiating," she said. Fortunately, she heard about and joined a program called "Women with Whistles" that helps train women referees, and soon she began working games. A basketball player in school, Perreault said she enjoys games in a different way as an official. "You are looking at different things. Most of the time, you don't even know who's winning," she said. For information on becoming a referee or sports official in high school sports, visit the Web site of the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) at www.nhiaa.org. NHIAA Director James Desmarais said officials are welcomed for all sports, and volunteers are especially needed for games in areas north of Plymouth. Training and apprenticeships for officials vary with the sport, he said. |
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