“It’s all about judgement” is the assessment of Dean Thomas when it comes to officiating ball games. Thomas, a 1985 graduate of Vance Senior High School, has made many during his career as a baseball coach at Southern Vance, Head of Transportation for Vance County Schools, as a principal at E. M. Rollins and on the field as an official.
Thomas says officiating, like many other areas, is suffering from staff shortages. “Not a lot of young folks are getting into officiating,” Thomas said on Thursday’s SportsTalk. Thomas says there is a move underway to encourage younger people to come in and do the work. Thomas thinks that one of the reasons it’s been hard to find people to officiate athletic events is a lack of respect for those who umpire and referee games. “Over the last 10 or 15 years it has gotten worse,” Thomas added. Thomas officiates four different sports including baseball, softball, volleyball and football.
He also sees a change in the kids playing too due to technology. He said kids lack interpersonal skills because they are always on the phone texting. When they are face to face, “They don’t know how to talk to each other,” Thomas said.
Despite the challenges that come with officiating games Thomas says, in the end, “We are out there to do what’s right for the kids and what’s right for the game.”
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