Activities/Athletics

Sports Officiating Club Starts At AHS

By AMS Multimedia

November 20, 2007

Mr. Van Tilburg, Alliance Middle School United States History Teacher and basketball and football official started a sports officiating club at Alliance High School this past Fall. This has been a goal of Mr. Van Tilburg for several years. "When I first came here, I noticed that many of our middle school games were being officiated by our coaches. I think in most cases, the coaches were officiating our middle school games to help out and out of the kindness of their hearts. There are very few guys in town who are registered with the Nebraska School Activities Association to officiate and I thought this club would help that problem and it would also give some of our aspiring young guys at the high school a chance to see if they like doing it," said Mr. Van Tilburg.

According to Mr. Van Tilburg, an officiating club concept in high schools is not new. "I grew up in Richmond, Indiana and we had a pretty good sports officiating club there. We worked our junior high football games and our elementary boys basketball games every Saturday for free. I can honestly say that if it weren't for that club, I probably wouldn't be officiating today."

Mr. Van Tilburg's club back in Indiana was operated by Troy Ingram, a teacher at the high school and a legendary high school basketball official in the state. "I can remember watching Mr. Ingram work the boys state championship on the television when I was in elementary school; that was big time when your neighbor down the street is on the tube working the biggest high school basketball game in the state in front of 20,000 people at Market Square Arena."

It was more than officiating that drew Mr. Van Tilburg to Mr. Ingram's sports officiating club. "Mr. Ingram was a neighbor of mine when I was in elementary school. He was a hard worker, the kind of guy who had a lawn mowing business in the summer and he officiated games during the school year. When I got to high school, I wanted to be in one of his classes because I admired him so much because he was a man of integrity; but being in one of his classes never worked out, so I signed up for his sports officiating club.

In the Fall this year, six juniors and seniors officiated all of the middle school home football games under the direction of Mr. Van Tilburg. All six of the high school officials got registered with the NSAA, took their test and spent time in the classroom with Mr. Van Tilburg and also out on the football field learning about positing and mechanics. "I helped coach our 7th grade football team this Fall and I had a chance to observe our guys officiate twice; they did a really nice job of using proper mechanics and their judgement wasn't too bad either."

Now, with the middle school football season concluded, eight young men have attended classroom sessions and refereed several 8th grade girls basketball scrimmages to prepare for the middle school basketball season. "Most of our guys have worked at least one real game so far and they have done a pretty good job; they get better each time they step on the court and they get paid $25 a game; games at that level usually only last about an hour."

This past weekend, club members T.J. Peltz, Mike Peltz, Zach Boness, and Scott Langemeier all traveled to Torrington, Wyoming to work a 5th & 6th grade boys and girls youth basketball tournament. "The guys made over $200 each in one day which isn't half bad. That combined with the fact that they are traveling 90 miles one-way to referee shows that there is a real need for officials."

Van Tilburg who is a collegiate men's basketball referee, NSAA State Boys Basketball Tournament official and NSAA football official feels like he is giving something back to officiating. "I am thrilled to be a part of helping our guys develop an interest in officiating; I hope they all keep doing it and they make it a part of their adult lives when they get out of high school. I have been able to travel to a lot of places, meet a lot of people, and make pretty good money in the process; officiating has been a very valuable experience in my life."

Mr. Van Tilburg wanted to note that he has had great support from AHS Athletic Director, Mr. Tim Wallace, AMS Athletic Director, Ed Sughroue, and the Alliance Booster Club who has also helped purchase some of the needed attire and supplies needed to referee. "I think the club is firmly in place. I have had a lot of high school students ask me about it for next year. They know they can get paid and do something they like in the process."