These days our news feeds can be full of discouraging news and political conversations that become too heated. We wanted to share this encouraging email that was sent from a high school basketball official to the Athletic Director at Jefferson Junior/Senior High School about the girls basketball team and their coaches (Don Hafer, Jackie Espinoza and Brendan Scott):
I have officiated basketball in Colorado since 1974. As such, I have found that officials don’t care who wins a ball game, and judge winners on a different, higher, scale.
As you know, officials arrive for a Varsity contest about an hour before the scheduled tip off. We start changing clothes as the Sub Varsity officials head back for their second half.
During the next 40-minutes, we discuss items such as floor positioning, rule changes, mechanics, philosophy, etc. so that when we officiate the game, we are a team on the same page. Included in this pregame discussion are comments regarding the two teams playing, if one of us has seen them before, and talks about situations in games we’ve had.
In the past few pregame discussions I’ve had, I’ve worked with partners who have been on the floor when your Girls team has played. There are a few comments on the point differentials, but what has also come out, and the reason for this note, is that every official has mentioned that the Coach never quit coaching, was positive with the players, and the players NEVER quit trying…no matter what the score was.
As I mentioned above, our bar for winners is much different than what shows on the scoreboard. Although I don’t see Jefferson this year, I wanted to take a second to jot you a note letting you know that the effort/attitude your team has put on the floor during the games we’ve discussed needs a level of positive recognition.
Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.
what a wonderful blessing this is for the Jefferson Girls Basketball Team, both the girls and the coaches! thank you for sharing this great news!