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Show WEEKLY REFLEX-DAV- IS NEWS JOURNAL, OCTOBER 6, 197 Officiating And Law Enforcement Make Good Team By ROSELYN KIRK Officiating at footba.i games is only a parttime job for Deputy Phil Leonard, who also works a 40 hour week as an investigating officer for the Davis County Sheriffs Office and runs a farm, hauling hay during his spare time. Deputy Leonard says these three occupations are a result of his background. PHIL LEONARD, who lives at 762 East North in Kaysville, grew up in Farmington and attended Davis High where he participated in all sports. It was when I got too old to play that I began to of300 ficiate," he said. His interest in law enforcement resulted from knowing both a brother-in-laand a friend who were law enforcement officers. Then I grew up on a farm, so Ive always known about farming, he said. PHIL SAYS his busiest time is during the fall season when the hay and the football all coincide with his regular duties as an investigating officer. He is on call at the sheriffs office and that doesnt leave too much time for sleeping some nights, he said. Although basketball is his favorite sport, Phil officiates in football and baseball as well as basketball. He says that officiating is a good way to stay in condition and yet remain in contact with sports. BUT JUST having been a football player enough. In order to qualify as a football pfficial, Phil first made application to the Utah High School Activities Association and paid his fees. Then he began to study the sport from an officials point of view. He studied about five books before he was ready for the open book test, which was followed by another test, administered by the High School Activities Association. In order to qualify as an official, it's necessary to pass that test with a grade of at least 75 percent. After Phil passed tne test, he joined the isnt good with other association members twice a ficult to learn, officials take more abuse in basketball. Since basketball games are played in a more confined area, the ofWe make misficial gets more hassle. takes sometimes. Were not perfect, he admitted. But I blow the whistle as I see it. month. They discuss difficult decisions, rule changes and generally go over the fine points of the sport. PHL EXPLAINED that officiating and law enforcement work are a good com- Utah Officials Association. He meets sociation know when he is available and then he is assigned by the arbiter for a specific game. If any member of an o- fficials family attends or teaches at a school, he will not be assigned to officiate there. When the contract is sent out for the game, the referee signs the contract, confirming that he will be available to officiate. During the football season, officials are required to be at the game site one hour prior to the game where they meet in an officials conference to get dressed, go over the rules and establish a e plan. Varsity football requires four officials-t- he referee, the umpire, the linesman and the field judge. pre-gam- PHIL, WHO has had only one years experience as a football official, officiates mainly at junior high games. A field judge is not required at junior high games, he says. must y Prior to the game, the officials see if check each teams equipment and all equipment meets the protection specifications as well as the official requirements. The ball itself must be an official ball. OFFICIALS also check the field pylons and talk with the chain gang to make sure they understand their duties. They, along with the time keeper, are a part of the officiating crew. Phil says that, although football is harder to officiate than basketball or baseball, since the rules are more dif f - V !?,v .N. - j a J d bination since both require You have to make fast thinking. decisions in both. Phil says that the two jobs have never crossed over. Ive never had to use my power as a law enforcement officer at games, he says. Sometimes people have jokingly asked whos minding the county when they see me officiating, but I just tell them somebody else is on the job. He says the kidding or even the verbal abuse that a If we referee gets doesnt bother me. make a bad decision, we pay for it. When you make split decisions, sometimes youre wrong. split-secon- assignments for officials are a region arbiter. Arbiter for northern Utah is Jim Hill, who is also employed by the Davis School District. Phil says each official must let the asGAME made by AFTER THE junior varsity football game, which Phil refereed last week at North Davis Junior High, the officials got together after the game with an observer to talk about the game and consider any wrong calls that may have been made. He says its usually the parents of the players that lose their cool during the games, not the athletes. Phil says that officiating also fits in well with his job as an investigating officer since his time is flexible. Sometimes if he surveillance of a has been on an suspect, he is freed during the afternoon to officiate at football games. Junior high games are usually scheduled for Thursday. Deputy Leonard has been an officer for Davis County for almost seven years and has worked as an investigator for three years. all-nig- AN INVESTIGATOR is called out on felony cases. He follows up reports submitted by the patrolman, who is usually i.rst at the scene. The nvestigations infollow-u- p questioning of the witnesses, surveillance and arrests, when they are necessary. Prior to becoming an volve investigator, deputies usually begin as officers at the jail at the dispatch center before they become patrolmen and latei investigators. Just as his experience in playing high school sports led Fhii into refereeing, riding with his friend who was a highway patrol officer led him into law enforcement work. THE FARM work evolved naturally too. Vince Hess Now he and his brother-in-la- operate a farm in Farmington during after work hours. During the fall they haul hay for other farmers in the Davis County area, using a stack cruiser to pick up the bales and transport the hay to other areas. Phil works on the farming project most nights after work and on Saturdays. This doesnt give him much time for his family, although he does referee at Little 'league baseball games and is on hand when his son Trent runs in cross country events at Davis High. IN ORDER TO recertify, officials are required to take a test each year. This 'year Phil took the test on Aug. 25 at Viewmont High School. He says that 350 to 400 basketball, football and baseball officials took the test. Many of the officials who referee at church and recreation games are not certified officials, but cer- tification is required for high school sports. Phil started to officiate at these games prior to becoming certified. Phil said very few officials are in it for the money, but because they enjoy the sport. Officials are paid $12.50 to officiate at junior high games and $25 for high school games, plus mileage. Phil prefers to officiate at basketball games since he has had more experience. This year he will begin his sixth season as a basketball official. He said, I guess Im okay. Trent thinks Im a good official. PHOTOS BY FRED WRIGHT |