The happy-go-lucky smiles of youth can ease misgivings. Any frustration or fatigue from long hours of working with kids disappears with their unabashed enthusiasm and carefree ways.
I learned as much years ago as a basketball official for my local YMCA in Southern California. Years later, and countless games past, it’s easy to forget those moments.
Natasha Ruckwardt reminded me of them. The outgoing women’s basketball Director of Operations did a lot of the little things that made the program run smoothly. As part of her role, she served as director of the basketball camps the women’s basketball team puts on each summer.
Members of the team participate and help youth learn basketball skills.
“The girls do such a good job at our camps. It’s hard work. They’re on their feet all day, but they’re encouraging them, just giving those kids the time and a bit of themselves,” Ruckwardt said.
Ruckwardt is leaving the women’s basketball program this spring to spend more time with her two young children, Logan, 3, and Adelaide, born last August. Ruckwardt, a native of Adelaide, Australia, spent the last two years reunited with Phil Brown, a former mentor at the Australian Institute of Sport, and present assistant coach at Oregon.
“You can learn a lot from him,” Ruckwardt said. “I didn’t want to get into coaching, but you learn a lot from him, and I listened to him talk thinking down the road when my kids playing … basketball how I’d go about coaching them. It’s been great to work with him and get to know his family better.”
Her enthusiasm makes me think back to when I began working with youth basketball players. I had started officiating as a means to stay close to the game. It was an easy way to make some extra money and enjoy the game I love.
The beginning level of basketball officiating begins with kindergarten-aged children. Their attention wandered easily. I was young myself, a freshman in high school, and new to being in charge.
Scratch that idea. I was more of an overseer. Parents are an integral part at this level. They were on the court as well. They guided the little ones around a smaller court. The baskets stood on top of portable supports. Large bags of sand, many leaking, held the stands in place.
All right, so the setting wasn’t perfect, the opportunity let me and children gain experience at the most basic level. The children couldn’t care less how many points they scored or whether or not they made a basket. They enjoyed running around with their friends. They liked wearing their jerseys. I helped parents guide the kids around. I rarely resorted to using a whistle.
Back then, I couldn’t wait for the games to end. I enjoyed the excitement of higher levels of basketball with more free flowing games. Now, I look back with fond memories. As I advanced through the officiating ranks, I’ve seen how the seriousness increases. Often, players seem to be having less fun. It’s more businesslike. Bad calls by officials are met with complaints, profanity and angry parents.
This isn’t always the way it was. I see kids and teens who genuinely enjoy the game and supportive parents choosing not to criticize the officials, but to compliment us afterwards. It’s rare, though.
I enjoy thinking back to my early days of officiating. Then, kids were wide-eyed, eager to learn this intriguing and exciting game with the bouncing orange ball.
Memories of time teaching younger generations make officiating now more enjoyable. I look at the players today, older and more experienced, and imagine when they were younger, when scholarships and playing time weren’t considerations, and fun and learning meant everything.
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