Andrew McGrath refereed more than 10 Virginia youth and high school football games per weekend in 2003 and 2004, his first two years as an official. But now that he is a NCAA Division III "white hat" official, or crew-chief, and a five-year veteran of the Fairfax County Football Officials Association, McGrath says it was all worth it.
"It's all about paying your dues," said McGrath, a USA Football officiating member who worked the 41-9 Wesley College Wolverines victory against the Widener University Pride on Saturday, Sept. 20. "The more games you work, the more experience you have. You get more opportunities to apply the rules."
Having played the game also helps in applying the rules, just as it did for third-year official Robb Mackett, who played college football at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn.
Currently a high school and Pop Warner official in Naples, Fla., Mackett's recent venture into officiating helped him get back into the game after 20 years in business and management.
"I absolutely love [officiating]," said USA Football officiating member Mackett, who works as either a line judge or linesman during games. "I got into it for the love of the game and the kids. I love the camaraderie between my fellow officials ... I wish I could have started 20 years ago."
Tom Rau, a 31-year high school officiating veteran in Genesee County, Mich., also shares McGrath's worth ethic and Mackett's passion for football.
A game official since 1976, Rau earned certification as an officiating trainer from the Michigan High School Athletic Association in 1993 and has officiated Michigan's high school state finals. He also officiated for 10 years alongside his son, Tom, who is now an NCAA Division II official. He even officiated games that Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Jake Long, the first pick in this year's NFL draft, played in throughout junior high and high school.
With an officiating career six times longer than McGrath's and ten times longer than Mackett's, Rau knows a thing or two about being a "rookie," a term he uses to describe referees with less than five years of experience.
"You find two kinds of officials that start out," Rau said. "There are those that are too eager, and unfortunately, I was one of them. Then there are those that are scared. You try to mold them into the perfect official who sees the right things."
Eager doesn't begin to describe McGrath's early workload, which has since decreased to a more reasonable one game per weekend. This eagerness translates into excitement for Mackett, as he lights up with enthusiasm whenever he talks about being a referee.
"The night I did my first varsity game was a night I'll never forget," Mackett said. "I absolutely love [football]. I wish I could've gotten into it 20 years ago."
Despite their enthusiastic approach to the game of football and their relatively new careers, calm and collected decision-making prevails when the two newer officials call games.
"You need to use judgment," McGrath said. "These are very heated games. Players are going to get into it. We do not want to just pop the flag and assess the penalty."
Rau himself was an eager official when he first started, perhaps a little too eager. As a linesman, he would speed into the crowd of players after every play, making sure he didn't miss a second of the action.
"About the fifth time I did that, the [head official] told me to relax," Rau said.
After 31 years on the job, most of them spent directing his own officiating crew, Rau has certainly let the game come to him.
The rules, coaching techniques, officiating crews and the emphasis on good sportsmanship have all evolved over the years. Now crews consist of five - not four - officials. Coaches are also teaching safer techniques for tackling, Rau said. Before each of his games, Rau likes to go over the importance of sportsmanship with the coaches and players.
Such pioneering work was made possible by understanding what needed improvement at the youth and high school football levels.
"There are three things that ruin a game," Rau said. "Too many flags, injuries and fighting. The rule changes and better techniques have affected all three things."
The younger referees have stepped up to the challenge and prepare themselves to meet today's changing standards.
Mackett and the more than 30 other members of the Collier Sports Officials Association meet regularly to study the rules, go over their mechanics and critique their performances on film. In addition to their self-imposed guidelines, the Florida High School Athletic Association requires officials within the state to pass an officiating proficiency exam with a score of at least 80 percent.
In addition to volunteering for "every game he can get," McGrath keeps a diary of what went well and what went wrong in each game he officiated.
"Whether or not the NCAA sees it, there are things I can improve on each game," McGrath said.
Rau advises officials to maintain this type of commitment to their job.
"They are responsible for reading and knowing the rules and mechanics," he said. "We'll take the youngest kids and pair them with rookie coaches and expect not to have a train wreck."
