How does March Madness happen? It all starts in our communities. We need fans of the sport to get involved. Basketball officials are needed just like all sport officials are needed. Get off the couch, quit yelling at officials and do your community a favor by getting involved. All those games you’re watching on TV have referees. Where do you think they started? They started working the youth, junior high, recreation and high school games. Being a basketball official is a labor of love – for the game.

It is community service: Games can’t be played without officials. High school and college students need to get involved after their playing days are over. Men and women are needed. What a way to stay in shape and earn some money on top of all that enjoyment. I am proud to say that I spent the last 35 years running up and down the courts in New York, New Mexico and Colorado with some of the finest individuals that I know. I met a female player/student that advised me that she would be president of the United States of America some day. I officiated two players that made it to the NBA.

My only regret is that I waited until I was 30 years old to start my officiating journey. Basketball officials in the area are dwindling; there are more old officials than young ones. The National Federation of State High Schools states that 7.8 million our high school students participated in sports in 2013-2014. Our kids and grandkids deserve to have high school sports for generations to come.

Be brave, stop hollering at officials, step out, and try helping your community by joining your local high school officials association.

Dean S. Ellison

Durango