The Challenge. A Female Perspective: How to assist underrepresented populations lessen hurdles to sports officiating

Transcription

1 The Challenge A Female Perspective: How to assist underrepresented populations lessen hurdles to sports officiating Shanell L. Young, FHSAA Coordinator of Technology and Athletics The Florida High School Athletic Association... building leaders through teamwork, sportsmanship and citizenship.

2 The Challenge Shortage of sport officials at the high school level A third of all officials quit after their first year Some of the top reasons that referees quit include: Obligations to their primary career or other job Sportsmanship of the participants Sportsmanship of the spectators Time away from family Low game fees

3 The Challenge Female Officials Found Three (3) Common Trends 1. Lack of Mutual Respect from Male Counterparts 2. Perceived Inequity of Policies 3. Lack of Role Modeling and Mentoring

4 Lack of Mutual Respect How well one Expertise matches their Assignments Preformed cliques and the fostering of an uncomfortable environment with older officials Notion of having work discredited by some co-officials Lack of welcoming atmosphere and not a part of the officiating community Mix crews

5 Lack of Mutual Respect Inclusion Vision Attract, engage and develop top talent that reflects your membership Officiating administrators can accomplish this by Creating a culture that values inclusion Making a more concerted effort to implement diversity training All leaders practice behaviors that demonstrate inclusion Leverage & value differences and encourage unique ideas, perspectives and experiences Strive to fully engage all officials

6 Inequity of Policies Negative feelings and perceptions regarding the procedures and management of work assignments A lack of transparency Game assignments how crews of officials were put together Felt overlooked for appointments at high-level games based on gender, not on ability

7 Inequity of Policies Transparency Administrators must find ways to ensure that the implementation of policies is transparent Create step-by-step procedures on determining game assignments Written Posted Develop a formal grievance to handle discrepancies Committee Make assignments visible to all officials Assignment Software

8 Role Modeling, Mentoring & Evaluations Lack of Mentorships They lacked a mentor to help them navigate the politics Lack of Role Models The lack of role models and thus, mentors that shared a common experience in terms of overcoming gendered barriers Lack of Evaluations and Assessment No way of knowing how to improve their trade

9 Role Modeling and Mentoring What Is Mentoring Today? Mentors are caring individuals who, provide support, counsel, friendship, reinforcement and a constructive example Mentoring is not a one-size-fits-all proposition Effective mentoring programs offer enough flexibility to help meet each mentee s personal needs, yet allow mentoring relationships to flourish

10 Goals of an Evaluation Program 1. To improve individual officials 2. To rank order individual officials 3. Promote standardized mechanics through the evaluation process 4. To be consistent 5. Stop the biasness of the observers

11 Recruiting Promote and subsidize initiatives by local associations Unique, positive programing - address areas that need attention Encouraging female officials Put effort into educating associations and members Focus on respecting ALL officials Develop policies and procedures regarding expectations Behavior on and off the court/field Provide focus on improving the social side of officiating Increase retention

12 Conclusion Lack of Mutual Respect More education Zero-tolerance policies Perceived Inequity of Policies Transparency Lack of Role Modeling and Mentoring Develop programing Recruiting Public service announcements

13 Female Administrators: Issues Facing Underrepresented Populations Que Tucker, NCHSAA Interim Commissioner NCHSAA: Inspiring Individuals, Encouraging Excellence Through Education-Based Athletics"

14 Game Plan Reality of the Topic Definitions The Issues Addressing the Issues Parting Thoughts

15 Reality of the Topic Overt discrimination may have been driven out of organizations, but Subtle racism and/or gender discrimination still exists May account for the lack of movement in shattering the glass ceiling It is so entrenched in some organizations that it is difficult to detect

16 Definitions The Glass Ceiling A barrier between women and the top-level positions for which they are striving The Brick Wall Reaching organizational plateaus which are artificial barriers The Underrepresented Groups who have been denied access and/or suffered past institutional discrimination in the United States.

17 Breaking the Barriers Exceed performance expectations Develop a style with which managers are comfortable Look for challenging assignments

18 The Issues The leadership role is perceived as a nontraditional role Lack of role models, mentors or sponsors Lack of peer acceptance Exclusion Can be subject to subtle or overt acts of racism and sexism

19 The Issues, Cont. Authority is often challenged by subordinates Subject to higher performance level requirements Perceived performance weaknesses are often associated with race and/or sex Limits are placed on their decision-making responsibility Advancement opportunities are restricted

20 Addressing the Issues Admit that the challenges and issues do exist Develop programs to address the problems Persons hiring should equally commit to retaining them Share what the expectations are Select mentors who exhibit behavior that encourages and promotes confidence

21 Our Responsibility We must realize that we live in a society where biases really do exist We must face our own biases and attitudes We must counteract them Otherwise we support biases through our silence Teach young people to value differences between people as much as the similarities

22 Think About It We are the examples Would give athletes an opportunity to learn about others To help with connecting such attitudes to real life situations Athletics: can be a key contributor to opening doors ethnic, cultural and racial

23 In Conclusion America is not like a blanket-one piece of unbroken cloth, the same color, the same texture, the same size. America is more like a quilt-many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes-all woven and held together by a common thread. Jesse Jackson

24 Questions Issues Facing Under-Represented Populations Que Tucker, NCHSAA Interim Commissioner Shanell L. Young, FHSAA Coordinator of Technology and Athletics