GETTING IT RIGHT

Golf for a Good Cause

By Brad Tittrington

In the world of sports, coaches and officials do not always see eye to eye.

However, when it comes to fighting cancer, the two sides are definitely on the same team. One prime example is the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The nonprofit charity was founded in 2007 from the vision of the organization’s namesake, Kay Yow, the North Carolina State head women’s basketball coach who ultimately lost her fight to cancer in 2009. The fund has allocated $7.88 million to scientific research in support of women’s cancer research and related programs.

The fund also features two basketball officials on its board of directors — Dee Kantner and Joe Vaszily — both of whom have worked numerous NCAA women’s Final Fours and national championships and had the opportunity to officiate Yow’s games on several occasions.

“This is an amazing fund,” Kantner said. “If you read about Kay or do any kind of research, you will see the impact she had.”

One of the premier fundraising events for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund is its Golf Classic. This year’s event, the 12th annual, took place in Pinehurst, N.C., in August, and several basketball officials took part. From its inception in 2008, the Golf Classic has grown each year. This year, the event raised almost $500,000 and more than 30 officials participated.

“Even coming out of COVID, we’ve had phenomenal participation the last couple of years,” Vaszily said. “Having Dee and me on the board helps that cause. This year was great because we got some West Coast officials. We are trying to broaden it obviously. Many of the people who are coming to the outing had never officiated Kay when she was a head coach back in the 2000s. For those of us who have, it’s an important cause.”

This year’s cause was even more emotional for the officials as Charlene Curtis, former ACC coordinator of women’s basketball officials, died from cancer just prior to the event. The reception at the Golf Classic featured a moment where all the basketball officials in attendance were brought onto the stage.

“It was kind of the last step in her basketball journey,” Vaszily said. “It was particularly special for all of us who were able to be there.”

The response from the officiating community to the Golf Classic and the other fundraising endeavors throughout the year are not lost on the those involved with the fund either.

“The officiating community has responded unbelievably, amazingly well,” Kantner said. “In the fall, we have pullover drives and we are raising money and we have really impressed everyone in the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. We are just getting started, I know it. We have an amazing group of people who are responding to their call to duty, if you will, to fight all cancers in women.”

Kantner said she often jokes with coaches on the board that they should appreciate the officials instead of treating them like pariahs.

“We are good people,” she said. “We just have a job to do that sometimes turns out to be adversarial. Who we are at the core are really good people who have responded amazingly to this call.” Brad Tittrington is an associate editor for Referee. 

Officials across multiple sports joined together for the Kay Yow Fund Golf Classic at the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C. Lacrosse Lionheart

Charlottesville, Va., lacrosse referee Jim Loffredo, 50, never could have imagined the training he received as a fourth-grade teacher would ultimately help him on the field. However, while working a Men’s 65-plus Division game at the Lake Placid (N.Y.) Classic in August, Loffredo had his training put to the test.

While running up field following a play, Loffredo heard players yelling for help at the other end of the field. When he turned around, Loffredo noticed a player for one of the teams lying on the ground. Loffredo stopped play and ran to the other end of the field.

“As I arrived, another player was already doing chest compressions on the fallen player,” Loffredo told USA Lacrosse. “Since I have had CPR training, I relieved him and continued doing the compressions.”

Loffredo’s CPR and the on-site AED ultimately saved the player, Peter Tracy, 70, of Lutherville, Md., who spent one night in the hospital and was discharged.

SOURCE: USA LACROSSE

NFHS, Iowa Battle Behavior

The NFHS and the state of Iowa are teaming up to try to quell the tide of bad behavior at high school events and the impact it has on the officials shortage plaguing the country. NFHS CEO Karissa Niehoff, Iowa High School Athletic Association Executive Director Tom Keating and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Executive Director Jean Berger have combined to write and distribute an opinion piece that warns of the negative behavior witnessed at recent sporting events.

“Officials are leaving the profession faster than new ones are entering it,” the authors said. “This is a serious concern for us. If it continues, we may eventually see games and competitions canceled due to a lack of officials.”

The three called for everyone involved in high school athletics to turn their focus to supporting the athletes and stay away from criticizing officials.

SOURCE NWESTIOWA.COM

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