4 minute read
LAST CALL
Cell Calls
In an environment where segregation is at an all-time high, separating the general population by both demographics and geography, there’s one thing that draws everyone together in unity. The entire general population can let go of ill feelings and smile and have fun when they participate in intramural sports.
I have been incarcerated in federal prison for the last several years. Since I wasn’t born with an athletic bone in my body, joining a sports team wasn’t anywhere in my near future. I highly enjoyed the environment created around these sports though and wanted to experience a tension-free zone these sporting events radiated. I decided there is a way I can get involved — I turned to officiating.
Refereeing for a prison sport isn’t ideal, to say the least, and not just anyone can do it. In a place where violence can spark from the smallest of incidents, one wrong call — or even a right one — can easily end up in a brawl. But I still had this burning desire to get involved, so I pursued it.
Prior to refereeing an event, all interested parties meet and bond together just like any other sports team. For several weeks, we undergo a series of training sessions to make sure we’re all properly prepared and ready for the job. The training includes watching video clips and how to make the proper call. We are given a modified high school rulebook to study and follow. After a final test, we’re certified officials and ready for the big day.
By far, the most popular sport in the prison population is softball. Every game, the entire bleachers are full with fans cheering for their respective home units. My first game officiating involved my own housing unit. The words of another veteran referee ran through my head: “Don’t be biased. That’s the number-one rule.”
I was placed as the first-base umpire. This was a huge responsibility as every batter had to potentially cross paths with me. As both my anxiety and adrenaline creeped up, the first pitch was thrown. I felt like the spotlight was more on me than on the players, so I braced myself. I looked in the batter’s box and it was a friend of mine from my unit. He swung and connected with a drive toward short. The ball was fielded and thrown to first. The players, the fans and the other umpires looked to me for my call. As I swallowed the lump in my throat, I finally screeched, “You’re out!”
After the first call, the rest of the game went a lot smoother. I definitely made some close calls which went against my own unit, but I felt the job was above everything else and am still confident in those decisions to this day. My calls became more clear and decisive as my anxiety finally faded away. After the game was over, my housing unit was upset with me and I immediately found myself in conflict. Luckily, others have been in my position before and alleviated the situation.
As the season continued, I grew more confident in myself and in the game. I have grown as a fan and an official with every game. The other umpires have been helpful since day one, showing support and assisting me when I needed it and not letting the segregation get between us. With the conclusion of one sports season, another one immediately follows.
However, while COVID-19 ran its vicious course on the world and reshaped life as we thought we knew it, the prison environment did not avoid this negative impact. Not only were extracurricular activities and recreation canceled, inmates all across the nation were tightly secured in our cells for months on end. To be honest, though, not even this could stop me from pursuing further knowledge of officiating.
I took advantage of the additional cell time to dive deeper into the NFHS rulebook that was presented to me a few years ago. Although I haven’t had the opportunity to officiate a wide variety of sports, or have a great deal of experience in my short officiating career, I began to stretch my horizons a bit. I started personal unofficial training sessions in kickball, hockey and even a variety of women’s sports. A couple of other inmates and I even developed mini pop-quizzes to challenge each other and test our knowledge.
Reopening of these sports events in the prison system is not in any foreseeable future. As my release date slowly approaches and I prepare to enter a post-COVID world, refereeing is something positive I can take with me. My wife currently participates in several bar league sports and even coaches a youth soccer team. With her assistance, I feel I’ll be able to get my foot in the door pretty easily and pursue this further, as well as spend some much needed quality time with her. Even then, I must keep in mind that number-one rule though: Don’t be biased! Jacob Keiter, East Hanover Township, Pa., is currently an inmate at a federal prison. He is a featured columnist for a local newspaper where he shares his experiences from prison with the general public.
Do you have a personal officiating story to tell?
