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DeRosa cites officiating worries
Younger numbers aren’t growing
By Greg Gulas
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
Having spent the past 42 years as a basketball official, former NBA and current college referee Joe DeRosa is qualified to say he is worried about the state of officiating at its lower levels.
Speaking to the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s weekly meeting at Avion Banquet Center, DeRosa said retention is down and average age up, two trends that need to be reversed before lower levels of play begin to feel the effects.
“I was looking at some officiating data on the state of Ohio the other day and since 2010, we’ve lost 10 percent of our officials,” DeRosa said. “We’ve lost 800 officials this year alone.”
He said there are multiple reasons for the decline, yet one remains quite apparent.
“One of the biggest reasons is abuse by parents and fans and it isn’t getting better,” he said. “It’s a major problem and a major issue.
“A young referee with potential and talent is moving in a different direction. They are going straight to the college ranks and filling the shoes of those referees that are retiring.”
According to DeRosa, the average age of a referee has shifted and not necessarily in the right direction.
“The average now is 50 years old,” he said. “Right now, we have more officials over age 60 that we do under age 30.
“It’s almost to the point where we won’t have enough varsity officials, let alone enough to work junior varsity or junior high games.
“There’s a tremendous need right now for officials so this is an opportune time to get started.”
DeRosa retired from the NBA in 2010. Despite a scaled back college schedule, he still managed to work 55 games in the Big 12, Conference USA and Missouri Valley Conference this past season.
He remains one of two basketball officials — the other is Joe Forte — to work the Final Four, advance to the NBA and work the finals and be chosen to work the Olympics. DeRosa worked the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Forte’s son (Brian) and DeRosa’s son (J.B.) are NBA officials.
“In my opinion, Joe Forte should be in the basketball hall of fame,” he said. “He came up in an age when there were only two officials and the game was pure, but he was the pioneer to what we’ve accomplished.
“He helped a lot of referees along the way and never asked for any notoriety.”
DeRosa’s son just completed his second professional season.
“His progression has been great thus far and obviously my wife, Patti, and I are very proud of him,” he said.
Along with his wife, the DeRosas run Smitty Apparel, which supplies everything officials for all sports.
They’ve gone from a local supplier to statewide, regional, nationwide and are now international, growth that DeRosa says keeps him and wife busy.
“Shirts and pants are our biggest sellers and they are worn by everyone in junior high to the professional ranks,” he said. “Every umpire in the upcoming College World Series will be outfitted by us.
“Patti and I have been in some type of business since 1983, but this is the most challenging by far.
“She has been there every step along the way and has done a tremendous job with everything.”
DeRosa also realizes that his career is winding down.
“I’ve had a great journey and it is coming close to the end,” he said. ”It’s almost time to pass the torch and will be an honor to do so when that time comes.”
Next Monday, Matt Thompson, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ assistant general manager for sales, will be guest speaker.