Officials 101: Learning From Mentors

 In this episode, we bring together a panel of rising "star" officials for a dynamic, moderated discussion on the pivotal role of mentorship in their journeys to becoming officials. Our guests will share personal stories of how mentors have shaped their careers, provided guidance through challenges, and influenced their development both on and off the field. 

What is WC 101?

Women’s Commission 101 is a podcast series dedicated to advancing professional opportunities for women in USATF. This series serves as a critical platform to fulfill the strategic goal of promoting professional growth and leadership among women in USATF. Through engaging interviews, insightful discussions, and expert-led segments, the podcast aligns with our mission to collaborate with key partners to deliver leadership seminars and training tailored to women in the area of Officials, Coaching, and Mentors.

LaVonna: Welcome everyone.

This is another episode
of Women's Commission 101.

This is a podcast series dedicated
to advancing professional

opportunities for women within USATF.

This series serves as a critical
platform to fulfill the strategic

goal of promoting professional
growth and leadership opportunities.

Through engaging interviews,
insightful discussions, and expert

led segments, this podcast aligns with
our mission at the Women's Commission

to collaborate with key partners
to develop leadership seminars and

training tailored to women in the areas
of officials, coachings, and mentors.

This is our second episode associated
with Officials 101 and we are so

excited to have this conversation.

We've entitled this episode,
Learning from Mentors.

It will be moderated by Amanda Pascoe
and she will have questions from,

coming from our group of women who
have put together this episode.

And so I'll pass this on to Amanda
and she'll take it from here.

Amanda: And thank you,
LaVonna, for that introduction.

So we are so lucky today, to be joined
by two of our members of our Women's

Commission Resources 101 committee, who
specializes in putting out resources for

women in different aspects of the sport.

We have Marla Lindsay and
Markita Mayans joining us.

And then we also have three
additional officials who are very

accomplished and experienced, who
are going to be sharing some more,

Advice and insights on officiating.

We have Regina Bagby, Mary Beth
Bertrands, and Chelsea Flowers.

And our goal in today's conversation
is to hear more about all of their

experiences as officials and then share
some information on how someone can get

involved and contribute as an official.

I'd love to start our conversation
off by hearing an introduction from

each of you, including your name.

Where you are from and then
how did you become an official

Regina: I guess since I'm the
senior person, I'll start.

My name is Regina Bagsy.

I live in Longview, Texas now.

I was originally from
San Diego, California.

I ran track in the summer.

I mean, in high school,
I didn't do college.

I did the hundred hurdles and a
440 relay, which is anybody knows

what that is a long time ago.

So I'm probably one of
the oldest officials here.

I got into track because my son was
running and I had a summer track team

and I was always out there anyway.

So they say you might
as well get certified.

So that's how I originally started
with being a certified official.

Cathy: So I similar background
with, I ran in high school.

I ran in college, so I did cross country
and track and I was a distance runner.

And I knew I wanted to
stay involved in the sport.

I have been involved since I was
in my mom's stomach because my dad

is a cross country and track coach.

So I was always at meets growing up.

And then when I graduated from
college, I wasn't working in a job

that was conducive to coaching.

I just didn't have the time for that.

And my dad was like, well, why don't
you get involved as an official?

That way you can still contribute
and, you know, pick what meets

you want to do on weekends.

But it's not as time consuming
going to daily practices.

So that's how I got involved.

Amanda: Yeah.

And I think officiating from you and
from other people I've heard, it is

a wonderful way to stay involved in
the sport without necessarily needing

to have inordinate time commitments.

Marla: And I think I can go
next if the next if it's okay.

I'm Marla Lindsay from North Carolina
out of the North Carolina Association.

I ran track at Western
Carolina University.

After graduating from college, of
course, you know, we get busy with

our professional careers, but when
I began To go through my journey

and getting back into our sport.

It was one of my godfather mentors
who was my teammate's father,

DePaul Mintman, who basically kind
of walked me into officiating.

And he said, the best way for you
to be the best coach is to learn.

The rules of the sport first . 'cause
he was already an athlete and I I

learned the rules and then I was taken
underneath the wing with Al Davis and

it was been a whirlwind from there
of just learnings of ups and downs.

And it is an amazing adventure
if anyone chooses to go into it.

Amanda: Thank you so much for sharing.

Chelsea: I guess I could go next.

So I'm currently residing in Ohio
but I'm a certified in Michigan,

because I'm a, I call myself a border
hopper, so I'm, like, right there.

But I became an official back in 2016.

I I started off as a volunteer
when I was in college because

I've only ran in high school.

I did not run in college but I really
loved the sport of track and field and

wanted to stay involved so I volunteered
with a couple national meets that my

college was hosting And got to talk to
some of the officials that were There you

know, because I didn't really know how
to become an official and all of that.

But they kind of talked me into
it, and you know, the following

year after I graduated, I became an
official after that to kind of stay

involved in the sport that I love

Amanda: Yeah, thank you
again for sharing that.

And I would love to hear from each of you.

I know you all mentioned some different
people who are very impactful in your

track and field journey and how that led
to you wanting to pursue officiating.

I'd love it if you could share a little
bit more about any mentor or mentors

who, you know we're very impactful in
your journey to becoming an official

and progressing as an official.

Regina: Well, with me, it was, it
started, it was, it was Doc Beavers,

the great Doc Beavers, that had
been around for a long, long time.

My son was a decathlete, so I
started out at first doing field

events, and I met him at Stephen F.

Austin University, and worked
clerking that first time, and he

said, you know what, you're pretty
good at this, you need to follow me

around, so he kind of mentored me.

And so there's lots of meets in Texas.

So I was able to have him as a mentor
and during the summer times and stuff,

when I did like USA meets and all, I
was, I worked Terry Tut Lynn Kersak,

Karen Kersak I just call myself just
doing the job that I was trying to

do the best job I could do, and they
would always say, you know what?

You're pretty good at this clerking.

So I'm a master clerk and I'm a
national in the throws because throws

is my second love too with my son
being a decap athlete, you know, I

had to be out there for everything.

So I, I love the throws as well,
so I clerked some and then I also.

Yeah.

Amanda: And I think as a multi
event athlete myself, I know how

important it is to have officials
throughout those bigger competitions.

And it sounds like right from
the start, you're someone who

is able to help out quite a bit.

I'd love to hear about any other
mentors that are impactful on the

journey to becoming an official.

Marla: Speaking on mentors is I
remember when I first started in

officiating at that time, I don't
think it was as pressing because

we had such a large group of mentor
officials at the time when I came in.

But for North, North Carolina, I
really enjoyed the fact that when I

took the reins and said, okay, I'll
officiate and it's not just a job.

You're not getting just paid a
little bit of money to run a meet,

is that they took it very seriously.

So it was like a, just
learn by doing mentality.

They are going to teach you
as much as they can give you.

You have to take it and then
you have to run with it.

There's no time to, you know, go
through little things at a time and

then make, make a mistake or whatnot.

It's just constantly learning,
learning, learning, learning, failing,

and learning a little bit better and
learning good business practices.

And that's something that the mentors that
I had That are still out there working

and I wish that we can retire them.

But, cause they're tired.

I'm not quite sure, but just learning a
lot of the the trade practices building

their own equipment, cause you don't have
to go out there and buy all that stuff.

So out of North Carolina, it was, you
know, with having Al and having the Paul

Mittman I can go on and on with so many
people that I come in close contact with.

It was amazing.

learning experience because they
allowed me to fail, but they also

taught me to say, okay, well,
what are you going to do next?

And I learned a lot of
great things from that.

So being, having mentor officials in
your line of sight at all times, it's

always like was as best practice.

And I got that from those
wonderful gentlemen that

walked me through this journey.

Amanda: Yeah, so it sounds like there
were many mentors and you're lucky enough

to always have someone to look up to.

Marla: Yeah, it was a wonderful experience
and most people they ask for help.

But the, you know, again, we're working,
we're professionals, but the best way

to learn is to learn through doing
and I try to encourage every Everyone

that I, that comes up underneath me,
please go out there and give it a try.

Try all the disciplines.

If you was a jumper, that's great.

But I was a jumper as well.

And I thought, well, that's
all I want to do is jumps.

But I was, you know, said,
Hey, you got to try everything.

You got to be proficient at everything.

There's no such thing as just one,
you know place where you can be.

So I would really encourage people
to look at mentors that's willing

to allow them to try many, many
different positions in officiating.

Amanda: Yeah, that's a really interesting
perspective, I'd love to hear a little

bit more about a mentor who influenced
your decision to specialize in the

area that you specialize in officiating
or a mentor who encouraged you to

officiate in multiple different areas.

Mary Beth, I'd love to
hear your thoughts on that.

Mary Beth: Yeah.

So I am really lucky because I live in
central Ohio, so I have the Kurzacs there.

So I get both running and
field events from them.

I have Terry Tut who mainly does clerking,
you know, all these people have worked.

Multiple Olympic trials
have worked Olympics.

And so I am constantly picking
their brains and it's funny.

Cause when I first started, I was
extremely shy and they didn't know

what area I was going to end up
working in because like, okay, you're

going to need to learn to speak up.

And now they're like, oh, now, now
we don't have any problems with that.

So Lynn always tells me, and I
mean, other officials as well, but

kind of make yourself hireable.

Meaning, learn a bunch of different
areas, so that if you're at a

meet, they know they can use you.

Yes, you will end up falling into your
place, and for me it was clerking just

because I have spent my life on the
track but I love doing throws as well.

And then it's just been more
recently when at bigger meets that

I've been doing line clerking and
that's kind of where I'm at now.

But in a general meet, I mean, I'm,
I'm clerking all the time and it's

just finding the space that you're
comfortable in, but still trying

out all of the different areas.

So that you can be used in other places.

Amanda: Yeah, I love that perspective
and just the importance of learning

about many different areas.

Chelsea, I'd love to hear from you.

Was there an official mentor that you
had who influenced your decision to

specialize in one area or get to know
a lot of different areas as well?

Chelsea: Yeah, so when I first got
certified back in 2016, I was fortunate

enough to get in contact with an official
named Neno Doherty who squeezed me into

my first championship meet with USATF,
which was a master's meet at Grand Valley.

And I had the opportunity to Meet
the late Sherry Hott, who I was

assigned on her crew as a clerk.

So I had no idea what I was doing.

First meet ever.

And she actually made me
fall in love with clerking.

Sorry, I get like chipped up
because, you know, I miss her.

But she's taught me a good amount
of everything I know about clerking.

You know, I try to follow in
her footsteps, I guess, in a,

in the way that I do things.

Anthony Wolbert is also
another person that has.

kind of steered me towards the clerking
side because I love meeting every

athlete at every meet, you know,
taking them to the line, making sure

things are running how it should be.

Because clerks are kind of
responsible for keeping things

on time in terms of running.

I would say you know, those people
have kind of taught me to be

assertive, to be organized, to do
the things that need to be done to

Amanda: Yeah, thank you so much.

I can tell those mentors we had
were incredibly impactful especially

early on, but also through the years.

And so I know with officiating,
we not only you know, we You know,

help with the logistical side
and the objective side of meats.

But I think there's also a lot
of amazing memories to be made.

And you watch athletes and coaches
make a lot of memories, but I think it

would be awesome to hear from you all.

If you have a memory or memories that
stand out, most is an official Regina,

feel free to share your thoughts.

Regina: I've worked now three Olympic
trials and what I think is so awesome as a

clerk, we all the athletes go through us.

So we see everybody and they come
through us and go out there and run.

And to see them at the Olympics
and know, you know, you were a part

of helping them to be able to go.

There is just awesome.

Amanda: Yeah, I think it must
be such a special feeling.

One thing that came to mind just
now, anyone feel free to chime in.

Has there ever been an athlete that
you've gotten to officiate at multiple

meets, maybe seeing them at a meet where
they qualified for a bigger one that

you then officiated or gotten to see an
athlete progressed through the years?

Does anyone have an athlete like that?

Yeah.

Chelsea: I'm a NCAA D2 official,
I like to say, because that's

what I apply for every year.

There's a particular athlete, Trevor
Bassett, who I got to see through

all four years of his college
career at Ashland here in Ohio.

And to see him make it to the Olympics
this year was actually really cool.

So it's kind of, you know,
I've been watching him for the

last, you know, four years.

Five, six years compete.

It's been really awesome to see him,
you know, make it to the top level.

Cause you know, the Olympics is,
I would just imagine that every

athlete's aspiring to be at.

Marla: Okay.

I had an opportunity, several
opportunities, but one that just stands

out most recently was Tamara Clark.

She's always been, her family were
family friends, but throughout her

entire athletic career middle school to
high school we saw this prominent young

lady just come out and just perform.

I remember there's meets that I
officiated at or coached at where she

would have to run by herself because
there was no one to run in the heat

with her on the poise to officiate and
be a I think at that time I was Elaine.

Yeah, I was a lane judge and to
see her now on the big stage in the

Olympics being on the plane coming
from Eugene and, you know, just

saying, Hey, how you doing girl?

And just to see her where she is now and
to be in any officiating a capacity and

seeing that and being front and center,
it hits home because this is what we do.

You know, those kids see us and they
smile because they know they see

a familiar face and that's, what's
awesome about being an official too.

So is.

It was almost like a
family reunion in a sense.

Amanda: Absolutely.

And I think for a lot of athletes,
especially if they're meets in.

You know, a similar area or with
similar set of competitors, they get

to see a lot of the same officials
and that is a familiar and ends up

being part of a lot of the memories
and performances from those meets.

And then Marquita or Mary Beth do you
have a, Memorable experience or particular

experience officiating an athlete
over the years that stands out to you.

Marquita: One memorable experience.

I'm from Virginia, so seeing
Grant Holloway in high school,

competing for grass field and
just watching him develop over the

years at the university of Florida.

And now he finally got the infamous
gold medal that he's been wanting for,

for years that he's been fighting for.

So just watching him as an
official It's over the years.

That's just one of the highlights for me.

Amanda: Yeah.

Yeah.

And that is such an amazing example
of getting to see someone obviously

very talented from their early years
up through accomplishing but I'm also

really interested to know, have you
had any experiences as an official

where you question this path or you
realize this was very difficult or not

quite what you thought it would be?

Regina, feel free to start us off again.

Regina: Not really, because
you always need officials.

And I come up was raised with a
family that always volunteered.

So when you're short, you go
out there and you volunteer.

So I was always the one that was
out there when everybody else

was gone, still working, whatever
event that needed to be worked.

My son went to a junior college
and they had a, just a little meet

with like three teams and it was
supposed to be all these officials.

Two of us showed up and we had to
do all the events except for like

the pro vault and the high jump.

So when you're in track and field, I just
think you do whatever needs to be done.

Amanda: Think would be really helpful for
our audience to get into a little more

of the logistical side of officiating.

So you all have obviously
moved up the ranks of officials

officiated at some huge meets.

But when you're just getting started,
how do you find meets to officiate at?

Marla: I chime back on the the
previous question because I

actually I'm very transparent.

And officiating is not always beautiful.

And I think that that's what everybody
needs to to also understand that part.

There's times that you're working
these long hours, very hot hours.

You're only getting paid a certain amount.

Your passion only can
drive you, but so long.

That's what officiating is, is like we're.

We're there for the athlete, but
we're also there to make sure that

everything's ran smoothly, but there's
meets that you're going to be at

where you're going to be chastised.

You're going to be exhausted.

Your eyes is going to not see
what you thought you're going to

see, what you thought you saw.

And you're going to have coaches
and people come, I would say,

we'll say out of pocket, but we
must always remain professional.

So that's one of the things
that can definitely, there's a

conversation that needs to be had.

And not just talk about all
the beautiful things about it.

Let's talk about the, the, the trials
that comes with being an official.

Amanda: Yeah.

And I'm so glad that you shared
that because I think, you know, it

is something that is challenging.

These are long meets and you're doing
difficult tasks for a lot of it.

I think you raised a couple of
very important points in there.

One, just being the online
resources that USATF puts out.

I was wondering if you could please
share a little bit more about what

exactly those resources are called
and then where online can be cheap,

Can people potentially find them?

Marla: I go online to usatf.

org and if you go to officiating
if I'm thinking correctly,

you go and you find resources.

You can find that link resources.

You can kind of put in that keyword
and it's like, it's, I think it's like

better practices and it just shows you
different documents and how to, what,

what's the things that you need to to
have in a situation like, for instance,

if you're doing a long jump and how
many, you know tacks should you put down?

What kind of, how would you measure
this in this particular situation?

You can find all your forms and
paperwork that is needed just in case

there's you know, Records broken.

That would make you a much
better informed official.

Amanda: Yeah.

No, I'm so glad that you mentioned
that because I think points back to

the importance of mentorship because
it sounds like in addition to referring

to these resources, you also referred
to a lot of really amazing mentors in

the situations where it wasn't quite
as obvious what you'd want to be doing.

Does anyone else have, you know, a
resource or someone that they would turn

to when they were in a little bit of a
more complicated situation as an official?

Mary Beth: I would just say if
you're not the head, always following

that chain of command and going
to your head to ask questions.

And then in a different capacity,
how you mentioned usatf.

org a lot of our, a lot of
our different organizations.

Like we have training
sessions throughout the year.

So just attending something like
that so that you can go through

rules, training, best practices.

So talking to your cert chair or
training chair within your state

organization and finding those every year.

Amanda: Yeah.

Thank you again for bringing up a great
point because you know, I think in the

different organizations, whether it's USA
track and fields or, you know, state based

organization, there is a chain of command.

And, you know, that's a way to get
questions answered or, you know,

You have someone to follow if it's
not quite as clear cut what to do.

I do want to circle back to some of
the more logistical questions and

considerations with being an official,
because I know for a lot of people

aspiring to become an official, it
is so important to find meets to

officiate at and fill out a yearly
calendar of meats to officiate at.

I know we heard Regina's thoughts on this
but Chelsea, I'd love to hear from you.

How might you find meats to officiate at?

And what might a typical year of
officiating look like for you?

Chelsea: Oh yeah, so like when
I first started getting into

officiating, you know, it's always
like, how do I apply for these meats?

Like, I didn't even know there
was an application for this.

But you know, it's always, Your local
high schools, your colleges in your

area, they're always looking for
officials, even for like the regular

seasons, indoors and outdoor meets.

Reach out to those coaches and say,
Hey, I'm a new certified official.

Do you need someone to, you know, work
such and such event, which is why it's

so good to be a well rounded official.

So that way you don't just have like one
area that you can work, but you can work

anywhere that's, that they need help.

I'd say just don't be afraid to.

Reach out to, you know, the meet
coordinators or coaches and say,

Hey, can I help out at this meet?

You know, even if it's a plane
right away or a car drive away,

I mean, all they can tell you is
no, you're like, no, we're full.

We don't need any officials, but
I've never actually experienced that.

They always take people because you
never know who's going to drop out at

the last minute or, you know, just having
extra hands at a meet is always helpful.

Amanda: Yeah.

Thank you so much for sharing that.

And Marquis, I'd love to hear from you.

How did you find me to officiate at and
fill out a typical year of officiating?

Marquita: Well, I, since I'm coaching,
I had to step away from officiating.

So, but previously in Virginia, the
the association chairperson was sent

out a mass email to all the officials
within the Virginia association.

And you can sign up for me.

that way.

And then also just reaching out to
the local high schools or the athletic

directors and finding out if they
need officials for any of those meets.

But generally it was more of the
chairperson for Virginia association

that was sent out a mass email saying
these are the meets we're looking

for officials and go from there.

Amanda: Yeah, those it sounds like
you both have slightly different ways

of finding meets to officiate it.

But both very effective to fill out
a calendar of meets for the year.

And I think, you know, another
thing people might be wondering

about is they become officials is
how do you move up as an official?

Because, you know, there's
different levels of it from

association to national level.

But over time, how might one
move up and as an official?

Regina, feel free to share your thoughts.

Regina: So I can tell you
exactly how to do that.

When you first come in, you
start out as an apprentice.

And at the apprentice level, you're
trying to decide what you want to do.

Track, track events or field events.

And race walk, marshal,
that kind of thing.

After about two years, at least two years
of, of, of trying to figure that out,

you move up to the association level.

When you get to the association,
and there's checklists that

people check off on you.

National and master official saying that
you're ready to move to that next level.

You go to the association level,
say, at least a minimum of two

years, you should be doing clinics.

Working getting people to check off you
on there you go to national from national

you go to masters and that's what it is.

It's a checklist system So you have
it you have mentors and you're taking

these checklists with you as you travel
to these meets So if you do a lot of

meets you can do it in the two years,
you know Other people that work a lot

may it may take them four or five years
we have I have certification clinics.

Like Marquita was saying, I, I sent out
email blasts and when I try to, when I

get a new apprentice official, if they
can tell me what they're interested in, I

try to put them with a seasoned official.

Like I'll have some, I have one guy
that's real good with the POVALT, so if

I've got an apprentice that wants to know
about the POVALT I put them with them.

We send out email blasts letting them
know about clinics We have an annual

meeting where we all get together
sometime on zoom sometime in person.

I send out Information on the
basic equipment that you're

supposed to have at a track meet.

There's also on USATF There's a
you can go on the programs go to

officials go halfway down the page.

There's like nine navy blue boxes
That tells you step by step all

the instructions, how to recertify,
how to become an official, how

the different levels are, and then
there's a couple of clinics in there.

So there's a lot of good
information there also.

Amanda: Thank you.

Yeah, that was all terrific information.

And then how might someone be able
to officiate at some of the highest

level championship meets, whether
it's the Olympic trials, the U.

S.

championships, or otherwise?

Regina: Normally you have to be at
least a national or a master official.

That's, that's the qualifications.

And that's because they want
to make sure that you know

everything that you need to know.

Marla was saying best practice.

You can pull those and you
have all your information.

But you're signed off on by
another national or master official

that says you're ready to go.

Amanda: Yeah, thank you.

And it obviously it sounds like takes a
lot of years of experience and showing you

know what to do in all of those different
situations to officiate at some of those

highest level meets and be there are some
of the past level athletes in the sport.

Well, I, you know, I love to close
out today's conversation by hearing a

little bit more about some of the great
advice you all received as an officials.

And then also, what is.

The, you know, piece of advice
you might give to an aspiring

or newer official Mary Beth.

Feel free to take it away.

Cathy: Networking is huge
in any, any field and it's

really big in officiating too.

So don't be afraid to talk to people
when there are, you know, maybe

you're at an overnight meet and people
are having dinner together or just

hanging out before or after the meet.

Talk to people and get to know
people from other associations,

other states, and just, I mean,
it, it truly becomes a family.

And that's also helps you get to
officiate other meets or bigger meets.

So that's probably my biggest advice
is talk to people and don't be afraid

to try something new or different
because you haven't done it before.

Amanda: Yeah, that is great advice.

Chelsea, what about you?

What has been the best advice
that you've gained as an official?

And then what is the piece of advice
you would always want to pass on

to an aspiring or newer official?

Chelsea: Yeah, so mine kind of goes
along with Marybeth with the networking.

One official told me go to dinner
after the day is done, because that's

where all the officials gather.

That's where you can get to know the
people that you're working side by side

with throughout the days that you're
there at the meet, and you can get to know

them at a personal level, so you are no
longer a name on a page, but they can put

a face to the name that they see, so they
know, oh, So and so applied to this meet.

I actually remember who
this person is, you know.

I think I'd like to invite them,
you know, to officiate at this meet.

So, you know, go, don't say
that, Oh, I'm too tired.

I'm gonna go back to my
hotel room and sleep.

Yeah, we are, we're all tired.

We've all been working,
you know, 15, 16 hour days.

Just, you know, have a couple drinks,
have a sandwich, you know, eat with

the people that you've worked with all
day long, just so that way you can kind

of You know, get to know them and move
forward in your officiating career if

that's, you know, what you want to do.

Another piece of advice I'd give
to an official is when your job is

done for the day, look around and
see if there's any other groups of

officials still out there on the field.

Go over to that group and
say, Hey, I'm an extra hand.

Do you need help finishing this event off?

You know, cause you never
know who needs a break.

They need help.

So help things get done faster so
we all can get home for the day.

Amanda: Yeah, thank you.

And I heard you both bring
up the concept of networking.

I'm curious to know from you all are
there officials that you have ended up

seeing at a lot of different meets and
who have ended up becoming friends or

almost like co workers or colleagues just
because you've seen them really often.

Mary Beth: We're talking
to them on this podcast.

Chelsea: I'd say it's fun to go to meets
because it's pretty much a big reunion

because we see each other, you know,
whether it be East Coast or West Coast or

in the Midwest, you know, we're, you know.

We all travel everywhere because,
you know, we just love the sport.

But it's just fun to see everybody
because, you know, we have like

a three, four month layoff and
it's like, we miss each other.

So it's kind of nice
to see everyone again.

Amanda: Yeah, that's amazing.

And would you all say that one of the
biggest benefits of officiating is

those long term connections you make
with other officials and how those

friendships can continue on and on?

Regina: So I know when something's
happening in Texas, I get officials

calling me asking me, are you okay?

If there's a storm or something
in Kentucky, we were calling

each other, trying to make
sure everybody's home is okay.

Great.

If it's not we're, we're helping them out.

We had an official a couple of
years back, the house burned down.

And so everybody got together and helped
her get her equipment and everything

back because she lost everything.

So it is very much so a family.

And I like the, the idea
of the ladies, the women.

We build each other up when we see
new up and coming because Mary Beth

and Chelsea, I work with them a lot.

When you see something in somebody and
they're working really hard, we put their

names out there and let people know,
Hey, this is somebody is doing a great

job and we need to take care of them.

And, and that's what happened for me.

I had great people that when they saw
me out there doing something, came up

to me and said, Hey, you know what?

You're doing good.

They gave me great advice.

And so that's just a good thing.

The women and track and
field really stick together.

Amanda: Regina, I would be really curious.

Do you hear your thoughts and
I've been doing this for a really

long time on the best advice
you've received as an official.

Or a piece of advice that
you would definitely give to

an up and coming official.

Regina: Okay.

So there's a lady, her
name is Paula Everdale.

She's got long red hair and
she mentors many, many, many,

many officials, men's included.

And she's always said, because
like they said, it's hot out there.

It's long hours sometime.

We don't get to eat anything,
but maybe a sandwich.

The pay is not the greatest.

But she pulled me to the side when
I got into the apprentice referee

program, and she said, just remember,
be kind, have faith, be honest, be

thankful, smile often and stay humble.

I remember that.

Amanda: Marla, finally, I'd really love
to hear your thoughts on that question.

The best advice you've received as an
official or something you definitely want

to pass on to an up and coming official.

Marla: I guess to go go back,
I just had a, a thought.

They said, Marla, remember
you was a, you was an athlete.

And you were in the, their situations
where they counted on was there,

there's a red flag or a white
flag, you know, I was a jumper.

So always remember that.

Make it fun.

Remember that it's fair.

Again, going back to best practices.

One very important thing that
I've they also told me is like,

every time you work a meet, make
yourself an official's resume.

Your official's resume is not your
it's just like a job's resume.

And every time you work and meet,
it doesn't matter what you do.

You put it on that piece of paper.

If you ever need a ref a reference
from someone and they see your work

ethic, it helped with moving moving up.

And that's what happened with me.

Amanda: Yeah.

And, and sounds like that is such an
amazing part of being an official.

And I also think you raised a
really neat point in that, you

know, Most people who are officials
were an athlete at one point.

So thinking of it from the perspective
of the athletes experience and how

can we make the athlete experience
as smooth as possible and put

ourselves in their shoes a little bit?

I want to close this off with a
question that is and you want to

feel free to chime in on this.

But you know, if there's someone who's,
you know, been involved in the sport,

they've seen officials and they're
wondering if this is something for

them or something they want to pursue,
what might you tell that person who's

wondering about it and, you know, not
totally sure yet if they want to jump in,

Marla: I say, go out there and.

a volunteer.

One of the best ways for me and I've
done this a lot and is doing youth meets.

To see a, a child smile, even though
they're not, they don't win, and you're

cheering them on and you're there,
you're, you're giving them that, the

first, you know, golden nugget of,
okay, remember now, stay, stay, stay

in the lane and stuff like that.

That's something that you, that
should fuel you to do the next.

So I would say definitely go into youth
to a youth event and volunteer and

let that passion to seeing those youth
smiles take you to the next level.

But that's, For those people who just
really, really, really want to get

in here and, and work because now
it's time for me to need more women.

So get out there and start that gun.

Pick up a gun.

Pick up a starter gun.

I was afraid at one point.

But pick up a starter
gun and be a starter.

Amanda: So I know one of our guests
here Chelsea was able to officiate at an

extremely high level while also pregnant
and then obviously continuing officiating

as a mom which other officials have done.

But I would love to know in those stages,
what drove you to want to be an official?

And what might you tell someone
who's either pregnant or also a

mom who's looking to officiate.

Chelsea: Well, I'll say it's definitely
not easy because, you know, finding

someone you trust to take care of
your kids is kind of probably the

hardest part of, you know, doing
those meets that are farther away.

Obviously, it's easier to do the local
meets, you know, because I take my kids

to, you know, local meets all the time and
they kind of are part of the crew there.

But sometimes you can't, you know, like
if, you know, Olympic trials, you can't

bring little kids in there, you know.

Big championship meets they can't come.

So I wouldn't be able to do it if I didn't
have the network of people that I have

at home, you know, my mom, my dad, you
know, my husband's parents, my husband

himself, you know, when he doesn't get to
go you know, my sister, all those people.

Watch my kids when I step away I will
say in 2022, when I was pregnant with my

second, which was my daughter the hot days
were 10 times hotter, I'd probably say,

but you know, I love the sport of track.

I.

I got advice from my doctor
not to get on a plane and go,

but you know, I didn't listen.

I wanted to be there.

I wanted to experience the
meats, you know get that on my

resume and see my family again.

But it is hard to be away, especially
if meats are longer than, you know, 34

days because you know, then your kids.

Start missing ya, but because I have
two I have two one is three one is just

now two So they don't always understand
like why is mom away for so long?

What is she doing?

Why is she not home?

But it's definitely rewarding to
you know Apply for these meets and

actually get selected and being
recognized But it is it is difficult.

But if you love the sport Sometimes
you make a little sacrifice because,

you know, I think moms deserve to
do something that they love too.

Because we sacrifice a lot for our
kids and, you know, miss out on

certain opportunities, but sometimes
it's okay to do things for yourself.

Amanda: Yeah.

That was a, such a cool perspective.

And, you know, I think it's
so amazing that you're able to

officiate at the highest level of
meets and contribute in that way.

And then, Also be there
for your kids as well.

And I think one barrier potentially
for officiating is wondering how can

you balance having a family, especially
young kids with this role as well.

But I think you're a great
model of how it can be done.

And how The two do not
necessarily need to be exclusive.

Yeah, I would love to close out with
that final question of, I mean, what

might you tell someone who's a little
bit on the fence about officiating,

wondering if this is something
that they would want to go into?

I would say do it because you will
build lifelong bonds with people

that you would never imagine you
becoming basically family with.

Chelsea: Yeah, I would say if someone's
on the fence, just, just go for it,

because if you're on the fence, a
part of you is going to wonder if

I never do this, will I regret it?

So don't live with the regret,
just jump in and try it.

If you don't like it, then you know,
you don't have to keep doing it.

But, you know, just give it a go.

Clearly, there is an
interest, so just try it out.

That's all you can do.

Amanda: Yeah, well, thank
you so much for sharing that.

It was such a pleasure to hear all of
your thoughts today from how did you

become an official you know, how do you
find meets, and then, you know, who do

you look up to, and what might you tell
the next generation of officials And

I think, you know, there's, you guys
are obviously all very accomplished

officials making a huge difference.

And I hope that this conversation
will give people who are considering

officiating or want to go a little
bit further in it some insights of

what is it like to be an official?

And how can I take my next steps?

LaVonna: Awesome.

Thank you so much, Amanda, for hosting
and moderating this discussion.

Ladies, we appreciate you so much from
on behalf of the Women's Commission.

Thank you so much for taking time
out of your day to educate us

on the roles of the officials.

We appreciate it.

Thank you guys.