Theodore Little Light loves basketball. Not only is he the head men’s coach at Little Big Horn College, but he is also the president of the Crow Pool of Officials, which is a group of referees. And in the midst of aging referees, dwindling recruits, and fans that take their criticisms too far, Little Light is beginning to see things turn around.
For starters, Little Light is joined this season by his two daughters and his stepson, making the efforts collaborative. Before, his family watched the games from the stands and would defend Little Light against the jeers, he said.
“People just call certain violations out in the stands, and then the coach follows suit,” Little Light said. “Then the players call it. There are certain violations that they see, but we give them a whistle...and the same people are going to be blind as a bat. They don’t know what’s going on out there.”
Referees need to be able to handle constructive criticism, but Little Light says it’s getting out of hand.
“It comes down to where you live, what tribe you are, and what school you’re from...It’s kind of dumb. People are just looking for ways to ridicule you,” he said. “It’s getting to that point where these coaches need to understand that we’re there for a job, and we’re following the book,” Little Light added.
Sticking with it despite the shortages, the Crow Pool of Officials are being asked to cover more games, and they’re covering as many as they can, including games off the reservation and Class A games. Little Light is grateful for the opportunity, and he says it’s a chance to prove the group’s skills on the Class A level. Hardin Schools asked the group to cover four home games this year, Little Light said. They’ve also been called to officiate games in Hays Lodge Pole, Colstrip, and Lockwood.
In his 12 years of reffing with the program and four years as president of it, 30 referees have dwindled to about 17 now.
However, five women are set to start training this summer, and it’s one of the first times in recent years that recruits have reached out to Little Light to ask about the opportunity. Usually, he aims to recruit players and referees from City League teams, or college players who are freshly graduated and still healthy.
“I recruit mostly women, now... not a lot of men are interested. Women are. I don’t know why. But I’m so happy that my son-in-law really wants to know about it. I have nine women now, and only eight men,” Little Light said.
He also pays trainees, although he says the real joy for him is having the best “seat” in the house and getting to run alongside the players and the action.
“These guys are 15, 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds, and I’m 50-years-old, and I’m running around with them. I’ve got the best seat in the house, and I get paid for it,” Little Light said, adding that his body is holding up, but he is getting older.
And like a kid in a candy shop, Little Light still loves the game, but he advises new referees to try to not be emotional when it comes to the crowd, and to wear thick skin. “I tell them, just bite your whistle. Just bear down. Don’t give in to them. Just stay focused on the game.”
The officials after games, too, will often convene after the game and talk about how it went.
Contrary to allegations of poor calls, there are times when the crowd does see a better angle than the officials, Little Light says.
“Referees are human, [and there is] human error,” he said. “[Officials are] going to miss it because people are sitting in an elevated position — from multiple angles. There’s about a thousand eyes on it, and you’re six eyes, which is three officials trying to get the best angle. If we miss it, then we get booed and we’re the bad guy.”
“It’s pretty challenging, especially around here because basketball is #1,” Little Light added.
Most people would rather criticize than try to officiate a game themselves, he said. “People don’t understand that we follow the rules. We just see the black and white of the rule book. We don’t see the color of the jersey or the color of the skin.”
But Tia Little Light is having fun. At the time of the interview, she had officiated two games, one that was in Hardin and another that was in Lodge Grass. Tia played the game in high school and college, and she now considers herself a fan. She also officiates City League games that her dad helps to organize.
“It was exciting. Kind of intimidating. But I had fun and I enjoyed it.”
She added: “As a player, you feel the fouls that they don’t see, but then as a referee, you can’t see the fouls like the players do. It’s kind of hard.”
Some coaches were good to her while others were really bad, Little Light said. “But I didn’t really mind them.”
Tia fills in at junior levels until she earns her Montana Officials Association certification.
In addition to jumping on Class A opportunities, Little Light hopes to see more Native representation for selection of officials at Divisional and State tournaments.
Those interested in trying out the job should contact Little Light on Facebook.
