CCC students referee for grade and Jr. High schools Photos and story by Brian Snook, Staff Photographer At one time or another most people have left a sports event dissatisfied or angry with the ruling of the officials. Clackamas Com­ munity College students have the oppor­ tunity to correct this situation through the sports officiating course and actual refer­ eeing experience at the grade school and junior high levels. Lynn Vaught, Physical Education and Athletic secretary for Chuck Hudson, co­ ordinates the distribution of 35 to 40 stu­ dent referees to sporting events at junior high and grade schools. The majority of these referees are men, although a number of women are involved in officiating girls' sports. I Steve Gustovich, above, discusses the finer points of football with one of the grade school players on a team that he referees. Right, one of the Gaffney Lane Grade School Grizzlies puzzles over a call by Greg Cusick, I CCC student referee. lackamas Community College Among the sports officiated by CCC referees are boys' football, basketball, baseball, track, and wrestling and girls' volleyball, basketball, and softball. Most of the officiating is done for grades five through nine, though students occasion­ ally are used in high school track meets as time keepers. Schools involved in this student referee program are all Oregon City School District Grade schools including Mulino, Clarkes, Shuebel, Sunset, Logan, Bolton, Willamette, Canby Middle School, and the junior highs of Redland, Moss, Odgen, Gar­ diner, and Molalla. Fifteen to twenty games of various sports are held each week with games starting at 2:45 or 4:00 in the afternoon and one 7 p.m. game each week. In every sport each team has one night game which enables the parents to observe their children in their respective sports. The pay for each game varies from $4 to $10 depending upon the school, sport, ^.nd if one or two referees are involved. For the more remote schools, such as Clarkes and Redland, the driver receives $1 extra for gas expenses if two referees are involved. A number of CCC athletes are involved in this program and for many this is their only source of income._ A referee's whistle, knowledge of the rules, and a spare copy of the rules in case a con­ flict or problem arises about a penalty are required. Problems do occasionally arise between coaches and officials. "I haven't had any complaints," said Vaught, "the coaches tell me the officiating is top-notch this year." Anyone interested in refereeing basketball or wrestling or in­ terested in the sports officiating class can contact either Vaught or Hudson in the P.E. and Athletic Office in McLoughlin hall. Page 9