The retirement of a quality official can be difficult for that individual official and for the association. That’s because when many officials retire, they walk away from the game and the association completely. It doesn’t have to be that way. For the betterment of your group, it’s a good idea to keep quality veterans involved in the association well after their final game on the field, court or ice. There are several ways their involvement can be a positive.
1. Offer feedback at meetings
Ask retirees to continue to attend association meetings. It’s a good chance for them to interact with fellow officials. Their participation can help to get discussion going during training sessions as well. Since they have experience with the way things were done over the years, they can also offer helpful feedback to presenters.
2. Speak about their experiences
Maybe retired officials can’t make it to meetings regularly anymore. That’s OK. One way to take advantage of a great official who recently retired is to ask the official to speak at one of the meetings. His or her experience could be invaluable for other officials.
3. Lead a group or committee
You could even take a retired official participation to the next level. Why not ask the retiree to lead one of the association’s committees? The individual will likely have more time than active officials, and his or her passion for officiating can help the association move forward in an area like recruitment.
4. Mentor newer officials
Recently retired officials serve as mentors in a variety of associations. It’s a way for the retiree to give back and share his or her expertise. Newer officials often appreciate have a veteran to observe them and provide feedback.
5. Provide needed game observation
The retired officials can take their observation skills beyond mentees. Many groups are hurting for observers. As long as the retired officials keep up on the latest rules and mechanics, they can help many officials progress by going to games and observing.
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