It’s not an easy chore to perform. It’s not a job for everyone.
It requires a certain type of person. It requires a specific kind of personality. It requires a special character.
Few tasks demand as much character as officiating. In fact, officiating is all about character – integrity, accountability, equality, impartiality.
Read More: Officiating: It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it
Some say character is revealed by the actions of people who think no one is observing them. Well, an official’s character is on full display every time he or she steps on to the field of play.
Dean DeWald is a 73-year-old resident of Rexmont who’s been officiating boys’ and girls’ basketball on all scholastic levels for 40 years.
“I think my level of integrity is very, very high,” said DeWald. “I would call a foul on my own mom. That’s what you have to do. When the game starts, you put on your game face and you call the game. That’s the kind of person who makes a good official.
“I guess it starts at home when you’re a little kid. I watched my mom and how she was – honest, fair, and true. Those are the values she taught me.”
Since 1984, DeWald, his character, and his meticulous nature have officiated nearly 22,500 basketball games, from the fourth grade through junior high and junior varsity, all the way up to varsity. DeWald continues to pursue perfection, while settling for excellence.
“There are times when I’m walking off the court and the losing coach tells me I called a good game tonight,” said DeWald. “That’s the ultimate in officiating. In the history of basketball, an official has never called a perfect game. After years of doing it, your skin becomes very thick. Yes, we are appreciated, believe it or not. Sometimes when I’m pulling off that black and white jersey, I think to myself, ‘Hey, I did call a pretty good game tonight.’ It keeps you going for the next game.
“I thoroughly enjoy it. In 1984, a gentleman asked me to officiate for the first time. I remember it as clear as yesterday. I thought to myself, ‘I’m going to hustle and be in the right position to make the right call, and I’m going to have excellent mechanics.’ You have to know the rules down to a science, for every situation.”
A native of Millville, DeWald moved to Lebanon in 2011. He officiated basketball in the Lancaster-Lebanon League for seven years before moving to the Mid-Penn Conference in 2018.
Throughout his career, DeWald has been a member of eight officiating chapters.
“They’re people like me who love to do it,” he said of his officiating brethren. “We all have the same type of blood. It’s in our veins. It absolutely takes a certain type of character to be an official. We’re a special breed of persons. You want feedback from other officials. When you’re with other officials, you’re partners out there. I communicate with my partners.”
“Officiating is like a profession. How much you put into it is how much you’re going to get out of it. You’ve got to understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. The reward is you get the good games and you’re out there performing.”
DeWald began his basketball officiating career during a 23-year stint as an administrative assistant in the U.S. Army. After retiring from the Army in 2000, he worked as an administrative assistant for Kapp Advertising’s Merchandiser. He now works at Auto Zone.
“I’d say I’m a good official, because I’ve taken the time to learn the game,” DeWald said. “I just go out and call a good, honest game of basketball. If there’s an advantage lost or gained, that’s when you should raise your hand for a foul.
“What comes with this experience is how to deal with coaches and assistant coaches. That’s been the tricky part of this: “How do you handle coaches who sometimes get out of hand? How do you handle fans?” I’m a church-going guy. Most years I don’t even call a technical foul.”
At 73, DeWald may have lost a step or two, but he still gets up and down the court fairly well. What he’s lost in physical prowess he’s more than made up for in smarts and experience.
“I remember one year reading the rule book three times,” he said. “Over the years I’ve acquired a lot more confidence. It’s that repetition. It’s like batting practice, and it’s the same with a basketball official. You’ve got to have that desire to keep improving.
“I stay in shape, I hustle, and I have good mechanics. When I can’t do that anymore I’m going to retire. I’ve thought about that last game. I’ve even thought about if I can’t blow my whistle anymore, I wouldn’t mind going into coaching. That would be a phase I’d like to enter. I love teaching.”
Because staying connected with the game and being around youth can help one remain young.
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