Behind the Whistle: The Heart and Hustle of NCHSAA Football Officials
- Austin Smith
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
BLADENBORO, NC — It’s easy to cheer for the players. To scream at a coach’s decision. To question a call. But too often, the people wearing the stripes—the officials—fade into the background until one call sparks controversy.
What’s often missed is the commitment, sacrifice, and heart that goes into officiating high school football across North Carolina.
On Thursday, July 24, West Bladen High School hosted the Southeastern Football Officials Association’s annual coaching clinic, bringing together local referees, coaches, and community members. But this wasn’t just a classroom session—it was a hands-on, sweat-on-the-brow kind of evening in 90+ degree weather.
Officials rotated through drills, participated in physical workouts, and sharpened their skills in preparation for the season ahead. For those who attended, it served as a powerful reminder of how much goes into making Friday nights under the lights possible.
Regional Supervisor Errol Daniels knows firsthand how much studying is required before an official even sets foot on the field.
Every official works through three key books during the season: the Rules Book, which lays out the laws of the game; the Case Book, which offers situational examples; and the Official’s Manual, which focuses on mechanics—everything from positioning and appearance to communication and ethics.
Daniels, a former military man from Gainesville, Florida, now calls North Carolina home. He oversees a crew of 140 registered officials—many of whom balance this passion on top of full-time jobs and family responsibilities.
“We had a recruiting class of 40 this year,” Daniels shared. “That’s a big class, but we still lose people. Some start strong, but after a couple scrimmages and a coach yelling in their face, they start asking, ‘Is this worth it?’ One bad night can really shake someone. That’s when we have to coach them through it.”
One of those veterans helping guide new recruits is Bradley Wilt, a familiar face in Bladen County.
A pastor and typically the white cap (referee) on his crew, Wilt approaches officiating with both purpose and precision.
“We don’t just show up and blow a whistle,” Wilt explained. “We spend hours and hours studying. We buy our own gear, take mandatory exams, attend clinics, work scrimmages. When all’s said and done, many of us operate at a loss financially. Last year, I made around $2,000 officiating—but I spent more than that just to be on the field.”
And yet, he keeps showing up. So do many others.
The longest road trip Wilt has made for a regular season game? 190 miles round-trip.
For the playoffs? Try 390 miles.
Reporting times are strict: 90 minutes before kickoff during the season, two hours during playoffs. But that’s not just for stretching and small talk.
“Pregame is crucial,” Wilt said. “The referee assigns each official a topic to cover, from mechanics to rule interpretations. We review everything. I always emphasize confidence and communication—especially with coaches and players. Preventative officiating is key. Sometimes a word in the right moment stops a foul or even an injury.”
At its core, officiating is about fairness.
“Our main goal,” Wilt said, “is to create an environment where the game is played fairly and no team gains an illegal advantage. The kids deserve our absolute best.”
And that’s exactly what officials like Adrian Lowry, Leroy Thompson, Josh Owens, and Brian Miller aim to give every time they step on the field.
Lowry, from Robeson County, grew up watching his father on the sidelines at Purnell Swett, who has been on the sidelines for 40+ years.
For him, officiating is a way to stay connected to the game and pass on what sports gave to him.
“I love the interaction with the kids,” Lowry said. “There’s this moment I’ll never forget—Zamir White out of Scotland High School, now with the Raiders, put a move on a kid that broke his ankles. Next play I walked up and said, ‘Do that again and I’m throwing a flag.’ Zamir laughed and said, ‘You know, Mr. Official. You’re okay.’ That’s what keeps me coming back is that interaction and teaching these kids about sportsmanship.”
For Thompson, a 30+ year veteran from Fayetteville, it’s about mentorship.
“I continue to do this so I’m able to give back to my community. If this was easy, everyone would do it,” he said. “You got folks in the stands who love to talk, but we’re the ones out here doing the work. Whether it’s mentoring, earning a little money, or just giving back to the community—sportsmanship starts with us.”
Josh Owens, another local pastor from Lumberton, echoed the same sentiment.
“The biggest challenge is that we’re all juggling life—jobs, families, personal lives—but I come back because it allows me to engage with others and because it matters. These games shape kids’ lives and that is how we give back to our community. And without us, they wouldn’t happen.”
Brian Miller from Laurinburg added that family support makes all the difference.
“My wife backs me, and now my son’s getting involved. I get the same adrenaline as the players when those lights come on Friday nights. And now, I want to help the younger officials. Somebody helped me—now it’s my turn.”
Daniels sees it the same way. He’s passionate about not just rules and positioning, but about getting calls right because he knows the impact they have.
“Think about Bladen County,” he said. “Two high schools. A major rivalry. When those teams meet, it’s not just a game—it’s history. Like West Bladen beating that Farmville Central team twice—those are moments that matter. You don’t want one call to take that away from a kid who’s worked all year for a chance at a huge win or for a chance to play, even if it’s just the final two minutes.”
He shared how even a missed foul in basketball could cost a bench player their only shot at a rebound, a point, or a highlight they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
“That’s why we take it seriously,” Daniels said. “We’re not just calling a game. We’re protecting moments.”
So the next time you see the stripes walk onto the field, maybe offer a handshake—or at least hold back that sarcastic comment, and trust me, I have had to do the same thing personally from time to time.
Because behind the whistle are men and women who show up early, drive long hours, run drills in the heat, spend their own money, and pour themselves into this game… not for applause, but for the love of it.
And for the kids.
Behind the Whistle: The Heart and Hustle of NCHSAA Football Officials
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