Beyond the Whistle: A Declaration of Respect

On a recent evening of competition, the officiating crew assigned to the Plainview-Elgin-Millville (PEM) Boys Basketball contest arrived at the facility expecting the standard pregame administrative procedures. However, upon entering their designated dressing area, they encountered a gesture that transcended the typical boundaries between officials and student-athletes.

Resting on the seating area were brown craft gift bags, but it was the document attached to these packages that commanded immediate attention. Rather than a generic greeting, the crew found a carefully composed manifesto of the team's culture, anchored by a team photograph and surrounded by the handwritten signatures of every rostered player in various ink colors.

The headline of the document stated a simple but often overlooked truth in educational athletics: "Without YOU – We don't play!".

As the officials read further, they found a statement that spoke to the maturity of the program. The text read, "Together WE are a Team; We respect, trust and care for each other. We are far from perfect but we strive to be the better person every day".

In an environment where officials are frequently scrutinized for every judgment call, this admission of imperfection and the shared goal of personal betterment resonated deeply.

It established a common ground—humanizing the competition and reinforcing that everyone on the court is striving for excellence.

The presentation of these bags was not merely an exchange of goods; it was an exchange of respect. By explicitly acknowledging the necessity of the officials and sharing their internal team code, the PEM Boys Basketball program demonstrated that their definition of "team" extends to everyone necessary to make the game happen.

The crew extends their sincere gratitude to the PEM Boys coaching staff and student-athletes for this unique and impactful display of sportsmanship.