Officials Anonymous
A Support System for Sports Officials
Have you ever suffered physical or verbal abuse during a game/match? How about after when you’re walking off the field or just trying to wind down at your car? Have you ever felt lonely, scared, intimidated, isolated, or stigmatized as a result? Have you thought about quitting, whether due to this abuse or another reason? Have you suffered from anxiety or depression as a result of abuse? Do you just need a shoulder to proverbially cry on from time to time?
Introducing…OFFICIALS ANONYMOUS (Off-Anon for short), a support system for sports officials.
Officials spend a lot of time discussing rules and mechanics, debating interpretations and plays, and constantly honing their craft. But the “third team” rarely gets an opportunity to just talk about abuse or other problems/issues that arise from the craft of officiating.
Further, officiating comes with a “manly” stigma that discourages officials (regardless of gender) from expressing their concerns about these types of issues. Off-Anon hopes to break that stigma and provide an opportunity for officials to speak freely without fear of being judged or abused by colleagues.
Our goal is to listen and to help you understand you’re not alone. We are fellow officials who understand! Through support from fellow officials, we hope to empower you to work on solving your own issues or problems, or at least provide you with a resource of people who will continue to support you. You may feel better when you see you’re not alone!
Talking to others in support settings reduces anxiety, improves self-esteem, and helps overall well-being. You could even be a role model for someone else suffering from something you might have felt before! Use this opportunity to inspire and encourage others!
Please note: this system is not affiliated with any officiating organization. It is purely sponsored and funded through OSIP. Further, the system does not offer any medical or therapeutic advice or help, and thus does not create a doctor-patient or therapist-patient relationship.
OUR HOTLINE: 888-930-OSIP (888-930-6747)
Virtual Phone Number provided by Ninja Number
Call anytime, 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year.
If we're not available, we'll call you back!
OUR EMAIL: [email protected]
We also offer a support group option in addition to just being a support hotline. If you're interested in setting up a support group, please email us for more information.
Introducing…OFFICIALS ANONYMOUS (Off-Anon for short), a support system for sports officials.
Officials spend a lot of time discussing rules and mechanics, debating interpretations and plays, and constantly honing their craft. But the “third team” rarely gets an opportunity to just talk about abuse or other problems/issues that arise from the craft of officiating.
Further, officiating comes with a “manly” stigma that discourages officials (regardless of gender) from expressing their concerns about these types of issues. Off-Anon hopes to break that stigma and provide an opportunity for officials to speak freely without fear of being judged or abused by colleagues.
Our goal is to listen and to help you understand you’re not alone. We are fellow officials who understand! Through support from fellow officials, we hope to empower you to work on solving your own issues or problems, or at least provide you with a resource of people who will continue to support you. You may feel better when you see you’re not alone!
Talking to others in support settings reduces anxiety, improves self-esteem, and helps overall well-being. You could even be a role model for someone else suffering from something you might have felt before! Use this opportunity to inspire and encourage others!
Please note: this system is not affiliated with any officiating organization. It is purely sponsored and funded through OSIP. Further, the system does not offer any medical or therapeutic advice or help, and thus does not create a doctor-patient or therapist-patient relationship.
OUR HOTLINE: 888-930-OSIP (888-930-6747)
Virtual Phone Number provided by Ninja Number
Call anytime, 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year.
If we're not available, we'll call you back!
OUR EMAIL: [email protected]
We also offer a support group option in addition to just being a support hotline. If you're interested in setting up a support group, please email us for more information.