Eli Gillard Finds His Passion in Sports Officiating
Writer / Kevin Conrad
Photography Provided
In a time when the number of available high school athletic officials continues to go down by the season, a 2023 Center Grove High School graduate is stepping up. The lack of high school officials has been a growing concern. In the last three years the National Federation of State High School Associations says the number of registered high school officials has dropped 20%, from approximately 250,000 to 200,000.
Eli Gillard says there are several motivating factors as to why he became an official.
“Growing up my entire life around sports, it was kind of something I just gravitated to,” he says. “Now, officiating is more than a job for me. I love every aspect of it, meeting new people and helping kids, and I cannot wait to see where I can go with it over the next few years.”
Eli began officiating youth basketball and softball in 2021, and started officiating youth football this past fall. “I got started in officiating because my dad was involved and got me interested in it as a job, and something to keep me busy during the winter months,” says Eli.
Eli’s father, David Gillard, has been officiating basketball and softball games for more than 10 years. David knew right away that his son had a lot of potential to be a very good official.
“Eli began working with me refereeing basketball at our church,” says David. “Eli would ask lots of questions during timeouts, and we would talk on the way home about what happened in our games. When watching high school basketball or games on TV, Eli would watch the officials more than he would the actual game.”
Being an official can be very challenging.
“The most difficult thing is managing the different personalities of the coaches,” says Eli. “I think I have a pretty good, laid-back personality to deal with coaches and fans. I think it all depends on your delivery and communication skills in how the other person will react. Most fired-up coaches just want to discuss what you saw or why there wasn’t a foul, or maybe they just want to see how you react. I think that the main reason there is such a shortage is the verbal abuse and constant yelling that takes place that is aimed at the referee or umpire. After a while I’m sure it gets tiresome. I just do my best to block it out and focus on the game.”
An Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) survey of its member schools revealed during the 2022 season that at least 448 interscholastic baseball and softball games had been canceled due to no umpires, and at least 875 games had to be officiated by one umpire instead of two. Center Grove High School Athletic Director Joe Bronkella is not surprised by those statistics. He says this season alone, six junior varsity baseball games were either canceled, rescheduled or played as scrimmages due to the lack of umpires.
“We’re grateful for those men and women who renew their licenses year after year with us to officiate different sports for our state’s young people,” says IHSAA Commissioner Paul Neidig. “But it’s very important that we continue to appeal to and attract younger people to fill those ranks as our older officials retire. Our staff has worked very hard in recent years to implement different strategies and programs to increase the number of new officials and retain them.”
“I love being a part of the game whether it be basketball or softball, and knowing that when you show up, the kids will be able to play,” says Eli. “I would encourage anyone that has a remote interest to get out and do it. It is not necessarily hard to do, but it takes effort and a willingness to put in a lot of time to learn the rules. It can be a lot of travel and long hours on the weekend. It can also be rewarding, as I have met so many great people, learned how to resolve conflicts, become more confident, and developed good communication skills. I enjoy every minute of being on the court, the diamond or the field. I enjoy being out there with the kids, and encouraging them or explaining a certain call. I like talking to the coaches when they have questions or challenges about a call that I have made.”
Eli works tirelessly to improve his officiating skills. He does Zoom meetings with IHSAA basketball officials who review his games to constructively review his mechanics and calls. This winter Eli attended Collegiate Softball Umpire Camp in Cleveland, Ohio, and Central Michigan on his own. He was able to network with other officials, which helped him get assigned to his first collegiate softball games this spring.
“It was cool being asked to officiate that level of play,” says Eli. “Seeing all of the people in the stands, the announcer and the atmosphere was great.”
“Eli and I have been blessed to be able to travel around as partners in basketball and softball,” says David. “We have taken a few trips together, staying in hotels and working softball tournaments. Last year we worked tournaments in Evansville and Chattanooga. Early on I spent a lot of time working with Eli, and mentoring on the mechanics of being an official and helping him with the rules. I purposely stopped working with Eli for a while so he could have other mentors in basketball and softball.”
“My mentors are, first and foremost, my dad,” says Eli. “He’s the one who encouraged me to get started. Gary Wells is a great mentor and friend that I met umpiring softball. He works NCAA softball games in the Big Ten Conference and has taken me under his wing. We’ve gone to college umpire camps together and I appreciate all of his feedback and knowledge.”
“I love working with my dad because it’s time we get to spend together,” he adds. “I know I get better each time we get to work together because we talk about the game on the way home, and he will give me feedback and discuss things I could have done differently. My dad always coached my brothers and me growing up. This is a way I can continue to learn from him and spend time with him.”
“My future goal in refereeing is to make it to the NCAA or even NBA level,” says Eli. “I would also love the opportunity to pursue NCAA Division I softball. Until then, I will continue to travel the Midwest to gain as much experience as I can and network. I have plans to attend two college softball camps later this summer and several tournaments in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. I also have aspirations of working in law enforcement and attending the police academy in two years.”
Eli and David were recognized at a nationwide softball clinic for their hard work and dedication to youth softball.
“This past February I was awarded the Most Improved Umpire by the Indiana director of USSSA,” says Eli. “My dad was named the USSSA Coaches and Players Umpire of the Year. That was pretty cool to be honored in that way.”
“I am super proud of Eli for all he has done for himself,” says David. “He has accomplished working his first college softball game as well as earning invites to work national tournaments. By using his outgoing personality, Eli has succeeded in building a network of contacts for basketball, football and softball. He is still working hard to improve his skills, mechanics and knowledge so he can pursue officiating at the highest level.”
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