Clyde native Martin one of few female referees

CLYDE — Addie Martin has played basketball her whole life. She has a strong love for the game. So once she graduated high school and played in college, she turned to officiating to stay close to the sport. "When I was in high school, my dad began officiating basketball," Martin said. "I would attend the rules meetings with him to learn what the officials were looking for and improve my game knowledge. This was the first introduction I had to officiating." After playing at Bethel University following graduating from Clyde High School, she took the classes necessary and got her officiating license. Now 26, Martin, who works as a Communication Specialist for North Central Electric Cooperative, spends almost every day officiating. Some days it is more than one game. Martin said her average month consists of about 30 games and the full season is about 85 games. That's a lot of miles on the soles of her feet. "The officiating landscape has changed dramatically compared to 10-plus years ago," Martin said. "With the shortage of officials, I was able to move up to varsity games rather quickly. I started with junior varsity games, and after my second year, I was given the opportunity to begin working varsity games." Martin has quickly grown to know that officiating isn't for everyone, nor is it easy. No matter what call is made, half of the gym is happy and half of the gym is upset. "I think every fan should know that angles matter," Martin said. "What I mean is that sitting up in the bleachers will give them a different perspective from ours on the court. That can make a huge difference in what happened versus what it appeared from the stands. Another thing to keep in mind is that the rules evolve and change every season. You might not know what you think you know." Being a female in a position that is typically male-orientated is tough, too. Martin is trying to buck the trend as a female referee, something not seen often in today's game. "I think women in sports have come a long way over the years, but we still have a long way to go," Martin said. "Officials like Marilyn DeWalt, Tracy Lindsey and Amy Rowe helped pave the way for us, and I am extremely grateful for everything they did to make it an even playing field. But there is always room for improvement. "It can be hard when you get to a school and they don't have a place to put you that has similar accommodations as the men. We often get stuck in a closet, storage room or boiler room with no shower, and it can be frustrating." Martin does both boys and girls games, but has done more girls games this year. She would like to do more boys games, but doesn't have control over the games she is assigned. "My mindset when going into all games is not to take anything personally," Martin said. "I usually can tune out the comments or the fans, but it's important to have good game management and ensure the gym stays under control and everyone maintains good sportsmanship. I absolutely love the game, and after it's over, I let what happened on the court go and move on to the next game." For the second year in a row, Martin will get the chance to officiate at this weekend's Classic in the Country. The showcase event is in its 22nd year and attracts dozens of college coaches. She, along with DeWalt and Sara Rambo, will officiate the Sunday night matchup between Warrensville Heights and Toledo Notre Dame. "There are a lot of variables that go into officiating and determine how difficult the game will be," Martin said. "Some games have a great flow, my partners and I are all in sync, and the coaches focus on their players instead of the calls. Those types of games are pretty easy to officiate. But some games just can't get a good flow and they can be difficult to work." Martin said officials like Ryan Bowers, Kurt Leber and DeWalt have helped develop her. Martin said she'd like to continue officiating as long as she's able. The OHSAA is celebrating Winter Sports Officials Appreciation Week this week. "I want to thank the Bay Area Officials Association for providing excellent training and helping me grow and develop as an official," Martin said. "I also was able to get varsity games thanks to the networking and advocating from fellow officials." With the growing shortage of officials across not only Ohio, but the United States, Martin is an advocate for helping those interested in officiating get started. "If you are interested in becoming an official, please visit www.bayareaofficials.com or reach out to me," Martin said. "I would love to help get you started on this awesome journey."