"Sports Referees Deserve Better Protection After Weekend Assault"

Incident Details

In an eighth grade boys basketball game, fans of one team rushed the court toward the official, going out of bounds. This act was more than just a push; it involved punching the referee. Sean Johnston, the official's supervisor, was shocked by the extent of the incident and the number of adults who got involved. "This is a lot more disturbing that just pushing an official, punching an official," he said. "I did not realize how many adults went toward the official."

Although some tried to stop the confrontation, Johnston believes that what happened to this one basketball ref will lead to changes in training for all officials. "We have to stay together as a team of officials," he emphasized. "We cannot leave each other alone."

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Sarpy County Sheriff's Deputies arrested 40-year-old Joshua Littrell for misdemeanor assault on a referee. The referee, who asked not to be identified, had stopped the game with several minutes left in a private tournament at a public school. "He did what he felt was right by enforcing the rules and stopping the unsporting behavior," Johnston said.

Factory Basketball, which sponsored the tournament, stated that the parent accused of assault is associated with an out-of-town team and not their athlete development organization. They called the incident "heartbreaking" and promised to continue to work on improving safety measures.

Call for Adequate Security

Johnston believes that having another kind of official present, such as an armed police officer or a security company, is necessary for youth tournaments. "After seeing this video, maybe the definition of adequate security is having an armed police officer or a company for security on the game site," he said.

An official with Papillion Public Schools told First Alert 6 that the gym use agreement stipulates that the renting party is responsible for keeping order. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of clearly defining responsibilities and ensuring proper security measures are in place.