Whistle Blower

Referee James Merrick calls ’em as he sees ’em

James Merrick is a whistle blower. He doesn’t uncover corporate or government scandals as some whistle blowers do, but he does blow his whistle a lot when he works as a basketball and football referee.

Merrick is an Inventory Control Clerk for Safeway in Anderson. He and his wife, Laura, and their five children live in Cottonwood.

“I love my job at Safeway and my work as a ref,” Merrick said. “I get a lot of satisfaction out of both.” About 10 years ago, at age 40, Merrick decided to join an adult basketball league.

“I broke my finger in my first game and that was the end of my sports career,” he recalled. Shortly after that, he ran into a local referee, Don Trotter, who suggested that he consider becoming a referee at junior and senior high school basketball games.

“I really enjoyed it,” Merrick said. “I played the game my whole life and had a pretty good understanding of it. That helped a lot.”

Merrick said the mentoring he received from other veteran referees helped his growth as an official. “Working more than 31 years in the food industry was also a great help,” he said. “You learn to deal with all kinds of people who might be complaining about this or that and you have to keep your cool.”

“It isn’t the players,” he said. “It’s the coaches. They are the ones who will

UFCW 8 member James Merrick makes important decisions as a referee in football, left, and basketball.

get in your face or constantly ride you.

“It takes a great deal of self discipline and self-control to avoid getting caught up in the moment and taking things personally.”

Merrick referees four or five games a week during the basketball season. “I do it for the kids,” Merrick said. “I’ve known many of them since they were in elementary school, and watching them grow and mature as individuals and as players gives me a great deal of satisfaction.”

He added: “Not to mention the exercise I get. I have no doubt it will help me live longer.”

A year after he began doing basketball games, Merrick started to work as a football referee.

“I started as an umpire and now I’m a back judge,” he said.

“The main difference between being a football and basketball official is that in football you are farther away from the fans and can’t hear what they yell at you when

they don’t like a call.

“Also, basketball is reactive. You have to make split-second decisions. In football you have a little more time to make a call.”

Merrick has had some injuries during the time he has worked as a game official and he is grateful that his Union-negotiated health benefits covered the costs.

“I had ankle and elbow surgery,” Merrick said. “I didn’t have to worry about anything but getting better.”

Merrick’s reputation as a referee is such that he has officiated in state playoffs for the past three years.

“I’m proud of that because you are chosen to work those games based on your performance during the regular season,” he said.

Merrick plans to continue his work as a referee as long as he can. I’ll stop when I drop, or when they tell me I can’t do the job anymore,” Merrick said with a smile.