A passion for refereeing

12/4/2024

Referees are just as much a part of youth, high school, college and professional sports as the players themselves. They are the keepers and enforcers of the rulebook and often the subject of jeers, heckles, taunts and, on occasion, praise. The games many enjoy watching can only go on thanks to referees like Dan Beeding.

Beeding began his referee journey at the University of Northern Iowa, refereeing intramural basketball games as a way to earn some weekend cash. When he became a teacher at what is now Collins-Maxwell, he found the district needed help filling out some junior high basketball opportunities, so Beeding stepped up.

“I thought, I have nothing else to do. I didn’t have any kids, and I wasn’t married at the time. I was coaching three other sports, so I thought this might be another good way to keep myself out of trouble and make some extra money,” Beeding said.

Officiating is no small task. The stripes are on the court, going back and forth all game, and they are not afforded the luxury of a sub like the players are. Beeding’s track and cross-country background helped him there.

“Especially when you get into some of those more heated games, the bigger schools at the high school level, when you’re in the CIML, those kids get up and down really quick. That part of the job isn’t the most difficult aspect of it, but it’s still a challenge,” Beeding said.

Now 13 years into his officiating journey, Beeding has started officiating women’s college basketball along with his high school duties. He says there are several differences between the two levels, but one in particular sticks out. 

“The atmosphere. That’s what I love about high school basketball. There’s nothing better than walking into a full gym. The student section is excited. The fans are excited. You’ve got the pep band playing, and the kids are amped up, especially on a Friday night. I would argue, there’s no better place to be than being on that floor with them,” Beeding said.

Referees are no strangers to an angry parent, frustrated coach or lively student section. That’s part of the gig and has indirectly helped Beeding improve.

“Early in my career, that was a huge challenge for me, just keeping my composure and not getting lost in questions that might be asked or calls that might be unpopular with the crowd or with the coach, and really staying focused on the game,” Beeding said.

Going into his 13th year, Beeding has officiated several important games. In recent years, he has had his whistle in the state tournament, though not yet the state championship game. 

“Those games are awesome. When I first started doing high school basketball, that was my goal — to do a state title game,” Beeding said. 

Beeding and his crew often go over the game tape and see what they could have done better. The group has been working together for six seasons. 

“We’re going to work to get better and start checking off boxes, with the ultimate goal being state championship games and being a mainstay down there at The Well,” Beeding said.

Would it be a story about basketball in Iowa without a Caitlin Clark mention? Beeding says being able to officiate one of her games as a Dowling High School player is a personal highlight. Beeding also mentioned refereeing a game between Dike-New Hartford and Aplington-Parkersburg, a huge rivalry game in northeast Iowa. 

“The place maybe holds 1,000 people, and it was standing room only. They had people in an auxiliary gym watching it on TV. There’s nothing better than a fun atmosphere like that. It’s really why we do this,” Beeding said.

There are other aspects he enjoys about refereeing as well.

“I think the No. 1 thing for me is it’s an opportunity to give back to the game, give back to the kids, and be a part of something that not a lot of people get to do,” Beeding said. “I enjoy the fact that we get to make sure that the game is played fair. We get to be a part of a game that is over 100 years old that’s been played all across the world.” n

 

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