Skip to content
footballingworld

footballingworld

Make the Rules

Primary Menu
  • Sport Equipment
  • Sport Center
  • News Sport
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • About Us
    • Advertise Here
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Sitemap
  • Home
  • As referee, retired educator, 89, helps players learn about sport and life
  • Sport Center

As referee, retired educator, 89, helps players learn about sport and life

By Elsie A. Dotson 10 months ago

BENNINGTON, Vermont — Robert Houle jumps at the chance to be a referee because it combines sports and working with youth.

A retired educator, Houle, now 89, was one of two referees on the court for a recent Bennington matchup between the School of Sacred Heart St. Francis and Twin Valley; there was a girls’ game followed by a boys’ game for the schools in Bennington and Wilmington, Vermont.

Houle calls the shots as he sees them, blowing his whistle but then often offering an explanation why. “Let me tell you what you did,” he said to one of the girls, then explaining her foul. To another, he said, “You ran out of bounds. Nice try.”

He wants the players to learn not just about the sport but about life in general. Sports are good for children because they help them learn to work with others, learn rules and learn to follow rules. They learn good sportsmanship. Sports also help keep them active and fit.

And sports are something “you can stay with all your life,” he told Vermont Catholic, magazine of the Diocese of Burlington.

Houle, raised in Northampton, Massachusetts, “was always involved in sports but never a star athlete,” he said. He played a little football and basketball at Northampton High School, but at 5 feet, 5 inches tall with a light build, he was more suited for gymnastics, which he participated in for four years.

He served in Germany during the Korean War, playing on the company basketball and touch football teams and on the division ski team.

After the war, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, married and moved to Vermont in 1959 to accept a teaching position at the former Bennington High School.

He and wife Barbara had three children, and he became the vocational director for Mount Anthony Career Development Center, retiring in 1999 after 40 years as an educator.

In the early years of retirement, he refereed some 200 games a year, including in Florida during monthlong March visits.

A retired National Guard lieutenant colonel, Houle took up flying in 1954, earning a private pilot license along with his wife. They sold the last plane they owned — a well-equipped Piper 180 — two years ago.

He has been refereeing various levels of different sports since 1959. Now he focuses on football, soccer, basketball and lacrosse for middle school, junior varsity and youth league games. He’s a bit slower than he used to be, having had surgery on both hips and knee problems.

But that doesn’t stop him.

Refereeing keeps him in “good physical condition,” he said, adding that he enjoys working out at his home gym, and he used to be a ski patrol at the nearby Prospect Mountain.

On the court recently at the parish center of Sacred Heart St. Francis de Sales Parish — the parish to which he belongs — Houle sported a referee’s black and white striped shirt, black pants and black sneakers as he made his way up and down the court, keeping his attention on the game, blowing his whistle when necessary.

“He does a great job,” said Dan Sleeman, coach of the girls’ team from the Bennington Catholic school. “He’s absolutely amazing. He’ll not only make the call, he’ll explain it to the kid.”

Houle sees some athletes with God-given talent while other players struggle with the game.

“It’s my job to help them play to the best of their ability,” he said. “I’m still a teacher out there.”

– – –

Urban is managing editor of Vermont Catholic, magazine of the Diocese of Burlington.

Tags: ""Sports"" Crop Top, After School Sports Santa Clarita, Bryn Maur Sports Drinks, Cbs V Cbs Sports, Fighting Sports Are Boring, Gm Sports San Jose California, Graphic Sports Job, Heavenly Sports Rental Seasonal, Kids Sports Prescription Sunglasses, Mini Sports Collection 3ds, Mio Michigan Outdoor Sports, Nbc Sports App Contact, Nbc Sports Executives Bios, Nbc Sports Group Interview, Nbc Sports Philly Kate Smith, News Sentinel Fort Wayne Sports, Northampton Girls Sports, Prolinks Sports The Woodlands, Robbers Sports Logo, Robert Blum Sports, Scott Boras Sports Illustrated, Seinfeld You Gotta Love Sports, Site:Cnusports.Com Cnu Sports, Small Business Journal Sports, Snow Hill High School Sports, Souness Pogba Sky Sports, Sports Bar Beaumont Ca, Sports Bar Near Sfo Airport, Sports Club Logo Ideas, Sports Direct Canterbury Opening Times, Sports Highlights Show, Sports Jackets Guide, Sports Jackets Manufacturers, Sports Lawyer, Sports Logos Inspiration, Sports Marketing Intern Indianapolis, Sports Massage Therapist Warwick Ri, Sports Netowrking Events Seattle, Sports Sheets Under Bed, Sports Store Tukwila, Sports Teams Psyches, The Wave At Sports Events, Udel Sports Management Internships, Umass Sports Physio, Unh, Utah High School Sports Facebook, Want To Open Sports Bar, Watch Verizon Fios Anywhere Sports, What Is Spectator Sports Accounting, Why I Dont Like Sports, Wild Animal Sports Day Unlisted

Continue Reading

Previous Senior Center offering fun for those 50 and up | News
Next OKC white water center to host 2026 Canoe Slalom World Championships
February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • March 2020
  • November 2018
  • December 2016

Recent Posts

  • So, about That Hockenson Revenge Game..
  • Joshua Primo WRONGLY Sacked Over Recent ALLEGATIONS..
  • Why did Brittney Griner cut her dreads while in Russian Prison? All you need to know
  • Five Reasons to Watch ONE 164: Pacio vs. Brooks
  • Baker Mayfield might give Rams solid contingency plan at quarterback

BL

Tags

17 D1 St Johns Sports 2018 Pontiac Sports Cars Acady Sports Knoxville Tn Arizona High School Scholastic Sports Body Tests For Sports Bowling Shoes At Academy Sports Brazzers Sports Bra Blonde Burlingame Rec Center Bis Sports Champagne Sports Resort Winterton Christina Crockett Vice Sports Cloverdale Physiotherapy And Sports Clinic Clubhouse Sports Bar And Grill Diane Richardson Northway Sports Mn Emerald Isle Nc Water Sports Equine Sports Management Espn Classic Sports Expert Sports Free Picks F150 Outdoor Sports Fillmore Youth Sports Ford'S Real Hottest Sports Car Fort Dodge Rogers Sports Complex Four Points By Kc Sports Hamilton Southeastern Schools Sports Avaolbe High School Sports Standings Jd Sports Mens Trainers Sale Jenna Marbles Sports Center Justice Convertible Strap Sports Bra Karin Sultan Sports Gta 5 Keeping Up With Sports Live Sports Only Streaming Services Manhattanville College Sports Division Michael Irvin Sports Illustrated Midco Sioux Falls Sports Channel Most Unbiased Sports Colum Motor Sports Channels In Us Nos Center Sports Center One World Sports Rcn Pays Big Sports Betting Percentageof Sports Injuries Performance Sports Group Products Pickle Juice Sport Academy Sports Playing Sports Best When Angry Prime Sports Nederland Public Water Sports In Austin Samsung Galaxy S4 Sports Cases

Visit Now

New Games

contentplacement.id

footballingworld.com | Magazine 7 by AF themes.