Players standing around after they have won matches might opt to pitch in and try refereeing.
Huntsman Crew Chief
Andrea Molberg
Why does someone agree to be a referee on a hot court for free? Steve Phillips’ answer is, “for the love of the game, to give back to the community and especially to surround myself with laughter, smiles and positive people.” After being diagnosed with renal cell kidney cancer in 2012, he and his fiancé of 17 years moved from Washington State to SaddleBrooke to be near Mayo Clinic Scottsdale. He considers pickleball a big part of his treatment.
Having been a Division 1 NCAA women’s basketball referee for 16 years, when he was introduced to pickleball he was initially more interested in calling matches than playing, but now he enjoys both. He’s been refereeing pickleball for 11 years and playing for nine. Steve is SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA)’s Rules Interpreter/Trainer and serves the same function for SaddleBrooke Ranch’s club, two clubs in Anacortes, Washington and one in Virginia Beach. Every quarter he writes an article providing updates about rule changes, tips for casual and tournament players and fun facts.
Steve worked for Dun and Bradstreet for 20 years, then taught marketing in Virginia, Maryland and near Bainbridge Island where pickleball was invented in 1965. “Pickleball was a major sport in Port Orchard where I was teaching,” Phillips explained and he started refereeing high school kids in the gym. He went to matches and watched, bought a rulebook and started teaching clinics for referees in Anacortes because tournament directors were always begging for refs. At that time there was a need but no structured process for becoming one.
In July, this cancer fighter will be the lead referee and tournament RIT for the Pickleball Canada National Tournament in Kelowna, B.C. Steve and SBR Chris Jerman recently became the 48th and 49th referees to be certified nationwide after completing the nine-month process with the USAPA National Certified Referee Program.
Steve encourages others to consider becoming a ref. “Players standing around after they have won matches might opt to pitch in and call some.” He added, “Maybe you can’t play but want to ref. It’s a great way to be around positive people. Sometimes there is more laughing than playing.” Son of a music teacher and grandson of a drummer for Lawrence Welk, Steve also gets positive, life-extending energy playing guitar and being a DJ. His goal is to surround himself with love. Mayo shows his compelling patient story at https://app.frame.io/f/sH6kA2rb.