A busy weekend lies ahead for Kaua‘i’s football officials. So busy that they needed the assistance of two officials from O‘ahu to help them out with the two games on Friday night. However on Saturday, the officials crew will be
A busy weekend lies ahead for Kaua‘i’s football officials. So busy that they needed the assistance of two officials from O‘ahu to help them out with the two games on Friday night.
However on Saturday, the officials crew will be an all-Kaua‘i squad.
The 2005-06 officials are Lenny Rapozo Sr., Lenny Rapozo Jr., Ben Bregman, Larry Maru-game, Kelvin Moniz, Jerry Morris, Shawn McGurrin, Lance Miyaeo, and Placidio Valenciano.
With an undersized crew, Rapozo Sr., the head of the gang, wants more individuals to come out and eventually become officials.
The group meets every Tuesday night, 7 p.m. at the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center.
“We’re looking for Pop Warner officials because we lost some people from last season. Anyone who has any inkling of any sport or just the desire to be a sports official should come out,” Rapozo Sr. said.
Contact Rapozo Sr. for more information at 639-0980.
Of course a primary interest in football is expected, but Rapozo Sr. noted that if you want to do it, they’ll teach you.
“Even if they don’t know much about football and want to learn, we’ll be glad to help them out,” Rapozo Sr. said.
The group even gets a weekly visit from a youngster by the name of Dallas Correa, who has the desire and brains to become an official someday.
“We’re trying to get him in there. This kid (Dallas) is amazing. He does really well on officials’ tests and he’s just a really well-mannered kid,” Rapozo Sr. said.
Correa will be the ball boy for the upcoming preseason games this weekend.
“His parents are willing to let him do it, so the next step is getting the OK from the people in charge,” Rapozo Sr. said.
Even former county councilman Randal Valenciano is in the process of becoming an official.
“We have some people, like Randal that are being trained and tested,” Rapozo Sr. said.
Rapozo Sr. is heading into his 28th year as an official and his son, Lenny Jr., is right behind, in his 17th year.
“As soon as he came home from college, he said he wanted to do something with his dad and it happened,” the elder Rapozo said.
Officials are the backbone to every game they are part of, because without their services, the games would not be possible.
“I do it because I want to help out the youth of Kaua‘i. My desire was to be a part of a youth organization and just give them something to do,” Rapozo Sr. said.
According to Rapozo Sr., there are many KIF football rule changes that take effect this season, so fans in the stands might want to update their rules book.
“For one, there used to be a rule where you could throw forward passes more than once, but this year you can’t,” Rapozo Sr. said.
The biggest problems individuals have with officials at games come from the lack of their understanding of the rules.
And Rapozo Sr. couldn’t have explained it better. “When people don’t understand the rules, that’s when trouble happens,” Rapozo Sr. said.
Come out and see Rapozo Sr., his crew and the KIF football teams this weekend, as Kaua‘i hosts West Hills (Calif.), 5:30 p.m. at Vidinha Stadium on Friday.
After that game, check out the Menehune at Hanapepe Stadium, against Valley Center, starting at 7:30 p.m.
In the meantime, Kapa‘a goes up against Bonita Vista on Saturday, 7:30 p.m. at Vidinha Stadium.
KIF Football
- Tonight: West Hills (Calif.) vs. Kaua‘i, Vidinha Stadium at 5:30 p.m.
- Tonight: Valley Center (Calif.) vs. Waimea, Hanapepe Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday: Bonita Vista (Calif.) vs. Kapa‘a, Vidinha Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
