ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s tough being a referee at any level. Your attention to detail has to be spot on, there might be some taunting from fans and you are caught inside the sideline of pretty competitive games. For John Thomas, it’s something he lives for. Our Despina Barton introduces us to a local official who makes sure he uses all of his senses when making the big calls.
- John Thomas has been officiating for FHSAA past 3 seasons
- Thomas is only deaf referee in Central Florida Officials Association
- He aspires to be an NBA official
It can be pretty intimidating walking into a busy AAU tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World. Team’s shuffle in and out, there are loud fans in the stands and a lot of basketball games going on all at once.
But for John Thomas, the noise never gets to him — because he’s deaf.
“I love watching boys high school basketball. It’s more physical. You are looking for the good calls, and you are looking for the athleticism between the players. That’s just what I love,” Thomas said of being around the game.
Thomas has always found a way to be around the game, from his early playing days in New York to coaching and now officiating in Central Florida.
This, though, was a new role he sought after realizing a few years back he couldn’t keep pace with the guys at the gym anymore.
“Because of my health, the current shape that I was in, I didn’t want to be a vegetable sitting at home on the couch so I was searching on the website and I came across Central Florida Officiating Association, and I joined.”
Joining was easy three years ago. He already had the basketball IQ and background. The challenge for the 53-year-old came with the training.
“I was the only deaf person. There was no interpreter, and there was nothing. So I asked my partner, ‘Hey do you mind writing-taking notes for me?’ as I learned my way through training,” Thomas explained.
Now, Thomas has an interpreter, Chris Bahl, and is thriving in a business he didn’t think much about when he was younger.
“As a basketball player and as an official, it’s different, and so I look back at my experience and... I used to give the referees a hard time, and now as a referee, I’m like, 'Yeah, I get it.' So I tell the players to calm down a little bit.”
Thomas has developed a routine for every game: First, he approaches the scorer’s table to check the book for players' names and numbers.
“The C's come together, and I say, ‘Hey, I’m deaf, and I just very simply explain and make sure the players show me their number and make sure they have sportsmanship. If everything is good, then that’s it. Let’s have a good game — good luck!”
And they are off and running. Right now, Thomas is the only hard-of-hearing official for the Florida High School Athletic Association. But he doesn’t want it to stay that way.
“(Everyone) in the deaf community: You can do it," he said. "A deaf person a hearing person — everyone is human. There is no one that is greater than another,” Thomas said. “My goal is to inspire other people to join up.”
In the winter, you’ll find Thomas scattered around Orlando calling the FHSAA games. One day, he hopes to crack into the highest tier of basketball.
“I wish I could be in the NBA, but I am deaf, so there might be an obstacle greater to overcome. But hopefully that dream comes true in the future.”
Thomas will not be putting the whistle away anytime soon.