Mattapan’s Bobby Jenkins has become known around Greater Boston for carrying a whistle and throwing flags, but the long-time football referee said there’s a whole lot more to calling a game than wearing a striped uniform and making sure no one is offside.

In fact, after more than 10 years calling football games for the youngest divisions of youth football all the way to championship high school games, Jenkins said it’s as much about being a friend of the game as calling penalties. And while the kids will be front and center for any Thanksgiving rivalry games coming up this week, it will be the officials like Jenkins who will keep the games moving along safely.

“We are a number of things as officials,” he said. “We’re referees. We’re negotiators. We’re mediators. We’re teachers. We’re a lot of things other than just officials. Football is near and dear to me because I played it. I get joy out of it and being around the kids. When I count down to the last games of the season around Thanksgiving, you realize you’re going to miss it.”

Jenkins, who has lived across from Almont Park most of his life, has also officiated basketball for 32 years, and is certified to call tennis matches as well. He began his love of football as a high schooler at Madison Park Technical and Vocational School and it was a classmate who later in life roped him into football officiating.

At a recent game this month at Nobles & Greenough School, Jenkins’s unique style was on display, animated in his calls, but also stopping to explain to the kids and coaches what went wrong and how to fix it. Hence, his role as a teacher of the game, as well as an arbiter of the rules.

“I’ve heard from coaches that they want me to call a game because they know they’ll get a fair game,” said Jenkins. “Whether I know you or don’t know you, I’m calling a game fairly. I’m going to make sure kids don’t get hurt on my watch. I’ve seen refs be very petty if they don’t like a coach or another team. If a call is close, they’ll throw a flag because they don’t like them. You aren’t going to get that from me.”

Tom Kerrigan has officiated for many years with Jenkins and said he can always be counted on. “He is requested by many communities,” said Kerrigan, who does most of the assigning of officials in the region. “He does a great job and loves working with the kids. He has the ability to keep calm even in chaotic situations. He always has a smile on his face. He is a great ambassador for the game of football and sports in general. He is one of my ‘go-to officials’ and has always been available when needed.”

Bob Denise, a long-time official with the Association of Interscholastic Football Officials (AIFO), said Jenkins is not only an official, but also an advocate for the community who works quietly to get kids opportunities.

“When he came to us, he was very, very good in terms of wanting to learn more,” he said. “What Bobby has done in the inner city is bring other men to us that want to be officials, and we welcome them. Bobby isn’t just a football official, he’s deeply involved in the political scene to make sure the kids get what they need and it’s a place to be and a place to learn teamwork.”

Jack Arouca, an official and secretary of the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Interscholastic Football Officials (EMAIFO), said there is a lot of training that goes into getting an official prepare for live action. Meanwhile, they are looking for new, younger officials and already count some members from Dorchester.

“Our next training will be in May via Zoom,” he said. “Then we do in-person classes in the summer and by September they are ready to get on the field. It’s a big commitment for people because the rules of football are forever changing and complicated.”

Jenkins said he is grateful for the weekly classes conducted by Denise’s referee organization in Braintree, and said many people don’t realize how much work off the field officials put in. He said changes in safety for illegal hits and concussions are things now that he and his colleagues have to be prepared for during games.

Mattapan’s Bobby Jenkins is well-known in the community for his activism, but in sports circles he’s known as one of the more reliable football officials in the area. A certified referee, Jenkins travels all over the region to officiate games from the youngest youth players to the high school contests. He said officials are more than just rule enforcers, but also mentors and teachers of the game.
Seth Daniel photos

“People might think we’re out there and don’t know what we’re doing,” he said. “You have 22 people out there going at each other, so we have to know. There are so many new rules for safety. What people think is a good hit is a flag now…What used to be allowed is a penalty now. We look at film in our classes to know what to look for. It may look like a clean hit, but it isn’t.”

Behaviors have also changed, he said, and it is the job of the officials to keep the game orderly and keep kids at all levels from losing their cool. He said he believes one of his strengths is being able to reason with kids.

“There are times you have to just talk to the young men,” he said. “At the end of the game, you can have a conversation with him. Cooler heads can often prevail in those moments.”

But, as many officials in all sports have said, it is the behavior of parents and spectators that often gets way out of hand. That is as true for high school sports as it is for little kids in youth leagues. He said officials can overlook heckling, but at times it can get in the way of the game or hinder an official’s focus. Jenkins said those situations can usually be worked out by getting help from coaches or league officials. However, there are times when parents or others lose control and find their way onto the field.

“There is a very well-known solution for that, and it has three digits – 9-1-1,” said Jenkins. “It should never get to that, and we try to keep from that, but we will stop the game and tell players to go to each side and call out the head coaches or league presidents and tell them to handle the problems.”

He said he has only had to call 9-1-1 one time when officiating, and that was a youth league game six years ago at Madison Park that quickly got out of control.

But mostly, Jenkins said, it’s an enjoyable occupation and a great way to help kids to love and understand the game he grew up loving.

“I do love it. It’s a good time to be out there with kids,” he said. “I do enjoy the younger kids the most, though.”

Anyone who might be interested in becoming a referee can contact Arouca, whose group meets in Whitman, at secretary@emaifo.net. Or write to Denise, whose group meets in Braintree, at Bob Denise; 9 Gibbs Rd.; Middleborough, MA 02346.