PORT TOWNSEND — A young child tagging along to practices with a parent who coaches high school or college sports is a familiar story.
But going with Dad to preseason and in-season meetings of the area officiating association?
That’s a rarity.
And that’s the case for Port Townsend native Kaila Olin, 20, now a junior double majoring in business and communication at the University of Washington.
Growing up, Olin would travel with her father, Don, to meetings of the North Olympic Football Officials Association and the North Olympic Basketball Officials Association.
Even with her busy college schedule, Olin still makes those trips, having followed in her father’s footsteps as a football and basketball official.
“We go to meetings every other Tuesday in Port Angeles and he quizzes me the whole way there,” Olin said.
This football season, Olin has worked as a linesman in varsity games across the North Olympic Peninsula.
Her in-game duties are many.
“I take care of the chains, the downs box, the opposing team’s sideline, check the wide receivers to make sure they are onside, watch for penalties on plays to my side, and I’m in charge of getting down and in position on kickoffs,” Olin said.
“The linesman does the most running, but since I’m the youngest one, I don’t mind.
“At halftime the other guys are sweating and need a break and I’m ready to keep going.”
Olin was raised to be a sports nut and wants to pursue a career as a sports agent, so the progression from cheerleading in high school to officiating under the Friday night lights was natural.
“I would have loved to have played football growing up, but I know my mom would never let me and my dad wouldn’t let me,” Olin said.
“I would joke around with the [former] head coach Tom Webster [now an assistant for Port Townsend] about playing quarterback , but he’d always say I couldn’t see over the line.
“And my dad officiated all those games and he would always talk about football with me.”
Her officiating career started with Port Townsend Braves youth football games.
“I started doing the little Braves games when I was a sophomore in high school, right around age 15,” Olin said.
“I would talk my dad and Mr. [Jim] Sherwood into coming down out of the stands and officiating the games with me.”
Sherwood is a longtime officiating staple at North Olympic Peninsula high school contests. He also runs the scoreboard at Port Townsend basketball games.
“I did my first middle school game when I was a senior,” Olin said.
“In order to be state certified you need to be 18.”
She said she’s been treated well by players and coaches this season, but also listened to her dad about developing a thick skin to criticism and ignoring the pleas of players and coaches.
“Players tend to be pretty respectful,” Olin said.
“They’ll hand the ball to me after a play and call me ‘Ma’am,’ but if a call doesn’t go their way they’ll start to get lippy with me.
“Coaches think since I’m new, or a girl, they can persuade me or try and get me to call something that’s not there.
“I just try not to listen because my dad warned me about that.”
Her dad also provided another piece of valuable advice.
“He’s told me every official makes at least one mistake a game, so don’t let it bother you,” Olin said.
“The crowd probably doesn’t notice, so shake it off and you’ll get it right next time.”
She’s also received encouragement from Sherwood.
“I was working for Mr. Sherwood at his vet clinic this summer,” Olin said.
“I did some games in September, and after I came back to school he texted me and told me that I had done a great job and he was excited about seeing me someday in the Tacoma Dome [for high school semifinals or championship games].
“That was really rewarding because he’s a person who I talk to about officiating, and besides my dad, he’s been a mentor for me.”
Olin also was able to live out an officiating dream she’s had since the beginning.
She worked a Chimacum-Coupeville contest with her dad, and the pair jointly signaled for a made field goal.
“That’s something I’ve wanted to do on the field since I started,” Olin said.
“I saw the white hat [head referee] wasn’t facing me, so I took off running toward the goal post.
“The ball went through, he [her dad] nodded at me, we took the step and gave the signal.
“He was running with me to the sidelines and I told him I’d always wanted to do that.
“And he said, ‘I know, and I’m so happy for you.’”
The pair will have more opportunities to work together during basketball season.
“I know he has us signed up to do the Crush in the Slush [tournament] in December,” Olin said.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
