WHEREAS, Sports participation has become an integral part of American life ingrained into the consciousness of society; and
     WHEREAS, Sporting events have components essential to their continued success, such as the players, coaches, and fans; and
     WHEREAS, Many sports officials volunteer their time or receive only minimal compensation and participate out of a sheer love of the game and to teach children who play the game the valuable lessons that are learned through participating in sports, including sportsmanship, teamwork, and complying with the rules of the game to achieve a common goal; and
     WHEREAS, It is critical that there are a sufficient number of qualified sports officials to enforce the rules of the game and judge potential disputes between participants on the field; and
     WHEREAS, Sports officials act as on-field judges for their respective sports and as neutral participants who have no stake in the outcome of the game; and
     WHEREAS, Sports officials who give their time and energy to officiate games deserve our collective respect and must have our collective assistance in creating a safe and secure environment for our children to play; and
     WHEREAS, Young people observe both the good and bad behavior of their sports heroes, other athletes, coaches, and fans and often emulate that behavior in either a positive or negative manner; and
     WHEREAS, As a society, we must act on the belief that respect for authority is critical to living, working, and playing together in a civil society governed by the rule of law;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington express its appreciation to all those sports officials in recreational programs, who do all they can to promote sports as a beacon to highlight positive behavior and the need for good sportsmanship and fair play.