Local resident makes the calls in Pop Warner Super Bowl
By Sean Sweeney Journal Correspondent

Andre Arel (right) and his fellow referees watch the pre-game festivies at the Pop Warner Super Bowl Game in Florida. Courtesy Photo

Ashburnham resident Andre Arel knows what it's like to be on both sides of an argument between a coach and a sports official.

During the spring, he's a baseball coach at Conant Region- al High School in Jaffrey, N.H., and during the fall, he's a well-respected football official for the state of New Hampshire.

It was in that respect that earned him a slot on the field on Saturday, Dec. 9, as part of the Pop Warner Super Bowl, which was broadcast on ESPN.

Arel, who has been an official for 11 years, was the line judge during the championship game, which was contested between teams f rom Anchorage, Ala. and Washington, D.C., at the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

The line judge helps spot the football and gets it ready for the next play.

"The experience was fantastic," Arel said this past Sunday afternoon, "especially the way they transformed the field and built it up for the kids. They built tunnels, set off fireworks. It was great."

Arel is a member of the 110-referee New Hampshire Football Officials Association and was chosen to represent the New England Region. He prepared for the week-long event in Florida by officiating two finals at the AYF New England Regionals at Gill Stadium in Manchester, N.H., before he flew to Florida on Dec. 3, where he called two opening-round match-ups in the Junior Pee Wee and Pee Wee Divisions on Dec. 5.

The next day, he officiated two semifinals - one of which had a team from Brockton playing - and then was chosen to do the Super Bowl game later that evening. He said that the officials had been timed while they were working the earlier games, and a committee had selected him for the big game.

As a tune-up, Arel then worked two final-round games on Friday before the Super Bowl on Saturday.

The top-rated line judge in New Hampshire, Arel works about 90 games a year, split between high school and youth football. While he enjoys doing games at the varsity, junior varsity and freshman levels, the most rewarding part of his weekend gig comes on Sunday mornings.

"On Sunday's, it's great to help the kids and teach them the game," he said. "It's more about teaching them than throwing flags."

Arel explained that being an official in such a big game as the Pop Warner Super Bowl, one needs to have a thick skin and have good communication with the other officials.

"As a crew, there's a lot of communication, holding your whistle (to make the right call), and not get rattled by the coaches," he said.