BUTLER TWP — Officiating athletic events is more than a hobby for Denny Derringer.

It's a lifestyle.

Derringer, 56, of Butler Township has been officiating soccer, basketball and baseball games for 20 years.

“My kids got involved in youth soccer and they needed officials,” Derringer said. “I took the test and became a referee for the Butler County Youth Soccer Association.

“I figured if I'm going to do one sport, I might as well do more.”

He's been officiating games throughout the year ever since.

Derringer officiates 50 to 60 high school boys and girls basketball games each season. He does about 20 high school baseball games in the spring, then 50 to 60 games over the summer.

“Between Palomino, American Legion ball and the Eagle County League, they add up,” he said.

Derringer works 35 to 40 soccer games in the fall. All together, he works more than 150 sporting events a year.

Oh, and he also works full-time for Marmon Keystone during the day.

“You need to have the support of your spouse because I'm just not home,” Derringer said. “I go to work around 7 a.m., get home at 5 p.m., grab a quick shower and it's off to a basketball game.

“By the time I get home, it's 11 at night and it's time for bed.”

Derringer and his wife, Mary Ellen, have been married for 35 years.

This year for the first time Derringer cut back on his officiating schedule to spend more time with family. He said life issues occur from time to time that affect his time to work sporting events.

“Health issues may pop up,” he said. “In July, our first grandson was born. He was premature and weighed 3 pounds at birth. We went back and forth to Magee Hospital, so that short-circuited my baseball season.

“Our daughter lives in Cleveland now, so we take time there to visit a bit. I can't keep the (officiating) schedule I used to.

“I don't have any hobbies. Working games is my hobby,” Derringer added.

High school officials are paid $55 to $75 per game and Derringer receives $50 per game during the summer baseball season.

But, overall, he's not making much money.

“It's a way to keep active and stay involved in sports,” Derringer said. “I've been involved in sports all of my life. I played high school sports and so did my son.

“You have to like it to do it. If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't be out there. People who officiate for the money are doing it for the wrong reasons.”

By the time gas prices, meals and cost of equipment are factored in, “your profit margin is minimal,” Derringer said.

He pays roughly $500 for baseball umpiring equipment and clothing. Basketball shoes cost $200 and Derringer replaces those every two years. Soccer is the least expensive cost for an official, but still adds up to nearly $150 for the shirt, shorts and shoes.

“If extensive travel is involved, officials will car pool to save on gas,” Derringer said. “The association I belong to works games in Allegheny and Beaver County and some of those sites are a bit far.”

Preparing his body physically is part of the deal as well.

Umpiring summer baseball means dealing with heat. Derringer described working soccer games as a slow marathon, running back and forth along the field.

Officiating basketball is more like a constant sprint.

“You have to be prepared to go,” he said.

When baseball ends in late July, Derringer goes to a track every night and runs up to two miles.

“I do a lot of cardio,” he said. Keeping your body in shape is part of this. If you look bad (physically), the first perception you're giving to the public is bad.”

When it comes to taking grief from fans, Derringer said basketball is by far the worst.

“The fans can be a little tough, but I consider that part of the game,” he said. “I love working a close, tight game in a packed gym. That's fun to me.”

Derringer's son, Dennis, played football and baseball at Butler High School. His daughter, Danielle, was in competitive dancing until age 18.

Dennis graduated from the Naval Academy, Danielle from Columbia College in Chicago.

“When your kids are involved in an activity, you know where they are and you know they're growing from it,” Derringer said. “That's how I feel about officiating.

“You meet wonderful people doing this. The coaches and youth sports organizers put in so much time and don't get paid a cent. They are extremely dedicated, selfless people,” he added.

“The kids are good for the most part and I like being around them. I don't have a timetable on how much longer I'm going to do this, but there's no end in sight for me.”

<B>Age: </B>56<B>Address: </B>Butler Township<B>Family:</B> Wife, Mary Ellen; son Dennis G., and daughter, Danielle Derringer Krouse<B>Education: </B>Highlands High School 1972, Carnegie Mellon University 1976<B>Occupation:</B> Vice president of quality and operations, Marmon Keystone<B>Hobbies: </B>Sports in general<B>Quote:</B> “If you're officiating for the money, you're doing it for the wrong reason.”