Scott H. Birch
Scott was born in Boise, Idaho and raised in St. Anthony, Idaho. His mother was a registered nurse, and his father was the Director of Security for the State Youth Training Center and as a child of very organized and law-abiding parents, he lived a very organized and disciplined life. His father was an avid horseman and outdoors man, and Scott spent a lot of time hunting and fishing with his father and mother. During those years Scott learned the benefit of hard work and respecting others.
Beginning in grade school scott started playing organized football and continued through high school. Additionally, in high school, Scott participated in track and went out for basketball but was the last one to be cut from the team. It was during the meeting with the head coach to receive the bad news that Scott was offered the position of manager/student trainer a position that he gladly accepted.
It was sitting on the bench as basketball manager that Scott began to appreciate the basketball officials and was appalled by the actions of some coaches and players. Scott was raised to obey “the law” and on the sideline of the game was not the place to question calls made by the officials.
Scott graduated high school in 1969 and after a failed attempt at Utah State University he was told by a college counselor that perhaps the U.S. Army would be a better fit for him. In March 1970, Scott joined the Army and was accepted into Military Police training.
During 1970 and 1971, Scott coached the Camp Perry Military Police basketball team in the Williamsburg, VA men’s league. “I never criticized a call made by a referee.”
In 1972, Scott joined the Idaho State Police as a Trooper. Scott played on a District 5 basketball team that participated in area tournaments and games against other State Police districts. It was during these years that Scott “MAY” have become more critical of officials of all stripes
In 1990, the Birches moved to Boise where their children were active in basketball, football, wrestling, and soccer. It was during a soccer match that Scott was being a particularly vocal jerk and the center referee stopped the game, walked right up to Scott and gave him a blessing, of sorts, and asked him if he wanted to be able to stay and watch the rest of the game. It turns out that it was that singular event that encouraged Scott to become a soccer official, which he did for about six (6) years. His last game he was verbally attacked by two fathers and the coach. He did not handle that encounter well and resigned from officiating.
Scott’s children excelled in sports and other activities. It was Krisitinya’s participation in basketball that gave Scott ample opportunity to watch basketball officials in action and witness firsthand the verbal abuse that they endured. It was that experience that was the beginning of Scott’s desire to do something to help make their work experience memorable.
In the late 1990s Scott began working security at the Idaho Center and soon got enough seniority to be assigned to girls' and boys' state basketball. Scott got to know many of the officials and was privileged to sit in on many of the pregame and postgame meetings. It was during those meetings that Scott began to appreciate the heart and mind of these officials.
