As the head of elementary physical education at Du Jardin School in Bloomingdale, Ill., he is the fun-loving Cubs fan who encourages youngsters' skill development. As a 6-foot-2-inch Illinois High School Association basketball and football referee, he tails athletes on hardwood and turf, scrutinizing their movements for foul play.

But no matter how the coin falls, Allman, 42, lands in Arlington Heights when the winter snow is long gone and the ladybugs come. In June, he'll start his 18th year as the Arlington Heights Park District's T-ball instructor.

The man who started as a park district rookie and became a "most valuable player" was honored in December for 25 years of part-time employment with the district.

Growing up gaming

Allman spent much of his childhood in Arlington Heights as a "park district kid."

Jim Glueckert, park district recreation and facilities director, said the term describes good children that hang out at the park district and often become employees when they come of age.

"Fred was in the gym all of the time," Glueckert said.

Allman started officiating youth basketball for the district in 1979 at age 16. Allman said he sought out the experience because he loves kids and loves sports, but also because he visualized a career in youth athletics.

Glueckert said Allman has been like a little brother to him, calling him a conscientious worker who takes his responsibilities seriously.

After basketball season, in the spring of 1980, Glueckert hired him to maintain the baseball field at Recreation Park, a task Allman continued until 1987.

In 1988, Allman began teaching 6- to 8-year-olds how to play baseball and softball.

Glueckert said Allman relates well to kids and their parents, who can't quite figure out how he remembers their child's name and the names of their other children.

"He's got a great memory from one year to the next," Glueckert said.

Allman said remembering is all about repetition. As soon as he hears a name, he looks a child in the face and uses it. The earlier Allman learns it, the easier he said it is for him to relate.

Teaching toughness

Du Jardin School Principal Mark Dwyer said Allman also knows the name of all his 415 Du Jardin physical education students, and most of them know that Allman is a die-hard Cubs fan.

"Prick his skin," Dwyer said. "He bleeds blue," the main color of Cub uniforms.

Allman, the school's only male full-time teacher, came to Du Jardin in 1987 after graduating from Illinois State University with a degree in physical education. He immediately moved to Addison and joined the Du Jardin staff, and has been there ever since.

Allman concentrates on preparing his kindergarten to fifth-grade students for middle school, and enjoys watching them improve and master new concepts.

The school works with Allman's hectic schedule, which has included training for the past three Chicago marathons (and perhaps another this year), and nomadic winter nights.

Calling the shots

Allman's calendar is tight as a full-court press when IHSA boys basketball is season.

He jets across the Chicago area on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights, from as far north as Zion and as far south as Joliet during pre-tournament play.

Allman said he has officiated at 90 percent of the high school courts within a 100 miles radius of Arlington Heights.

Dwyer said Allman, kind and compassionate with his students, is structured and serious on the basketball court. But despite his serious face, Allman loves it all: the spirit of the basketball athletes, the commitment of the coaches, the enthusiasm of the crowd, the last-second twists of fate.

Allman said antagonistic crowds have become a bit worse over the years and he's quick to report inappropriate incidents to a school's administration.

"You have to be aware of that stuff," Allman said.

Allman has officiated basketball for 26 years, 18 of them as an IHSA boys basketball official. In 2004, he officiated the class 2A boys basketball championship between Homewood-Flossmoor and Peoria Central high schools (Peoria won 53-47, Allman recalls).

He also kept the court clean in the 2001 state quarterfinals and in the third-place game, and in the 2002 quarterfinal and semifinal games. And nine years ago, he followed in the path of four fellow IHSA basketball officials and picked up football officiating, too.

Rounding the bases

Allman coaches three- to five-hour T-ball practices twice a week for seven weeks each June and July.

No matter how high the mercury climbs, Allman said eager 6- and 7-year-old sluggers always race from their parent's car to the sandy diamond, prepped for play.

"You have to be ready for that," Allman said. Later, he added, "You're always on stage."

Three of the seven T-ball weeks are spent practicing fundamentals, a period followed by four weeks of games. During games, Allman stands in the infield, no matter what team is at bat, and coaches the boys and girls.

Allman's always been a sports enthusiast, but no sport is as dear to him as baseball. At one time, he had visited every major league baseball stadium in America.

However, Allman said the death of his nephew in January of 2003 put things in perspective.

It sounds trite, Allman said, but simply seeing the kids having fun is his favorite part. He loves when parents tell him that "Sam" or "Sara" never took an interest in baseball, until playing ball with him.