Beyond the Game: Tackling the Crisis of Referee Shortages in High School and Youth Sports

Whether you’re throwing touchdowns, dunking basketballs, or hitting home runs, every sport needs one vital piece, an unsung hero, the referee.

Today, there is a major problem in high school and youth sports—the steady shortage of officials. This issue translates through every major sport in all 50 states.

It’s believed the shortage was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, the roots of this growing issue began before, with officials citing the worsening of sportsmanship and acquiring new officials to take the mantle.

The issue begins off the court. According to the NASO officials survey, conducted in 2023, 50% of officials who completed the survey have felt unsafe and feared for their safety because of spectators, coaches, and players’ behavior.

Organizations have taken it upon themselves to establish additional preventative measures by increasing fines and readjusting attendees’ codes of behavior to implement rigid penalties (suspension, expulsion, etc.). United States Volleyball (USAV) for example, has recently implemented the HIROS (Harassment Incident Response – Officials & Staff) initiative. HIROS was created to deal with harassment in real-time, allowing officials and staff to report, and the appropriate parties to respond with an investigation and issue consequences in a short period.

Creating a safer work environment for officials is the first step in resolving the crisis, however, recruitment is another hurdle sports organizations must overcome.

In the same NASO Officials Survey, it was disclosed that the average age of the official survey is 57.11 years old, about seven years until the current USA retirement age. While many people take up officiating as a hobby during retirement, sports organizations must focus on the recruitment of young people to get on the stand.

College students are one group of young people being recruited by some youth sports organizations, which makes sense when 81% of all college students work part-time and have a flexible schedule.

The Northern California Volleyball Association (NCVA) is prioritizing the recruitment of officials for the upcoming 2024/2025 season and is utilizing the many universities in the area to generate interest among young people. They offer a flexible work schedule, great pay, and the opportunity for travel.

The NCVA is under the USAV umbrella, so officials registered with the NCVA can officiate at any USAV qualifier across the country.

Opportunities such as these will become more abundant, and so will initiatives to support officials. While they may take a few years to take hold, spectators, coaches, players, and anyone who attends sporting events can start making a change now.

Never forget to thank your official, and next time a call doesn’t go your way, remember to express compassion and empathy for the men and women on the stand.