Keenan Hall
Staff writer
The National Association of Sports Officials reported that there is a shortage in the number of new referees and officials nationwide after many across the country have questioned the quality of officials in sports this year.
In the spring of 2017, the NASO surveyed over 17,400 referees to help increase quality officiating in multiple sports. Officials were surveyed from a mixture of sports, including baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, football, volleyball and more.
The research discovered the main reason for the decline was spectators threatening the referees. Officials have been berated and threatened by their peers, making them fear for their safety.
These problems aren’t isolated. Even this year, several intramural basketball teams at Murray State failed to qualify for the intramural playoffs because of poor sportsmanship in the regular season.
The Director of Sports and Officials for the National Federation of State High School Associations in Indianapolis, Indiana, Theresia Wynns, expressed that sportsmanship is getting out of control in today’s sports.
“If you talk to referees from any sport, generally they will talk about sportsmanship and how it has become a prominent issue,” Wynns said. “So when officials quit, and there is no one available to take their place, contests have to be canceled.”
In 2017, there was a decrease in the lowest concentration of newly licensed officials between the ages of 15 and 70. The participants in the survey noted an average age of 53 years old.
The lack of sportsmanship is a significant reason why referees are declining among all age groups. Out of over 12,800 male respondents from the survey, 47 percent said they had felt unsafe or feared for their safety while officiating.
From over 1,000 female respondents, 44 percent said they also feared for their safety because of administrators’, players’ and spectators’ behavior.
The survey also showcased 57 percent of referees believe that sportsmanship is getting worse. The majority of survey respondents officiate at the high school varsity level. Coincidentally, sportsmanship is at its worst in youth sports.
“It has to start at the school and school district level,” Wynns said. “They have to take a stand about what they are going to allow and what they are not going to allow.”
The ones receiving most of the blame for poor sportsmanship are parents. Of the respondents from the survey that officiate in Kentucky, 40 percent of referees agree parents are the worst when it comes to sportsmanship.
However, over half of the participants believe it is the coach’s duty to increase sportsmanship.
“Lack of sportsmanship comes from spectators in the stands, players on the field, to coaches on the sideline,” Wynns said. “They have to realize they can’t play those games without having licensed officials.”
Wynns said communicating what good sportmanship is should help school administrators and athletic directors avoid putting more stress on the officials assigned to specific contests.
“They have to make sure they communicate what is appropriate, and then follow up on inappropriate behavior,” Wynns said. “The school districts have to make a statement and then follow it up with action.”
To neutralize the decline in referees, some universities offer licensed officials courses. Murray State offered an online football and basketball officiating course this semester; although, if that isn’t a viable option, contacting your state sports office can provide you with ways to get licensed.
“The National Federation is hosting a recruitment program where we’re targeting first responders and we’ve had a great number respond to that program,” Wynns said. “People that are used to working under duress in intense situations.”
Wynns mentioned that every state has its own official recruitment program you have to go through, but it’s not for everyone. There’s a certain level of motivation and commitment to become a referee. Contacting the state’s office is the first step.
“It’s just a matter of locating and working with people who understand what it means to be an official, and getting the job done in a professional manner,” Wynns said.
