referee shortage?
 

I just got an email from the association that says "only around 350 officials registered this year compared to over 700 throughout the state last year". Iam guessing we need around 400 to fill assignments on game days.

I am sure they will get staffed. Our registration/test deadline is not until Dec 1. But, I bet it will be easy to get double header assignments this year, and the assigners will be scrambling on Friday nights.

How are other states? Plenty of refs, or barely covering games?

No such shortage in basketball here. There are over 5000 statewide registered by the time the basketball season starts. More than enough to choose from for all kinds of assignments. Not much of an issue here in the sport of basketball. Other sports in some cases, but not basketball.

Peace

Not here either-we still do most everything two whistle although some of our bigger public school leagues are trying to go 3 person.

Our Day Jobs Get In The Way ...
 

The only problem we have here in my little corner of Connecticut is covering mid, and late, afternoon middle school (3:30 p.m.) and high school freshman (4:00 p.m.) games.

We have folks in my unit whose FULL TIME JOB is doing basketball and other sports;)

Wouldn't know about state shortages as in VA we have state certified associations that usually contract games with entire conferences.

There may be individual associations that are short on officials.

*Sheesh, I'm glad my days of arranging to leave work early on Tues and Thurs are over with, sorry I cannot take off work at my main job to pack up, head out and ref 8th grade girls.

Four More Years ...
 

I retire from my day job as a chemist in four years. I'm actually looking forward to making myself available to my assigner for some middle school, and freshman, afternoon games. I enjoy working with, and teaching, new officials; I enjoy officiating basketball at just about any level, and the money is pretty good ($60.45 for all subvarsity games).

You know what happens to retired chemists . . . they barium! :D

My first post in 10 months and I bring a zinger like that. I think I'll go back to lurking.

The state assistant commissioner spoke to my officials association last night. Some fun facts about my state:

We have 7,000-8,000 total registered officials across 20 sports, 9 for each gender with unified track & field.

Basketball has the most registered officials with over 5,000.

Soccer officials total 950-ish.

384 officials are needed to officiate the first round of each state tournament. This year 524 applied for girls/boys basketball. Soccer reached a booming 428 applicants.

The average age of a track & field official is 72.5 years old.

No shortages in NVA BNR.

What state is the OP for?

Moving? ;)

Awesome. Just curious who has that number of officials in their state, and still can't fill. Then again, if we're talking Hawaii ... :rolleyes:

I am from Utah.

I am also from Utah, and it looks like they are going to need many more varsity officials this year, not just more officials. Before last year, there was only 3person crews on 5a men's and women's and 4a men's. Last year they added 4A women's. This year 3A added a third official to both men's and women's. Should be some decent room for advancement and no shortage of games.

Well let all pack up and head to the Salt Palace !

Everybody Needs An Extra Wife, Right ???
 

And we can all legally bring our extra wives.

Actually, it would still be illegal.

Just curious how much those in charge took officiating numbers into account when adding the third official on another level. In your opinion, is the talent such that three are necessary?

Good one. I've lived in Utah for decades, and I've never heard that one before. :)

I can't really say how much they thought about it because I am not in charge. Last I heard 3 out 4 of the 3A regions voted yes and the last I don't think had voted yet. It is the coaches who vote anyway, not officiating leadership.

As for the talent, last year and I think the year before our 5A division had the number one ranked team in the nation. Many of the 3 a schools have the talent to warrant three officials. Shouldn't every game at every level have three officials? It provides more opportunity to officiate, provides better court coverage, decreases errors and bad angles. In my opinion the only reason we have two officials on so many games is strictly monetary. If three cost the same as two, you would have three eery time.

I sure would love to work more games during the season. It is way too short. ( my wife would disagree.)

Do you still make the basketball playoff list, and stay on the list until you die?
(Ten year old anecdote.)

Rutledge's state has a this problem: Need more T&F officials. Schools hire only the old officials they know. New officials can't get hired. Newbies quit. Schools can't figure out why there aren't enough officials.

Old School Digital Media ...
 

Blue font. Old school.

***Disclaimer*** The following is only referring to Utah HS Sports.


This is incorrect. The coaches do not vote on items like this. The school's athletic directors and principals make this vote. I think that most of the voters will confer with the coach to see what the preference is, but at the end of the day, the ADs and principals make the call.

Well in my state assigning is not done the same across the state. In my area schools assign no one directly to games. The only ones that assign are assignors. I work with newer and younger guys all the time (age or experience) at the varsity level. There is apart of the state that still hires officials by the schools, but the bigger conferences or in certain areas they are assigned by a supervisor or assignor for a conference or tournament. I do not have a single game this year assigned directly by a school other than a Holiday Tournament where the AD assigns the officials for his own tournament. And even in that case he gets input from assignors to see what someone has done in their background before they get a shot.

Playoffs are assigned by the state office and sports administrator for each gender. And they use data of what officials are assigned or games that are worked to determine assignments in the post season. So you cannot lie about your schedule and if you are observed, that can also help you. Too much stuff out there to not know what someone has done and what someone should get an opportunity. The process is not perfect, but is any process perfect?


Peace