Is there a shortage of Officials in your State/Area? Why?

[Ed Hickland]

In many areas of the country the games necessary to move up are held in the late afternoon. That restricts a number of potential officials, especially, in football where the opportunity to work the required number of games is low.

Since it affects us all, the schools could be more accomodating in this age where lighting fields is done more and more and schedule 6pm sub-varsity games. That would also give more parents a chance to come to the games.

For veteran officials, we need to mentor our successors. If I look at the local association -- Suffolk County Long Island -- varsity officials are getting older and the number of young officials to replace retiring varsity officials has not kept pace. Yet, the average length of service is less than 10 years. There is a need to continually train and incent new officials.