Across the United States, youth and high school sports are facing shortages of referees and umpires. According to the National Federation of High School Sports (NFHS), there have been over 50,000 officials who have left the high school officiating world since 2019, causing postponements and cancellations of games nationwide. There are several factors that are contributing to this exodus of officials from the high school league, mainly unsportsmanlike conduct from parents, players, and coaches; low pay; and lack of respect. The majority of the high school officials are older, and there is a lack of younger officials that are stepping up to help curb the current lack of sports officials. However, high school students are working to suppress the crisis.
With growing concerns for shortages of officials by sports leagues, young officials are crucial to keep games running. Realizing the shortage of umpires for youth sports after becoming an umpire last year, sophomore Adam Skinner stated, “I’m always getting emailed to cover games that don’t have umpires.” Despite the high demand for many high school athletes, umpiring is an ideal job. It pays well, offers flexible scheduling, and allows them to stay involved in a sport they love. Skinner explained, “I wanted to start making money, and I love baseball, so it was the perfect match.”
Beside the paycheck, umpiring provides a new perspective on the game. “It helps me see the game a different way and know what the ump goes through,” Skinner stated. “I definitely have more sympathy for the ump when he makes a bad call on me.” Sophomore Chad Nielsen agreed, noting that officiating has helped him learn more about the rules and intricacies of baseball.
Despite its benefits, umpiring is not without challenges—especially when dealing with coaches and parents. “The biggest challenge is dealing with them, but you have to be confident in your call and stand up for yourself,” Skinner stated. Nielsen also explained that no one is perfect, saying, “There can be a lot of pressure on you to make the right call, but everyone makes mistakes.”
The ability to choose when they officiate games allows student-athletes to balance games with their schoolwork, sports, and other extracurriculars. Nielsen explained, “I just make sure not to schedule a game when I know I have a conflict.” While the amount of available games offers flexibility, it can create more problems than it solves for both referee and players. Jimmy Brown, a Lightridge High School senior who is in his third season as a referee, commented, “I’m only under one assignor, but I still get countless emails asking for help with games at the last minute. It also allows poor refs to sometimes be working important high-level games, which is bad for everyone. Players can get hurt, and the refs have to take a lot of abuse.” The pressure that this environment puts on newer refs can not only be discouraging and cause a lack of interest to the referee, but having inexperienced referees in high level games can also lead to players not being protected and unnecessary injuries. “In my opinion, being a ref yourself is the best way to gain respect for your games’ referees. You get a much deeper understanding of what refs go through and everything they have to deal with, and it forces one to reconcile with the fact that nobody is perfect enough to make every call,” explained Brown.
The ongoing shortage of officials in youth and high school sports is a serious challenge. However, officials like Skinner, Nielsen, and Brown are stepping up to help bridge the gap. While the job comes with challenges, it also provides valuable experience, a new perspective on the game, and a well-paying flexible job for student-athletes. As more students and student-athletes take on officiating roles, they not only help keep games running, but also gain a greater appreciation for the role of referees in sports. For youth sports to continue to thrive, young officials should continue to step up and fight this crisis.