1 scary detail emerges as state decides to use convicts in youth sports
For anyone even nominally invested in youth sports, it’s no secret that there is a stark shortage of referees in supply.
“[A high school referee’s third year officiating] is when we cross our fingers,” said Mark Uyl, an assistant director with the Michigan High School Athletic Association via the National Federation of State High School Associations.
“It is like the freshman year in college. It is a make-or-break kind of year,” Uyl said. “Every state association in the country is feeling the effects of an officials’ shortage. It is getting harder and harder not only to recruit new officials, but to retain them for years to come. That is the challenge that confronts us.”
National surveys show that only about one out of every five officials returns for his or her third year, according to the NFSHSA.
“The problem isn’t new,” said Matt Percival, activities director at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota. “It’s gotten progressively worse over the years. One of the most stressful things for an AD is when officials aren’t assigned or don’t show up. When that happens, no one benefits.”
Eliminating high school athletics would be untenable and a disservice to some children who are in dire need of extracurricular activities to stay out of trouble. That means athletic directors have to spend countless school resources trying to fill in and figure out refereeing situations. When there are no referees, games are cancelled. Canceled games, in turn, can adversely affect many children hoping to earn a college scholarship.
One of the biggest factors in the dwindling number of officiating candidates is the verbal abuse they receive, according to The Washington Post — primarily from parents but occasionally from student-athletes as well. Amateur refereeing is a visibly thankless endeavor.
“We are losing officials because of sportsmanship issues from participants, coaches and fans,” said Pete Vrieze, commissioner of the Middle Border Conference in northwestern Wisconsin. “We certainly lose officials to other things as well, but for the most part, on-court issues are driving newer and younger officials away. They say ‘the heck with it’ and aren’t interested in spending their free time in oftentimes volatile situations.”
Low pay is also one of the top reasons high school officials stop so soon.
In response to the growing problem, the state of Iowa has introduced a creative solution that aims to kill two birds with one stone.
According to the Des Moines Register, correctional officer Jim Bice has started recruiting inmates from the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility to be high school basketball referees as they exit prison.
At its face, the idea makes some sense. Bice is recruiting only nonviolent offenders. Attempting to reintegrate into society after serving a sentence can be difficult. Iowa’s idea offers an avenue for reintegration while also addressing the growing referee shortage.
There is nothing prohibiting a former inmate from being an Iowa state school official. But therein lies one very scary problem.
The state of Iowa, the Iowa High School Athletics Association and the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union don’t require background checks to apply to be a referee.
That seems like a significant oversight when trying to reintegrate former inmates. Only the IGHSAU even asks potential applicants if they have any felony convictions.
It’s a glaring issue that will undoubtedly elicit a strong reaction from concerned parents as it gains traction.
Bice, for his part, has faith that the inmates won’t be an issue.
“They’re not bad kids,” he told the Register. “I guess I have a lot of confidence in people.”
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