TSL #036: Addressing America’s Sports Official Shortage
Read Time: 4 minutes
As I laced up Air Jordans, sat on the dusty floor of a New York City gym during my 20s, and waited for a recreational basketball league game to start, something happened that would impact my vision of the ultimate recreational sports league.
An official stood visibly shaken amidst harsh, relentless criticism from league players. This moment went beyond my adult recreational basketball game; it revealed human dignity and respect.
I was ashamed I stayed silent, pretended not to notice, and didn't have the official's back.
My awakening into sportsmanship began in those gyms, where I saw officials face relentless abuse weekly. The disrespect was alarming, but even more so was the entitlement players felt, believing their league fees gave them the right to mistreat officials.
This experience sparked a deep resolve in me to instigate change.
When I started conceptualizing Ultimate Hoops, a foundational promise was written in bold across my notebook:
PROTECT OFFICIALS AT ALL COSTS
My goal was to create a league where officials were not just rule enforcers but guardians of the game's spirit, revered and respected.
Upholding these core values led to personal threats to my life and numerous confrontations off the court, with unhappy players ejected from the game for sportsmanship infractions that were commonplace in other rec leagues. Despite these challenges and my wife Mary's concerns for my safety, I remained willing to risk everything for the integrity of the game.
Over time, Ultimate Hoops became a community where families gathered and sportsmanship was celebrated. Our approach resonated nationally, fueling growth and fostering a strong sense of community.
Yet, the struggle to protect officials extends beyond Ultimate Hoops. Across America, a national crisis looms – the shortage of officials, with poor treatment of officials as one of the key reasons people leave the profession.
In Wisconsin, for example, the number of certified officials has dropped from 9,502 during the 2010-11 school year to 8,822 in 2021-22, according to data provided by the WIAA. The lowest it had been was 7,522 in 2020-21 at the height of the pandemic.
But there is hope: High school students are starting to pick up the whistle, dramatically rising from 243 officiating licenses to over 1,400 in one year.
Forty Wisconsin high schools have started offering a sports officiating course for school credit and certification. Over the last two years, 28 schools have added an officiating class.
Looking ahead to 2024, I am committed to addressing America's officiating shortage. To help create a world where officials are universally respected and protected, ensuring the future of sportsmanship in youth and adult sports. I envision a day when I can watch my grandchildren play in a world where fans and officials are ONE supportive community.
All of us in the sports industry have a collective responsibility to uphold the integrity of sports. I urge everyone to join this mission.
In Ultimate Hoops, we've demonstrated that a culture of respect and protection for referees is not just viable but essential.
Now, let's extend this spirit to every court and field nationwide.
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