I were unable to play 2 games last year due to a lack of referees. I regularly have a $330 bill for 2 referees (due to travel) coming for a JV & Varsity game which I gladly pay promptly.
The shortage has not been an overnight issue, but one that has been building for the last 5-6 years.
Changes need to be made and here are my suggestions:
1. Require Sportsmanship from coaches and fans towards the referees. The red card to the fan/coach that abuses the referee should be coming out much quicker and coaches & AD's need to emphasize this to their fans.
2. Recruit more referees. I encourage all my seniors to get certified. The money is easy for a college student and it adds to the pool.
3. Make the process for becoming a referee more transparent and with greater flexibility for the applicant. Yes it is an online test, but the workshop/class attendance is restrictive to many in how few the clinics are (many of my former players just couldn't make the dates/times).
4. Assignments need to be based upon needs: Get back to the basics: All teams should be able to have a minimum of 2 referees for each game. Big games among the 3A & 4A schools may want a 3rd official, but to deny 2 schools the chance play because then can't get a referee at all is wrong and selfish.
4A. Make the referee assignments sooner. We often don't find out assignment until hours before a game. Weather related changes cause huge headaches for all, but the regular schedule needs to have greater advance warning so we quit working in an panic mode for referee assignments.
These are a few of the issues that others have states and I see as our bigger issues.
