Middle and High School Officiating.

THROUGHOUT THE country, mention the subject of officiating to various school people and you will get the same kind of responses: "There's not enough of them to go around"..."The quality is very diluted"... "The expense is becoming too great."

These are the problems that our athletic directors encounter every year. And they are not about to go away. With the increase in participation and the addition of new sports, the demand for qualified officials can only increase.

To combat these issues, our athletic leaders must take a pro-active approach to ensure our teams of the highest level of officiating. The leaders must be able to answer the following questions:

* Does your state require officials to be certified? Does this certification require testing, both written and practical?

* Is training provided for all officials?

* Is there a feeder system that ensures the opportunity for advancement?

* Do you work with your recreation department or compete against them for officials?

* Finally, is there a fee structure? If so, how is it set up and how are contracts signed to ensure quality service?

If you cannot answer all these questions, you probably are experiencing problems in supplying quality officials for your contests.

Let's examine some of these issues:

1. Most states require officials to belong to an association; some at national level, such as IAABO, others at the state and local levels. The nature of their registration does not tell us what is required of them to officiate a contest. As athletic administrators, we must demand a knowledge of the rules, practical experience, common sense, and professionalism. Before allowing an official to work a contest as an independent contractor, we must also have proof that he has liability insurance coverage. These items must be discussed and be certified on all official association contracts.

2. Are your officials receiving training each year? In working with officials groups, we should insist on some kind of pre-season training. We can help by supplying training areas (facilities) and teams and athletes for scrimmages and training sessions. We must negotiate with officials for coaches clinics that will ensure an understanding of rules, applications, and interpretations.

3. How are your officials assigned? Whether officials are assigned by school athletic directors or by a central agent, are we making sure they have an opportunity for advancement? If the same officials are used all the time, how are we going to get the new crop of officials to join the association or continue with their careers? We often have to blame ourselves for not having enough quality officials to cover our contests. We can help by offering courses (at our schools) for students interested in officiating. This could alleviate the shortage of officials at the lower levels and begin the training of future varsity officials.

4. Working with your recreation leaders is imperative when contracting officials associations. Schedules should be worked out carefully to avoid overlapping seasons and playing dates and thus diluting the number of quality officials available for contests. Remember, a good recreation program can be an asset to any high school athletic program and a great training ground for new officials.

5. Finally, what is your fee structure? If it is not state-controlled, you will lose good officials to nearby counties. You will be forced to compete with larger counties (city systems) that can afford higher fees. This can only lead to loss of revenue and financial problems. Work within your state athletic structure to voice opinions on officials' fees and contracts.

By confronting these issues, athletic administrators can ensure the quality of their games and the integrity of the fee structure. They must become protective and refuse to allow any of this to become a crisis. They should seize this opportunity to develop a strong alliance with all officiating groups.