HS Sports Officiating Shortage and COVID 19

[onetime]

Interesting knuckle ball spiral to throw into the “will there be HS Sports in 2020” Discussion.

We all know - HS Sports has a shortage of officials.

Now that strong rumors are indicating sports officials will be required to use electronic whistle, wear mask, continue to deal with screaming coaches / parents, as well as Potentially subjecting themselves to the COVID 19 virus while on the field -court or diamond.

With that said; Will any of the HS Sports Seasons even Have officials to officiate their games?

Just an interesting question.

 

[Streak One]

This is a huge issue. You can get by without a lot of things in prep sports, but if you don't have officials, you can't play.

And with the shortage discussed above, officials opting out because its not worth the hassle and offiicials who opt out for health reasons, we will get close to a danger point of not having enough.

 

[refhoops]

I think it will be a huge issue especially if everything in moved until January. Most officials work multiple sports. I know it is difficult to have enough officials for a typical Friday for basketball let along if football and basketball are played the same night. If multiple sports play on the same night there will be no way there will be enough officials. Furthermore, with the average age of officials somewhere north of 50, how many will decide to take the year off as the risk of exposure will be just too great.