Striking Out: Shortage of umpires and players hits teams
(5/11) Batter up! Little league teams across Siouxland are having a tough time filling umpire positions. It's been a problem for years but...
Spirit and Intent Influence Interpretation
When considering the rules, spirit and intent influence interpretation. It would be easier if every rule was black and white. No wiggle room....
New Hampshire youth soccer leagues see referee shortage
(5/10) “This has been easily the toughest year over the last 10 or so years that I’ve been doing this,” certified referee assigner...
NFL Ref Matt Sumstine Calls Out For New Officials
(5/10) Matt Sumstine, who works for the NFL as a replay official, is offering a program that gives opportunities for anyone (female or...
Incentives help attract referees, umpires in wake of shortage
(5/10) "This year, we’re down about 2,300, refs so we’re almost half of what we usually have," Dammer said. The Blaine Soccer Club...
Referee Tony Brown to miss rest of 2020-21 season
(5/10) NBA referee Tony Brown will not officiate the rest of the regular season nor during the 2021 NBA Playoffs after being diagnosed...
Umpire brothers call first game together in more than two decades
(5/9) Both are umpiring because they want to stay involved in the game and give back to it at the same time, including...
TSSAA official Gerald Tidwell dies after collapsing during baseball game
(5/9) Gerald Tidwell, the principal at Warren County Middle School and a TSSAA official, died Saturday after collapsing during a district tournament baseball...
More referees and umpires needed at all levels
(5/8) The shortage of officials in high school – and middle school – sports has been a growing concern for several years; however,...
FIFA referee dies after ‘freak’ car accident
(5/8) FIFA assistant referee Shaun Olive has passed away after a car accident last week.
Local referee continues to work while fighting cancer
(5/8) Diagnosed in November with squamous cell carcinoma, Mark watched and waited as dozens, even hundreds of well wishes poured in over the...
Technical fouls proposed for players who flop in NCAAM basketball
(5/8) The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee on Friday recommended officials assess technical fouls to players who fake being fouled, beginning in the...
International 3-point line distance proposed in NCAAW basketball
(5/8) The NCAA Women’s Basketball Rules Committee on Friday proposed moving the 3-point line to the international distance of 22 feet, 1¾ inches,...
The Top Officiating Stories of 2020
Pro Sports Delay Seasons
Professional leagues such as the NBA, NHL and MLS put the remainder of their 2019-20 seasons on hold in March...
Mavericks’ Luka Doncic admits he has to stop ‘complaining way too much’ to referees
(5/7) It's always nice when a young player in the league has enough self-awareness to know when he needs to correct something. After...
Bill Howard reflects on 50-year basketball officiating career
(5/7) Bill Howard, whose full-time job was as an enforcement agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue for 35 years, became a certified...
Referee Harry Sperber has officiated for 45 years
(5/7) While the number of referees has declined over the years, one referee has shown his commitment to youth sports for more than...
Longtime NFL referee Ben Dreith dies at 96
(5/7) Ben Dreith, a referee who spent decades as a pro football official and is best remembered for one colorful call on the...
Ron Groover is In the Groove
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Life sometimes can hinge upon a chance meeting. That’s how it worked for NCAA basketball official Ron Groover. From relaxing after a pickup...
Sports could face a halt if officials become any more scarce
(5/6) A sports problem is surfacing and it's only going to get worse if nothing's done about it. There's a shortage of referees...
Nearly 80, Bill Peterson still officiates all kinds of games
(5/6) For months, COVID kept kids from playing sports. Now that bats are swinging again, the MSHSL says they really need officials. Many...
IHSA volleyball referee training offered through Sandburg College
(5/6) Did you know there is a shortage of Illinois High School Association volleyball referees? Carl Sandburg College’s Corporate & Leisure College is...
Stay on Script With Signals
Like it or not, we officials are on a stage of sorts, playing a role and contributing to the production. By that standard,...
Like the players around her, umpire Jen Pawol has eyes set on the Major...
(5/5) As Pawol’s career, that started in 2016, progresses, so does the spotlight. Powell has been featured on ESPN, Baseball’s Hall of Fame...
