It's not perfect, but it's a great way to stay involved in the game!

Survey Indicates Number of High School Officials Up Six Percent Since Last Year

BY NFHS ON JULY 21, 2025 | OFFICIALS, OFFCIALS NEWS, NFHS NEWS, PRESS RELEASE

---

 

The number of registered high school sports officials remains above pre-pandemic levels and grew by six percent during the last school year, according to a follow-up survey of 36 NFHS member state associations that originated in 2018-19.

Data compiled by the NFHS from the 36 associations showed the total number of officials’ registrations at 237,811 during the 2024-25 school year, up 14,432 from the previous year, and an eight percent increase from pre-pandemic numbers (220,340) reported in 2018-19.

The growth in officiating continues despite an estimated loss of 50,000 officials during the COVID-19 pandemic. After dipping as low as 189,140 officials in 2019-20, participation has increased each year since the 2021-22 school year. For the past two school years, officiating totals have surpassed those from 2018-19.

All sports except field hockey and water polo saw a year-over-year increase in official registrations in 2024-25. Eleven sports, including baseball (1%), basketball (4%), football (10%), ice hockey (6%), boys lacrosse (4%), girls lacrosse (28%), soccer (13%), swimming and diving (10%), track and field and cross country (53%), volleyball (18%), and wrestling (22%), were above their pre-pandemic levels at the end of the most recent school year.

In addition, 27 states reported they were back above their pre-pandemic levels in 2024-25.

"With the steady increase of officials' registrations over the past couple of years, the NFHS is not only focusing on how we can bring more officials into the avocation, but we are working to ensure that we are doing enough to retain the officials who have been with us for years,” said Dana Pappas, NFHS director of officiating services. “The emphasis on retention is as important as ever and we are stressing the need for support, training, recognition, education, advocacy and mentorship for officials and are collaborating with state associations and other organizations that are mission-aligned to be able to accomplish this."

The NFHS has made a concentrated effort to improve the retention and recruitment of officials. The NFHS organized two consortiums to address the drop in officials during the pandemic, and the BecomeAnOfficial and BenchBadBehavior campaigns continue to make an impact nationwide, among other initiatives.

While the number of officials is rising overall, there remains a significant nationwide need. Anyone can apply to become a high school official at www.highschoolofficials.com.

16 hours ago, Breds82 said:

The dreaded kneepad issue.?

2 hours ago, No Hiding Here....BC 21 said:

The dreaded kneepad issue.?

Yep, and it won't be enforced at all again.

4 hours ago, New Colonel said:

Yep, and it won't be enforced at all again.

If so, that is an integrity issue.

7 hours ago, theguru said:

If so, that is an integrity issue.

Yes. Poor integrity by the coaches for allowing their kids off the bus in those pants. 

1 minute ago, Pi said:

Yes. Poor integrity by the coaches for allowing their kids off the bus in those pants. 

That too.

I am curious as to what is the purpose of knee pads?  In my days we mistakenly thought they actually prevented dreaded ligament injuries.  The big bulky things we wore did nothing but kept us from skinned knees and burns.  Not sure that today’s pads even do that.  If true, then what we are dealing with is an unnecessary rule with many coaches allow their players to blatantly disregard and officials often refusing to endorse. Are we missing out on the life lesson of obeying the rules, because they’re the rules?  Maybe unintentionally encouraging the younger generation to question authority?

On 2/9/2022 at 10:55 AM, theguru said:

We agree on the bold but from experience with this exact issue I disagree on the call as needed strategy.  A game could be disrupted for 10 to 15 minutes and/or the situation could quickly become physical. 

All sportsd should be like HS Lacrosse those officials can flag the fans. 

6 minutes ago, NKYBornandBred93 said:

All sportsd should be like HS Lacrosse those officials can flag the fans. 

That quote was from 2022, I had to go back and refresh my memory.

Admittedly I don't much about Lacrosse other than I watch a little on TV and chatted with a high school Lacrosse coach recently but what happens if I come to the game in the opposing teams gear and "get a flag" for the opposing team which helps my team?  

11 hours ago, Oldercoach said:

I am curious as to what is the purpose of knee pads?  In my days we mistakenly thought they actually prevented dreaded ligament injuries.  The big bulky things we wore did nothing but kept us from skinned knees and burns.  Not sure that today’s pads even do that.  If true, then what we are dealing with is an unnecessary rule with many coaches allow their players to blatantly disregard and officials often refusing to endorse. Are we missing out on the life lesson of obeying the rules, because they’re the rules?  Maybe unintentionally encouraging the younger generation to question authority?

I definitely think we are teaching children that no matter what rules are or what the authorities say about the rules, there are times in life you don't have to follow the rules and that is dangerous. 

3 hours ago, theguru said:

I definitely think we are teaching children that no matter what rules are or what the authorities say about the rules, there are times in life you don't have to follow the rules and that is dangerous. 

I don't think not wearing knee pads is going to lead a kid down a lifelong path of crime. I look back at my playing days in the 80's and we used to take the butt pad out of our girdle...I'm not sure why, but just about every skill player on our offense, and anybody whose hand wasn't on the ground at the start of a play on defense never wore a butt pad. And we never turned into a bunch of outlaws as adults. This type of thing has been going on for years and not just in sports. There are many situations in life where people knowingly break the rules without it leading to utter chaos. All it takes is 10 minutes on the interstate and you'll see a lot of people knowingly not following the speed limit. I'm not saying rules and laws aren't important. They absolutely are. But whether a football player wears knee pads or not, isn't a hill I'm going to die on.

8 minutes ago, rjs4470 said:

I don't think not wearing knee pads is going to lead a kid down a lifelong path of crime. I look back at my playing days in the 80's and we used to take the butt pad out of our girdle...I'm not sure why, but just about every skill player on our offense, and anybody whose hand wasn't on the ground at the start of a play on defense never wore a butt pad. And we never turned into a bunch of outlaws as adults. This type of thing has been going on for years and not just in sports. There are many situations in life where people knowingly break the rules without it leading to utter chaos. All it takes is 10 minutes on the interstate and you'll see a lot of people knowingly not following the speed limit. I'm not saying rules and laws aren't important. They absolutely are. But whether a football player wears knee pads or not, isn't a hill I'm going to die on.

It is not a hill I am going to die on either but it is one more straw on the camel's back. 

On 7/23/2025 at 2:15 PM, Breds82 said:

So glad this mentions the knee pads stuff should be addressed in pregame, and also that they should be given the chance to correct it. Also, “be easy to work with” is all people ask for.