The KHSAA warns that if spectators don’t improve their sportsmanship, schools will have to cancel games.

KHSAA losing nearly half of its sports officials in 5 years; here's why | WLKY.com

There are plenty of officials in the stands every game. 

I'm SURE all those people will sign up to fill the gaps...

I've read comments on Facebook posts for this article and refs are taking a beating so I don't see this improving.

Just now, Tigerpride94 said:

I've read comments on Facebook posts for this article and refs are taking a beating so I don't see this improving.

I don't think it is improving for any authority figures. 

2 hours ago, theguru said:

I don't think it is improving for any authority figures. 

IMO, life has never been better for us as a society and yet we seem to have more angry people than ever. 

From the article:

"The KHSAA has created a program to let older teenagers officiate for lower-level games accompanied by a mentor."

Didn't I see a thread or comment a session for that during scrimmage season in Northern Kentucky?

1 hour ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

From the article:

"The KHSAA has created a program to let older teenagers officiate for lower-level games accompanied by a mentor."

Didn't I see a thread or comment a session for that during scrimmage season in Northern Kentucky?

I am aware of middle school games that have had multiple teenage officials. By all accounts they do just fine. 

I know there was a prospective student officiating the FD-St. X scrimmage.

35 minutes ago, WishboneCity said:

I am aware of middle school games that have had multiple teenage officials. By all accounts they do just fine. 

We had a MS game last October that was officiated by one adult official & two teenage officials.  When they came to the gate in their official uniforms, the gatekeeper thought it was a couple of students dressed in Halloween costume & tried to charge them ?.  Anyway, the game was actually officiated fairly well.  The teenagers actually did a good job & the adult referee did a good job teaching & training them during the game.

4 hours ago, WishboneCity said:

I am aware of middle school games that have had multiple teenage officials. By all accounts they do just fine. 

Little League baseball did this when I  was young. I umpired baseball for several years when I was a teen. A lot of youth soccer leagues rely on teens. I think teen officials are a great idea.

6 hours ago, Voice of Reason said:

IMO, life has never been better for us as a society and yet we seem to have more angry people than ever. 

Social media making people feel like their opinion is needed and validated on everything. 
 

I’ve reffed little league and it was awful. From parents to coaches. I would never do it full time. 

Luckily, playing sports is not a god given right (despite what some people think.). When they run out of officials, no one plays.   But I'm sure the parents will still find others to blame when their kid doesn't get that college scholarship.

9 hours ago, Tigerpride94 said:

I've read comments on Facebook posts for this article and refs are taking a beating so I don't see this improving.

I just got back from the comment section. That was brutal. There is so much anger and blame. So little understanding and positivity. Also very indicative of the blame game culture we live in now. So many people want to shun accountability, especially when adversity hits.

16 hours ago, Colonels_Wear_Blue said:

From the article:

"The KHSAA has created a program to let older teenagers officiate for lower-level games accompanied by a mentor."

Didn't I see a thread or comment a session for that during scrimmage season in Northern Kentucky?

I thought I saw somewhere over the summer that the NKYFL is doing this, but I might be mistaken

My opinion this 110% falls on the coaches!!!! If the coaches hold themselves to a higher standard of respect towards officials 2 things will happen:

1. officials will have the ability to turn a deaf ear towards the fans 

2. fans might just might follow the level of respect the coaches are giving the officials 

The Perfect Storm scenario that are running officials off is a Coaching staff losing their mind towards officials and then the fans that jump on that mindset to pile on that insane behavior.