It Can Be Fixed

For the past several years, high school athletic administrators across the country are bemoaning the shortage of game officials. Many lay the blame at the feet of what they identify as "Parents' bad behavior." I would think that anybody familiar with youth sports would readily agree that today's parents often times demonstrate poor sportsmanship and are frequently the cause when physical confrontations occurred. We have see documented video evidence.

I would not argue that some bad behaving parents are responsible for some game officials' shortages but I believe there are others to share equal blame for that shortage. I would add to the equation the  school district administrations, State Athletic Associations and coaches.

Please consider this overview:
 Parents are obviously dripping with emotional passion when attending their child's sporting event. No parent believes they gave birth to mediocre abilities. That said, keep in mind that parents at some time may wish to ask the coach's about their kid's play. Coaches are often put off by a parent asking a question. This is where a proactive high school administrator insists that the athletic department has a universal one-time parent-coach-student athlete conversation engagement process. That process is fully explained to the Board of Education, which signs off and thereafter refuses to entertain athletic   matters with parents but refer them to the 'process.'  Most parents telephone a coach and ask to talk  with them without the kid's knowledge. This process insists on the kid's attendance at this meeting. The communication guidelines do not permit a conversation about any players other than the parents' child. Note: This meeting will address the parents burning question, 'why is my child not getting  more playing time?' The coach should keep the player centered in the conversation. There is not a second meeting option. At the meetings conclusion the coach should ask the athlete if he/she is comfortable remaining as a member of the team.

The State Athletic Association is also a critical player in addressing the shrinking numbers of game officials. The Association can and should be proactive in this crisis. First, the State Association should host a yearly weekend officials' clinic for every sport offered under its canopy. That clinic weekend can offer refresher testing, rules interpretation and offciating mechanics. The Association should also require journeymen officials to agree to critique a young starting official three times during that sport's season before the journeymen official can qualify for a state tournament officiating assignments.

Good officiating begins with rules knowledge and shored by proper field/floor coverage, decisive mechanics and game management as it pertains to the official's response to players, coaches and fans. Beginning officials will grow in confidence with journeymen officials' guidance.

Finally, school districts would be wise to host a parent's night prior to the start each sport season  where a myriad of factors focused on providing a positive sport experience for all parties would be presented.

Footnote: Removing a obnoxious, vulgar and unruly fan from a high school event and barring that individual for the remainder of the season remainder of the season sends a no-nonsense message.