High school football games are one of the most popular events among students. The crowd roars with excitement each time points are marked on the board, chants echo throughout the bleachers, but the atmosphere on the field is tense. This tension is maintained by the officials wearing black and white, who decide the outcome of the game. Overseeing might be difficult for many, but referees get the job done.
Referees ensure that the game is played in a fair and safe manner amongst the players, they enforce rules and give out penalties when necessary. Decision-making is a crucial factor of their job, and the game is heavily dependent on their fast decision-making, stirring a lot of internal pressure knowing that one wrong decision would create a feud by the spectators and players.
This pressure creates a negative mindset in many, which has caused a recent shortage in referees. Since COVID-19, the number of referees has been reduced due to factors such as negative attitude, hostility from spectators and players and the pressuring environment which many tend to stay away from, according to TheSportJournal (TSJ).
“I’ve coached for a long time and [when] you look at referees, it takes a certain kind of a person,” FHS librarian and varsity football coach Ruben Zamora said. “Every time I think, maybe I could do that, I [know I] can’t.”
Many youth sports have been affected. For example, the FHS football games on Aug. 28 and Sept. 11, which are usually on Fridays, have been moved to Thursdays instead.
“If all the games are played on Friday nights, they need enough referees to [attend] every single one of these games,” Zamora said. “And if you don’t have enough [referees,] you move a game to Thursday, [so] then those [referees] can now [attend] Thursday and Friday.”
However, the shortage of referees not only applies to FHS, but also around the country. High schools in different states, like Iowa, are experiencing this shortage, according to CBS2Iowa.
Most high school football games end around 9:30 to 10p.m., which may affect players’ sleep schedules, academic performances and consume more time in their day, according to Psychology Today (PT). Having a game on a Thursday night may not be as suitable as Friday nights, since students have school the following morning. Not having enough sleep is detrimental to one’s ability to stay focused in school.
“We prefer to have Friday games,” FHS head varsity football coach RJ Davis said. “The major impact is having school the next day [when you compete] on Thursday nights, [the game ends] around 9:30 to 10 o’clock, and then having to come back the next day.”
Fortunately, the first two football games of the season will be the only games scheduled on a Thursday while future games will resume on Fridays. Referees are crucial to sports, and in the future, we hope we can reduce these shortages to ensure smooth seasons and enjoyable games for everyone.
