OREGON, Ill. — High school sports in the Stateline area are facing a tough challenge due to a declining number of referees, especially in volleyball. Athletic Directors are voicing their concerns about the shortage, which has led to the cancellation of games due to the lack of officials. Mike Lawton, the Athletic Director of Community Unit School District 220, shared that one of the main reasons referees are leaving or not wanting to enter the profession is the treatment they receive from spectators. He said, “The thing we hear most from people as to why they don’t want to do it or why they’re getting out of it is the grief that they take from spectators.”
Just recently, Lawton received a call from the Athletic Director at North Boone, notifying him that their scheduled games, including freshman, sophomore, junior varsity, and varsity matches, had to be canceled. “There’s just not enough officials available,” he explained. This shortage affects not only the teams but also the overall enjoyment of the games for families and fans.
The Oregon Athletic Department made an announcement earlier today informing families and students that the Freshman and Sophomore game against North Boone was off. To combat this issue, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has introduced incentives for high school seniors and recent graduates, encouraging them to officiate sports they used to play. Many believe that having former athletes return to officiating could help improve the situation. Spectator Mark Tremble noted, “I just think that the younger players that matriculate out of high school and college should look into officiating at the high school level and they start out at the grade school level and work their way up.”
Anyone interested in becoming a referee, umpire, or official is encouraged to visit the IHSA’s website for more information. It’s a chance to give back to the sport and maybe even inspire the next generation of athletes.
