Referee shortage in rural Alabama high schools

The Alabama High School Athletic Association, AHSAA, told Action 8 News that, while bigger city schools don’t have a shortage, more rural schools are having a harder time finding and keeping referees for their sports games. This is largely due to spectators getting aggressive and violent toward the officials.

AHSAA are hoping to get student athlete graduates to want to referee for the fall semester in hopes to gain more numbers.

KEN WASHINGTON – AHSAA Director of Officials – 00:28
“If you’re a player and you saw your coach yelling at officials or your parents always yelling at officials, it would kind of deter the kids away from officiating,” stated Ken Washington who is AHSAA Director of Officials. “But athletes, most of the time, make great officials and so we really wanna encourage all our athletes; especially when they get through playing their collegiate days or if they don’t go to college, to really look at officiating and give back to the sport.”

To apply as an official, send an email to kwashington@ahsaa.com

Go to AHSAA’s website to find out more information about becoming a AHSAA official.