Youth Sports Officials are Quitting.
That's a Big Problem.

This is Creating a Shortage of Umpires and Referees.

Games are being rescheduled or outright cancelled.

Kids are paying the price.

#1
Reason

Parent, Coach, Fan, & Player Behavior!

"You're blind, you need glasses!" "What the hell is wrong with you?!" "You're on the take - this is rigged!" "Ref - You Suck!"

If an adult thinks it’s ok to
“Work the Refs” in youth sports,
they are part of the problem.

Even veterans with "thick skin" see sportsmanship declining & admit the toxicity hit them too.

Physical Violence is on the Rise.

16-year-old referee assaulted during a soccer match.
Dad sentenced for assaulting referee.
Referees attacked after minor league hockey game.
Please, for the love of sports, stop abusing referees.
California high school player punches referee.
Referee knocked out during high school 7 on 7.
Umpire hospitalized after being attacked during a brawl involving parents and coaches.
Ball hockey ref seriously injured by player.
Boxer jailed after breaking referee\'s jaw.
Butte referee speaks out after alleged assault by parent.
Hockey refs face extreme abuse.
Umpire stabbed to death over dispute.
Soccer Referee Punched by Teen Player Dies.

Many Umps & Refs quit because the fun of officiating is overshadowed by the stress of dealing with toxic behavior.

Abuse Is Not The Only Reason They Quit.

@ $10-150 /game
It's not the highest paying side hustle.

Low pay only enhances the reason to quit.

No Sport is Immune

Just because it wasn't in the news,
doesn't mean it's not a problem.

Some Good News!

Registrations for high school sports officials are up 8% — due to efforts by associations.

▶ New Official Confident Official ▶

However

Recruiting isn’t enough. Lasting change requires retaining and supporting officials.

Getting more officials to stay in the game is the key!

What Can Be Done

Some organizations and associations have experimented with different approaches including:.

Recruitment

Continue Building the pipeline.

Youth programs, community initiatives, keep innovating on outreach efforts.

Retention

Mentorship, better pay, and support systems.

Has the highest impact but few associations have structured programs.

Culture

Introducing code of conduct and other policies.

Accountability for abusive behavior is crucial to changing the culture and making it safer for officials.

Policy

Stronger enforcement and real consequences.

Zero tolerance policies for abuse, clear reporting channels, and consistent consequences can deter bad behavior.

No, replacing them with robots is not a viable solution.

A Different but Obvious Approach

We are developing a solution to solve this crisis through channels existing officials already use.

Help Identify Hotspots

Enable Support & Mentorship

Focus on the Official

Encourage Recognition & Rewards

+ More

Good Change is Coming. Stay Tuned!

We’re building toward a better future for officials, athletes, and the communities that depend on them.

Interested in Learning More?

Sign up to get a sneak peek of our solution.