WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Schools across the state are having to pivot their games from Friday night lights to Thursday night due to a shortage of refs. The director of Kansas State High School’s Activities Association said it’s a problem that has continued to get worse.
Scott Goodheart has worn the stripes for 19 years. He oversees officials in the state for KSHSAA. He said many of their refs have aged out, leaving a vacancy.
“We have a lot of veteran officials that have stepped away from the game as they should because they’ve done their time; they’ve done it now. Maybe their grandparents, maybe they just don’t feel safe or comfortable doing it anymore,” said Goodheart.
He said they’ve worked with 80 schools in Kansas to create a class for high schoolers to learn to referee games. However, not everyone decides it’s a long-term commitment.
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“A kid does this in college, and they do it for three or four years, and maybe they go start a new job, and that job’s not allowing them the flexibility they had,” said Goodheart.