Jul 17, 2021

Shortage worsening for officials in Kansas; easy to get involved

Posted Jul 17, 2021 3:05 PM
Kansas continues to see numbers drop for those wanting to officiate. Become an official today. Get started at <a href="https://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Official/NewOfficials.cfm">kshsaa.org</a>. (KSHSAA photo)
Kansas continues to see numbers drop for those wanting to officiate. Become an official today. Get started at kshsaa.org. (KSHSAA photo)

By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post

High school athletics is one the most popular activities throughout Kansas, yet hosting competitions is becoming more challenging. Not because of a lack of participants or facilities, but because of the shortage of officials or referees.

For years, Kansas as seen a decline in officials whether it be from retirement or just dropping out of the industry. Mark Goodheart spent more than 40 years officiating a variety of sports and is in charge of assigning referees to three high school conferences in Kansas.

"People have good jobs, they are making good money and are having a hard time getting off work," said Goodheart. "Football is a little easier because they start at 7 p.m. but a lot of our games start at 4 p.m. The other thing is we've seen a rash of negativism. You'll see fans come out of the stands and attack an official."

Goodheart, the former Otis-Bison High School athletic director, said official numbers in Kansas are lower than they have ever been before. The biggest need is for basketball and soccer officials.

Those interested in becoming an official can visit the Kansas State High School Activities Association website at kshsaa.org to find out how to register, attend rules meetings and take the written rules test.

"If we have sports and there are no officials out there, it's called recess," said Goodheart. "It's not hard to get into it. I did it for extra money when I was in college and then it became a passion."

Goodheart noted there is also a bigger push to gain more officials for junior varsity games. Official commissioners such as Goodheart have even tried different start times and days of competition to pacify the official shortage. Goodheart scheduled one football officiating crew this fall to work a game at Victoria High School at 4 p.m. and then work another game at Hays High School at 7 p.m. the same day.

"The fraternity of officials is unbelievable," said Goodheart. "There are a lot of good fraternities out there, but officiating is the best."

Goodheart was a guest on Sports Day on 1590 KVGB & 95.5 FM July 15. Listen below to the interview with Goodheart.