Kansas referee shortage forcing game schedule changes

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.

“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.

Next week’s game between South Central High School in Coldwater and Ashland was moved due to a lack of refs available. Their principal said this disrupts students’ schedules and leaves parents unable to attend games due to conflicts with middle school games.

“As soon as one crew falls through or something happens, there’s not any replacements, then you end up with you all kinds of scrambling to make sure you get the game in,” said Bud Valerius, Principal of South Central High School.

It’s a problem impacting rural and urban areas.

Brian Miller of the Greater Wichita Officials Association said they must find a fix.

“Even in Wichita, and I can’t imagine what they’re dealing with in western Kansas and less populated areas of the state, but it’s been getting worse,” said Miller.

KSHSAA’s director of officials shared with KSN that the deadline to become an official has been extended in hopes that people out watching games will take an interest in and get involved, helping their local young people play the game they love.

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