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For the first time in a while, we can report that the shortage of youth sports and high school officials might be subsiding, at least a bit. Consider this good news from the National Federation of State High School Associations:
The number of registered high school sports officials remains above pre-pandemic levels and grew by six percent during the last school year, according to a follow-up survey of 36 NFHS member state associations that originated in 2018-19.
Data compiled by the NFHS from the 36 associations showed the total number of officials’ registrations at 237,811 during the 2024-25 school year, up 14,432 from the previous year, and an eight percent increase from pre-pandemic numbers (220,340) reported in 2018-19.
The growth in officiating continues despite an estimated loss of 50,000 officials during the COVID-19 pandemic. After dipping as low as 189,140 officials in 2019-20, participation has increased each year since the 2021-22 school year. For the past two school years, officiating totals have surpassed those from 2018-19.
All sports except field hockey and water polo saw a year-over-year increase in official registrations in 2024-25. A total of 11 sports, including baseball (1%), basketball (4%), football (10%), ice hockey (6%), boys lacrosse (4%), girls lacrosse (28%), soccer (13%), swimming and diving (10%), track and field and cross country (53%), volleyball (18%) and wrestling (22%), were above their pre-pandemic levels at the end of the most recent school year.
In addition, 27 states reported they were back above their pre-pandemic levels in 2024-25.
“With the steady increase of officials’ registrations over the past couple of years, the NFHS is not only focusing on how we can bring more officials into the avocation, but we are working to ensure that we are doing enough to retain the officials who have been with us for years,” said Dana Pappas, director of officiating services for NFHS. “The emphasis on retention is as important as ever and we are stressing the need for support, training, recognition, education, advocacy and mentorship for officials and are collaborating with state associations and other organizations that are mission-aligned to be able to accomplish this.”
That said, headlines across the country still report bad news when it comes to the number of active sports officials. “Teachers, once a key part of the officiating pool, are now turning to more flexible side jobs like tutoring,” proclaimed Westchester.News12.com in New York, where athletic directors are moving or canceling middle school and junior varsity games because of a lack of officials. In some cases, coaches are doubling as officials.
The website reports that officials say poor treatment is driving them away; 23 soccer referees left in one year. “We have adults waiting to tell officials they’re not happy with the job they do,” said Rob Castagna, athletic director for Byram Hills High School in Armonk, N.Y.. “That has to stop, and it has to start with each district.”
In an effort to help it stop, UMPS CARE Charities (the official philanthropy of the Major League Baseball Umpires) earlier this summer announced that it has teamed up with MLB Together (baseball’s “social responsibility platform” to make off-the-field changes in communities) for a national campaign to curb physical and verbal abuse directed at sports officials in youth sports.
The campaign includes a public service announcement created with input from Major League Baseball Umpires, UMPS CARE Charities and MLB Together. Additionally, a web page encourages fans to “take the pledge” to support better behavior at baseball games. The pledge includes a post that fans can share on social media to engage friends and family to do the same.
“There is a huge crisis in youth sports with a national shortage of sports officials, largely because of the abuse directed toward them from players, coaches and parents,” Jennifer Skolochenko-Platt, executive director of UMPS CARE Charities, said in a statement. “MLB Umpires are committed to using their role at the top level of baseball to support umpires and officials at all levels.”
In 2021, UMPS CARE launched the Official Leadership Program, a free six-week course for teens that teaches umpiring mechanics on the field and leadership skills in the classroom. Graduates receive the opportunity to meet MLB Umpires in special meet-and-greets before Major League games.
A 2023 National Association of Sports Officials survey indicated that almost 69% of the 36,000 officials who responded cited a deterioration in sportsmanship as a major concern, nearly a 10-percentage point increase from similar responses in a 2017 survey. More than 40 percent of the 2023 respondents cited unruly parents attending youth sporting events as the biggest problem.
The survey also revealed that nearly 80% had taken on more officiating assignments in the wake of shortages — with many of them grateful for more opportunities and nearly just as many feeling pressured to accept more game assignments.
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