Better By Design: Sports Complexes, States Working to Increase Safety for Refs | Sports Destination Management

Better By Design: Sports Complexes, States Working to Increase Safety for Refs

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Jan 31, 2025 | By: Mary Helen Sprecher

Photo © Michael Flippo | Dreamstime.com


Officials are needed in sports at all levels, from rec leagues to youth play to tournaments to professional. And they are an integral part of the sports tourism landscape; in fact, the presence of meeting rooms for officials is a strong selling point for many sports complexes. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) agrees, noting that it is not just thoughtful but imperative to provide basic amenities to referees, umpires and others.

Athletic Business also emphasized the importance of having a secure officials’ area, noting  any rooms used by officials should be able to be locked, and that, additionally, security should be available to provide an escort back to that area following games and between periods. Some design firms have even gone so far as to post potential plans for officials’ rooms online, and the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) published a similar article in the June 2024 issue of Referee Magazine.

The reasoning behind the design changes is a simple but unfortunate fact: The shortage of referees, umpires and other in-game officials continues, particularly at the youth level and it is driven by the conduct of spectators, including parents of youth athletes. Additionally, states are taking legal action to try to show refs they are safe.

An increasing number of states are putting laws in place to protect sports officials, and to create accountability for offenders. About half of all states in the U.S. presently have such laws. New Hampshire’s laws went into effect most recently; a bit further south, Maryland is the latest state to introduce legislation; unfortunately, previous bills introduced in that state failed to pass in 2020 and again in 2024.

Obviously, there's a lot riding on the presence of officials and nobody can dispute their importance in the industry. So why, when ref-related legislation is introduced, does it fail to become law? According to various sources, a combination of factors is to blame.

  • Belief that existing laws are sufficient: In some cases, the public (and legislators) may believe that existing penalties for crimes like assault are sufficient, and do not need to be sports-specific
  • Photo © Photoz83 | Dreamstime.com
    Photo © Photoz83 | Dreamstime.com
    Concerns about individual rights: Some might argue that severe penalties for verbal abuse of game officials infringes in individual freedom of speech 
  • Public perception: Individuals, particularly those who have not witnessed referee abuse firsthand, or who are not involved in sports, might not see referee abuse as a serious enough problem to warrant stricter legislation. Additionally, they might chalk it up to “the risks of the job.”
  • Lack of awareness: Many legislators might not fully understand the scope of referee abuse issues and the impact it has on recruitment and retention of officials. 

Community engagement is viewed as a key driver in raising awareness of the problem, and of the need for reforms. 

Dr. Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the NFHS, recently published an editorial, entitled "High School Sports Fans: Simmer Down or Sit Down." 

In the article, Niehoff noted, "Research consistently underscores that kids look to adults as inspiration for who they want to be and how they want to live. That’s because adults set the tone. Adults show what behaviors are acceptable and what aren’t. Adults mold perceptions of what it is to be good and bad, and adults pass down the tools to help tell the difference. So, ask yourself, what difference are you creating? And what molds are you setting?"

Some states already have laws in place but are considering stiffening them to create greater accountability among those who can’t seem to abide by them.

A full list of legislation affecting sports officials is available from NASO.

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