Oregon Faces Referee Shortage Impacting High School Sports

Oregon, Illinois has found itself in a tough spot as the local high school sports scene faces a serious shortage of referees, particularly for volleyball matches. Athletic Directors in the region are voicing their concerns over the diminishing number of officials available for games, and a key factor appears to be the harassment referees receive from spectators.

Mike Lawton, the Athletic Director for Community Unit School District 220, highlighted this issue, noting, “The thing we hear most from people as to why they don’t want to do it or why they’re getting out of it is the grief they take from spectators.” Lawton shared that they recently learned about the cancellation of the Freshman and Sophomore volleyball game scheduled at North Boone due to a lack of available officials.

The notification was officially made early today by Oregon’s Athletic Department, stating that they couldn’t secure enough referees for the matchup. This situation has understandably frustrated both players and spectators who look forward to these events.

In response to the referee shortage, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is working on creating incentives and opportunities for seniors and recent graduates to get involved as officials in the sports they once played. Spectators like Mark Tremble believe that it’s essential for former athletes to consider officiating as a way to give back to the community and maintain the integrity of sports.

Tremble stated, “I just think that the younger players that matriculate out of high school and college should look into officiating at the high school level and work their way up.” The IHSA supports these initiatives, aiming to foster new generations of referees.

For those interested in becoming a referee, umpire, or official, it’s encouraged to visit the IHSA’s website for more information and guidelines on how to get involved.

The community hopes that by addressing these issues head-on, they can revitalize the spirit of high school sports and ensure that games go on without interruption this season.