Friday night lights could become Thursday evening lights or Saturday morning natural light. It may not happen in the next couple of years, but referees may become scarce for Kansas high school athletics. TO BECOME an official, people can register online or give someone like Gleue a call.
“The group that has been serving as referees are in the 55-70 year old age group,” said Larry Gleue, a referee with nearly 40 years of experience. “They’re thinking of maybe working for a few more years or getting out now. Some are for health reasons or age, those sort of things.”
Gleue, from Le Roy, is in charge of scheduling referees for junior varsity and middle school athletics — particularly for football and basketball. According to both Gleue and Roy Smith — who the Register spoke with on Feb. 3 — referees seem to be heading for a place on the endangered species list.
League commissioners are in charge of scheduling. There is a different commissioner for each league.
“They get the schedule up and will have to contact different crews of officials and say ‘would you guys like to work these games,’” Gleue said. “They are always really tight on having enough officials.”
Referees like Roy Smith fit into the 55-70 demographic — Smith is 55. He has been an official for nearly 30 years and plans on retiring in the next couple of seasons.
Gleue said he didn’t want to use the word “scary,” but hinted that drastic shifts may occur a few years down the road.
“On Friday nights there may not be enough officials,” Gleue said. “We may have to go and play some of those games on Thursday nights and Saturdays. A guy could end up calling a game on Friday night and another game on Saturday,” which is a disincentive for prospective referees.
“We have a huge number of games around the area schedule for junior varsity and middle school games,” Gleue said. “That’s a great place for everybody to get started. Around the Iola, Moran, Yates Center, Humboldt, Colony, Le Roy and Burlington areas, we schedule for all the junior high and varsity officials. It lets me put younger officials with more experienced officials and that’s how you learn.”
According to Gleue, middle school games pay about $30-$35 per game. Junior varsity games will net an official somewhere around $40. A varsity level official can earn as much as $70 per game. The schools pay the officials.
As for driving to games, mileage reimbursement is up to the school.
“If one of the league commissioners calls you in Iola and says, ‘I have a game down in Galena,’ are you willing to drive there to call a couple of games?” Gleue asked rhetorically.
Most officials begin refereeing middle school and junior varsity games and work their way up to varsity.
“We do need more officials,” Gleue said. “If someone leaves, it’s not just the official leaving, but all that experience is leaving.”
Gleue said anyone interested in registering can give him a call at 490-1140. There is also information on how to become an official at kshsaa.org.
Referee shortage could be on the horizon
