5K aims to get young people into youth sports refereeing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – Some youth sports fans are working to make their favorite pastimes possible.

The group Ref Junkies Academy held its first annual Whistle Warriors 5K Saturday morning. Spectators and referees jogged through Iroquois Park to raise awareness of the shortage of officials in youth sports programs.

Most high school officials in Kentucky and Indiana are in their late 50s, so Ref Junkies is trying to get more young people in those roles.

“We believe that young men and women have opportunities in sports that are outside of being an athlete on the field,” Ref Junkies Academy Co-Founder Eric Dixon said. “You know, they can hold a camera or they can give interviews or they can blow a whistle. There’s lots of ways to make money in sports other than being an athlete on the field.”

All the money raised from the event will go to youth officiating programs. Kids in Kentucky can sign up to officials starting at 14.

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