High school students learn sports officiating to help with referee shortage

KEWAUNEE, Wis. (WBAY) – WIAA officials say the number of licensed referees in the state has exceeded pre-pandemic numbers.

This past year, there were more than 10,000 licensed officials, the most the state has ever had in the WIAA. But that large number isn’t helping current shortages.

At Kewaunee High School students are getting the chance to learn about the game they love in a different setting: the classroom.

“We were struggling so much getting enough officials to cover all of the games. When we saw that the average age of officials was increasing and there weren’t enough new young, you know, students that were coming through the officiating ranks, and we kind of saw that there was a whole there, so we wanted to say, how can we fill that?” said Dan Spranger, Officiating and Special Education Teacher at Kewaunee High School.

As a sports official himself, Dan Spranger now teaches an officiating course. Last year, he had 9 students sign up, learning basketball, softball and baseball.

This year, he has 14 students, so he added wrestling to the curriculum. Next year, he hopes to get 20.

“That would be great. We want to include soccer and volleyball, because I know there’s a huge need for the soccer and volleyball officials right now,” said Spranger.

Once done with the course, the students can become WIAA student certified and referee certain age groups.

“So it doesn’t necessarily help the immediate now, but we’re excited about that group is, even if we’re able to retain 10 to 15% that will help out in the in years to come, once they’ve graduated from high school,” said Chad Schultz, WIAA Assistant Director

The Kewaunee School District is one of 75 districts, across the state, offering students an officiating course, some tie in with local UW schools for credit too.

“So, it’s a neat opportunity, but then on the flip side of things, it’s helping us out, where we’re creating and educating and training new officials for the future,” said Schultz.

So why the demand?

Schulz says the pandemic took a toll, along with family and work needs, but one of the biggest reasons is sportsmanship; how fans, coaches and players are treating officials. These courses might just help, by teaching students communication skills, responsibility and the importance of being a leader.

“You can be a mentor for all the rest of your teammates say, Look, you know, that is the right call. They understand, you know, what is going on, that they’re able to understand the game better, and then they can lead and even talk to some of the fans and their parents who like, Look, you need to, you know, stop this, because they’re right. They’re working as hard as possible and understanding those things, but they become leaders in that sense. And the leadership skills that they will gain from this course, I think it will be great for them in the long run,” said Spranger.

At the end of the game, it’s just a game, but without a ref, it’s just practice. It’s the reason WIAA is celebrating Officials Appreciation Week right now.

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