EDITOR’S NOTE: This op-ed piece was written by Karissa Niehoff (Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations) and David Anderson (Executive Director of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association).

If you are the mother or father of a high school athlete in Wisconsin, this message is primarily for you. 

When you attend an athletic event that involves your son or daughter, cheer to your heart’s content, enjoy the camaraderie that high school sports offer and have fun. But when it comes to verbally criticizing game officials or coaches, cool it.   

Make no mistake about it. Your passion is admired, and your support of the hometown team is needed. But so is your self-control. Yelling, screaming and berating the officials humiliates your child, annoys those sitting around you, embarrasses your child’s school and is the primary reason Wisconsin has an alarming shortage of high school officials.   

It’s true. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Sports Officials, more than 75% of all high school officials say “adult behavior” is the primary reason they quit. And 80% of all young officials hang up their stripes after just two years of whistle blowing.

Why? They don’t need your abuse.

Plus, there’s a ripple effect. There are more officials over 60 than under 30 in many areas. And as older, experienced officials retire, there aren’t enough younger ones to replace them.

If there are no officials, there are no games.

The shortage of licensed high school officials is severe enough in some areas that athletic events are being postponed or cancelled—especially at the freshman and junior varsity levels.   

Research confirms that participation in sports and activities instills a sense of pride in school and community, teaches lifelong lessons and facilitates the physical and emotional development of those who participate.

If you would like to be a part of the solution to the shortage of high school officials, you can sign up at HighSchoolOfficials.com.