This story has been contributed by Tom Davidson, Head Coach at Ozark High School.
I have had the privilege of coaching our great game at the high school level for 17 wonderful years. In that time I have seen several different changes. One area I have seen very little change is in our current referee pool.
I would like to take time to recognize and appreciate all the dedicated referees who have served me, our sport, and the many players who have benefited from their service. Men like Gary Keisker, Gary Strunk, Dave Massey, Jack Streck, Tim Noonan, and others have been shouldering the load for many a year. Yes Keisker, you and I have had way too many games together, (to date I have coached 740 high school games and I’m sure you have officiated 700 of them).
Joking aside, it is time to call the soccer community to help with this situation. We have had boys’ soccer in the community since 1984. The girls program since 1995. If you count just one school it is roughly 30 athletes per season at 35 seasons or about 950 players from one school who have enjoyed high school soccer. Where are all of you? If we cannot increase our number of referees, our sport will be told what nights to play on or maybe told we can’t play certain games. We need to give something back. We complain about the referees, but we don’t do it ourselves. C’mon soccer moms and dads, former players, college students, and coaches, who don’t coach in both seasons. We are in desperate times with this scenario. Our sport is starting to flourish with more kids playing and schools adding soccer all of the time. Everyone has some spare time at least one day a week for a few hours.
The current referees will tell you that they are not getting rich doing this, but they do get paid. The current rate of pay is $50 for a varsity game and $42.50 for a junior varsity game. This isn’t bad for a few hours of work. I am currently at a school where 11 of our coaches, administrators and teachers do some refereeing. Other sports are not in this pinch. Why is it that so few feel the call to service? Do we not feel like our kids are important enough to help them? I’m searching for answers to our dilemma! Please help!
Our sport needs you. If you believe in this sport and are willing to help, you can contact the Missouri State High School Activities Association at MSHSAA.org. It’s a simple process and easy to become an official. Thanks for your service and see you this spring.
Sincerely, Tom Davidson
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Tom, As a former High school Referee in Springfield. I support your call. Springfield is not the only place that is hurting. In the Joplin area, I have many mentors that helped me get where I am today. I am sad to say that many of them are getting older and battling injuries that occur from refereeing this beautiful game of ours. You are right the process is a very simple process to become certified for high school. Referee are a part of the game. Like them or hate, the game needs them. Please help the shortage.
Tom, I want to thank you for your support of my when I was in town. It was because of support from you and Jeff Rogers along with many of the coaches in Springfield and Joplin area that I was able to referee many of the games I did. Thank again.
As Coach Davidson mentioned the pool of officials is not growing, but it is aging. Jack Steck has done a fine job of enticing MSU student/athletes to get involved, and some have stayed with it and become very accomplished! However, we have a real need for young officials. At this time, I believe the association has only one member who is a graduate of a SW MO high school soccer program, and he has yet to work his first game. In addition, there are no female members of the association. If you want us to give you some great reasons why we do this, and you should too, ask us.
As the number of teams in SW MO continues to increase (Branson next year, Rogersville and Republic probably not far behind) so does the need for officials. The lack of numbers in our pool already forces us to work most of our games using the “Dual” system, though no one prefers it.
And, yes, we do get paid more per hour (about $25) than the coaches (about $0.25).
Thanks, Coaches, for your efforts for your student/athletes and for “the beautiful game”!
I just finished my Spring registration for soccer officiating through MSHSAA and it was quite easy. (Thanks Pam) I’m a graduate of Valley Forge, a private college in Philadelphia, and played soccer there for 4 years as well as in HS and for a club team through HS and college. Are there any associations that I should join and how do I get my name out there initially as a referee to begin officiating games?
I have recently moved over to Marshfield from the uk, I played soccer for most of my life. I was hoping to help in the region. How and what do i need to be able to ref local games around the Ozarks