Illinois Public Radio

Statewide: Teaching respect for sports officials

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Sean Crawford

Published November 8, 2024 at 11:03 AM CST

Football referee — An official oversees a football game.

Amid a growing climate of abuse aimed at sports officials, the Illinois High School Association has found it more difficult to attract and keep them. Some schools have had problems getting enough referees for contests.

The IHSA said for every 100 newly patched refs, 70-80 will be gone after their first few years. We'll tell you about an effort to encourage more civility and respect for those working the games.

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