ighsau-logo-300The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is weighing options in the hopes of attracting new officials for the various sports. Lisa Brinkmeyer of the girls’ union says over the last five or six years they have lost more than 400 officials.

“We have a lot of older officials that are retiring and we are not getting the same number officials starting up as are leaving,” said Brinkmeyer. “The number one reason officials don’t come back is spectators.”

Brinkmeyer says the IGHSAU is working with some colleges in hopes of getting them to offer officiating courses for credit. There have also been discussions about the possibility of offering credits to high school students who officiate junior high contests.

Brinkmeyer says a national study showed that one in ten new officials don’t return for a second year.

 

by Joel McCall KLMJ Hampton