There would be no high school football games without officials.
Those in black and white stripes are as integral to the game as the players, the coaches, even the ball. Officials spend much of the spring and summer preparing for the season by traveling to numerous camps, attending state rules meetings and taking rules tests. All of this is done around their day jobs.
But on the day those lights crank up for another season, a dwindling number of officials will be ready to go.
The National Federation of State High School Associations says the number of football officials has dropped by as much as 30% in some states this decade. That drop is mirrored in Oklahoma, and those at the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association are well aware. ...
This is a real shame that we can't get more officials, not only in Oklahoma but across the U.S. But, I understand because it is no fun to get yelled at by the fans all the time. I'm 72 years old, I wonder if they would let me get out there and try it.