NORTHERN KENTUCKY (WXIX) – A pair of Northern Kentucky sports organizations are working to overcome a shortage of game officials.

There are thousands fewer sports officials in Kentucky than a few years ago, according to the Kentucky High School Atheltic Association.

“First and foremost, it’s for real. We are down officials,” explained Steve Fromeyer, Northern Kentucky Officials Association (NKOA). “Football, baseball, basketball, all across the board we’re down. It’s affecting us because we have to work more.”

The shortage of sports officials has forced some sporting events to be postponed or even canceled.

The number of officials dropped from about 9,000 in 2018 to 5,700 in 2023, per the KHSAA.

“Officiating in general, it is a hard business,” admitted official Tony Pompilio. “We’re in a time where post-COVID where people kind of found other things to do with their time. I think that had a great impact on the way the business is.”

The Northern Kentucky Youth Football League and the Northern Kentucky Officials Association teamed up in 2021 to launch the NKOA Youth Academy, a program to let older teenagers officiate for lower-level games accompanied by a mentor.

The academy brings in younger participants between 14-17 years old and trains them to be officials at no cost with a zero-tolerance policy for any mistreatment or intimidation toward the young officials.

“This academy is in its third year,” says Pompilio. “Their numbers have soared and these kids are really doing a great job. I can’t give you a specific number, but we have some kids who are in their third year in this program.”

Fromeyer says it has been a success by filling a void at the youth games, giving season officials a break, and helping the kids better learn the game.

“We’ve got to keep trying to get people to do it,” says Fromeyer. “Keep doing what we do because you can’t make people do it. The people that are going to do it, want to do it and I think we can just be here for support and help them along the way.”

If you are interested in becoming a sports official, you can go to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s website.

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