Hub City Times

Top Menu

  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

Main Menu

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
  • Contact Us
  • E-Editions
  • Subscribe

logo

Hub City Times

  • Home
  • News
    • Around the County
    • Arts & Ent
    • Education
    • Government
    • Local
    • Police / Sheriff Calls
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
    • Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
  • Coming Events
  • Business
  • Obits
  • Classifieds
  • Military Photos
OpinionSports
Home›Opinion›Letter from WIAA & NFHS: Dear mom and dad cool it

Letter from WIAA & NFHS: Dear mom and dad cool it

By Hub City Times
January 11, 2019
1280
0
Share:

If you are the mother or father of a high school athlete here in Wisconsin, this message is primarily for you:

When you attend an athletic event that involves your son or daughter, cheer to your heart’s content, enjoy the camaraderie that high school sports offer and have fun. But when it comes to verbally criticizing game officials or coaches, cool it.

Make no mistake about it. Your passion is admired, and your support of the hometown team is needed. But so is your self-control. Yelling, screaming and berating the officials humiliates your child, annoys those sitting around you, embarrasses your child’s school and is the primary reason Wisconsin has an alarming shortage of high school officials.

It’s true. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Sports Officials, more than 75 percent of all high school officials say “adult behavior” is the primary reason they quit. And 80 percent of all young officials hang up their stripes after just two years of whistle blowing. Why? They don’t need your abuse.

Plus, there’s a ripple effect. There are more officials over 60 than under 30 in many areas. And as older, experienced officials retire, there aren’t enough younger ones to replace them. If there are no officials, there are no games. The shortage of licensed high school officials is severe enough in some areas that athletic events are being postponed or cancelled — especially at the freshman and junior varsity levels.

Research confirms that participation in high school sports and activities instills a sense of pride in school and community, teaches lifelong lessons like the value of teamwork and self-discipline and facilitates the physical and emotional development of those who participate. So, if the games go away because there aren’t enough men and women to officiate them, the loss will be infinitely greater than just an “L” on the scoreboard. It will be putting a dent in your community’s future.

If you would like to be a part of the solution to the shortage of high school officials, you can sign up to become a licensed official at HighSchoolOfficials.com. Otherwise, adult role models at high school athletic events here in Wisconsin are always welcome.

Karissa Niehoff

Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations

David Anderson

Executive Director of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.

TagsletterNFHSWIAA
Previous Article

Marshfield Athletics: The building of Beell

Next Article

Plans for hotel may move ahead without ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • marshfield tigers logo
    Sports

    Marshfield boys swim team ninth at 2015 WIAA Division 1 sectional

    February 17, 2015
    By Hub City Times
  • HistoryOpinion

    Fear the scorekeepers

    February 5, 2016
    By Hub City Times
  • Coach K
    Sports

    Stopping the clock

    December 4, 2017
    By Hub City Times
  • marshfield tigers logo
    Sports

    Eau Claire Memorial powers past Marshfield boys hockey in WIAA regional final

    February 20, 2015
    By Hub City Times
  • Sports image
    FeaturedSports

    Two local high school athletes are WIAA Scholar Athlete finalists

    April 18, 2019
    By Hub City Times
  • Sports

    Countdown: WIAA to instate shot clock in high school basketball games

    July 5, 2017
    By Hub City Times

About Us


Hub City Times is published by Multi Media Channels LLC, N2919 County Road QQ Waupaca, WI 54981.

Timeline

  • March 3, 2021

    City may cut ties with police chief

  • March 2, 2021

    Security Health Plan marks 50 years

  • March 1, 2021

    UW-Eau Claire regional nursing program to move to Marshfield

  • February 27, 2021

    Marshfield Fire and Rescue and Mid-State partner on local fire training

  • February 25, 2021

    Marshfield man arrested on drug charges

Find us on Facebook

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels, All Rights Reserved. Designed by MMC Team Awesome
×