In a recent Wall Street Journal article, Beth DeCarbo sounded the alarm regarding the ever decreasing number of officials in youth sports, including high school sports.
July 14, 2026: The Kids Need Umpires and Refs. Fewer People Want the Job.
An Excerpt
For umpiring recreational-league baseball in Bel Air, Md., Tom Howell IV gets $40 a game. It’s a nice way for him to earn some extra cash outside of his day job as the head of product marketing for a fintech company.
But “I would do it regardless of the money,” says the 50-year-old Howell. “There’s a dearth of umpires in general. And it would be terrible if a team wasn’t able to play because there weren’t enough umpires.”
Todd Prukop started as an OCFOA official and currently served as a Back Judge in the NFL on Bill Vinovich’s crew, also an OCFOA alumnus.
That dearth extends well beyond baseball, touching almost every sport in recreational and school athletics. Officiating deficiencies have led to canceled games and shortened seasons. Some games are played with fewer officials, generating complaints from spectators about the quality of the officiating. Existing officials, already stretched thin, are being asked to take even more assignments, which leads to burnout and even higher turnover.
With officiating at a breaking point, experts in school athletics are pushing for changes in the way sports officials are recruited, trained and, most important, treated on the playing field.
OCFOA and other officiating associations in Orange County and throughout the nation are not immune to the officiating shortage. Recruiting and retention intensifies each year as older officials retire and fewer younger officials enter the fold.
If you have ever thought about becoming a football official, whether boys tackle football or girls flag football or officiating both, joining our ranks has never been easier. OCFOA takes care of the training and certification process and despite the 2026 football season rapidly approaching, you still have time to join us.
You could register today and be ready but the start of this year’s football season. If curious, learn more and you could Become an OCFOA Official.
No responses yet