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The WIAA came out with a plea recently asking parents and fans to tone it down and stop berating officials.
Officials are leaving the game at a rapid rate and new officials are not stepping up. With the present requirements for licensed officials at WIAA sponsored athletic events there may come a time when games simply cannot be played.
There was already an instance of that this season when Highland tried to make sense of the many weather cancellations schools were hit with. They tried to schedule back to back varsity games for boys and girls. But the officials said they wouldn't do it. They would only be available for one game.
Why are young people not wanting to continue their involvement with the game they love through officiating? My guess is, that after playing in front of fans who constantly yell at officials, why would they want ot subject themselves to that? It is like that old saying, "I have met the enemy and it is us."
Unfortunately fans will be fans and unless they take it upon themselves to tone it down, let coaches coach, players play and officials officiate, the problem will remain.
If the WIAA wants to do a training video of how fans, parents, players and coaches should act they should film a gymnastics meet. With a granddaughter competing I am able to get to some of the meets and I was also at the Dodgeville/Mineral Point sectional championship rounds and at the WIAA state meet.
At gymnastics meets people actually cheer for their athletes in a very positive way. When the athlete is finished with the event they get cheered no matter what they scored. There are hugs from coaches and teammates. And, judges are left alone to determine the scores without interference or comments from the crowd.
At the sectionals we were treated to a dance routine, not only from host Platteville/Belmont/Lancaster but from the entire assembly of Sectional teams who had just finished their competition. There was no friction between the athletes as they had fun together until the final scores were finished being tabulated.
At state it was more of the same. Everyone supported each other.
As a very veteran sportswriter, I admit I have come away from games with a sick feeling in my stomach from how the fans acted and how the officials were treated. I can go through the gymnastics meets without reaching in my pocket for my trusty antacid tablets.
I walk away from covering a gymnastics meet with a smile on my face.
I very much prefer that.
Point being made is, if we want to keep officials in the game we have to respect that they are doing the best they can. They deserve a lot more support than they are presently receiving.