Referees struggle with respect amid growing hostility
Posted November 25, 2015 6:00 am
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - The founder of the National Association of Sports Officials is worried that recent violence against referees is hurting efforts to retain officials around the country.
Barry Mano founded NASO in 1980 and spent 23 years as a college basketball referee. A 2002 survey by his group discovered that 90 percent of high school officials believed they had a referee shortage - and Mano doubts those concerns have gone away in the face of growing animosity and poor behavior by fans and coaches.
In a two-year span, referees in Utah and Michigan died after they were punched by angry players during games. In September, two San Antonio football players blindsided a referee on purpose, an incident that drew widespread condemnation.
Some state high school sports associations are taking lead roles in recruiting new talent.
In this Nov. 6, 2015, photo, referee Andrew Walton gestures in front of Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger during an NCAA college basketball exhibition game against Washburn in Norman, Okla. Violence against referees is as old as sport itself, and most are familiar with awful scenes from lower-division soccer matches in Europe and South America to peewee games and high school tournaments in the United States. This has come at a cost: By all accounts from those involved, finding and retaining referees is becoming more and more difficult. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
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In this Nov. 7, 2015, photo, Big 12 officials Gene Semko, left, Brad Van Vark, center, and Jason Ledet talk during an NCAA college football game between TCU and Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. Violence against referees is as old as sport itself, and most are familiar with awful scenes from lower-division soccer matches in Europe and South America to peewee games and high school tournaments in the United States. This has come at a cost: By all accounts from those involved, finding and retaining referees is becoming more and more difficult. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
The Associated Press
In this Nov. 6, 2015, photo, referee Don Daily gestures during an NCAA college basketball exhibition game against Washburn in Norman, Okla. Violence against referees is as old as sport itself, and most are familiar with awful scenes from lower-division soccer matches in Europe and South America to peewee games and high school tournaments in the United States. This has come at a cost: By all accounts from those involved, finding and retaining referees is becoming more and more difficult. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
The Associated Press
In this Nov. 6, 2015, photo, referee Andrew Walton gestures in front of Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger during an NCAA college basketball exhibition game against Washburn in Norman, Okla. Violence against referees is as old as sport itself, and most are familiar with awful scenes from lower-division soccer matches in Europe and South America to peewee games and high school tournaments in the United States. This has come at a cost: By all accounts from those involved, finding and retaining referees is becoming more and more difficult. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, photo, Jay Rodriguez, a referee with the North Texas Basketball Officials Association, watches play during a high school freshman girls basketball game in Allen, Texas. Violence against referees is as old as sport itself, and most are familiar with awful scenes from lower-division soccer matches in Europe and South America to peewee games and high school tournaments in the United States. This has come at a cost: By all accounts from those involved, finding and retaining referees is becoming more and more difficult. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, photo, Spenser Simmons, a referee with the North Texas Basketball Officials Association, stands ready during a break during a high school freshman girls basketball game in Allen, Texas. Violence against referees is as old as sport itself, and most are familiar with awful scenes from lower-division soccer matches in Europe and South America to peewee games and high school tournaments in the United States. This has come at a cost: By all accounts from those involved, finding and retaining referees is becoming more and more difficult. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, photo, Spenser Simmons, left, a referee with the North Texas Basketball Officials Association, speaks to players during a high school freshman girls basketball game in Allen, Texas. Violence against referees is as old as sport itself, and most are familiar with awful scenes from lower-division soccer matches in Europe and South America to peewee games and high school tournaments in the United States. This has come at a cost: By all accounts from those involved, finding and retaining referees is becoming more and more difficult. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
The Associated Press
In this Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, photo, Jay Rodriguez, a referee with the North Texas Basketball Officials Association, makes a point during a high school freshman girls basketball game in Allen, Texas. Violence against referees is as old as sport itself, and most are familiar with awful scenes from lower-division soccer matches in Europe and South America to peewee games and high school tournaments in the United States. This has come at a cost: By all accounts from those involved, finding and retaining referees is becoming more and more difficult. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
The Associated Press
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