Several States Dealing With Referee Shortage For Youth Sports

Friday nights lights may be in jeopardy this school year due to a national referee shortage.

Several referee organizations say the main reasons for the shortage are treatment from fans, long hours and lack of pay.

"Yeah, we don't make a whole lot on Friday nights, Monday night, Saturday mornings, it's really for the love of the game and for the love of the student athlete. But at some point, the money is going to have to make up," said Keith Kenley with the Greater Wichita Officials Association.

In Oklahoma, some referee organizations are trying to convince schools to play on Thursday nights because they don't have enough referees to cover all the games.