One of the issues facing every athletic director in every state is the growing concern of the referee and officials shortage. Two events for Knoxville this past school year on the varsity level were postponed or canceled due to the event not having enough officials. Many other states have had to cancel multiple games and events because they cannot find officials and Knoxville Activities Director Ryan Paulsen tells KNIA/KRLS Sports schools sometimes get into a bidding war for officials.

Paulsen: “What happens it becomes a bidding war between conferences. There are officials that do exist, and the number of officials is going down, but the rate of pay is going up, and that’s one concern.”

Paulsen says one way to alleviate the officials shortage is simple recruitment. He says if the current officials start recruiting others they know it would help.