WIAA Youth Sport Officials In Short Supply In Franklin Schools

FRANKLIN, WI — The Franklin Public School District is experiencing a shortage of people to referee its youth sports games, according to a Facebook post from the District.

The District uses WIAA licensed officials to referee its youth sports games, but lately, there has been a shortage of them at some events. The District asked in its Facebook post that anyone already WIAA licensed consider volunteering for Franklin's youth sports programs.

Shortages are especially prevalent with baseball and softball umpires, Athletics and Activities Director Jordan Hein wrote.

If you aren't licensed but would like to get one, there is a WIAA process. First, apply online. WIAA will then send an email with authorization forms and a background check to be filled out. After the background check is confirmed, WIAA will send out the rule book, any relevant videos and set a date for an examination.

There are also ways for veterans and high school students to get WIAA licensed, but the process is similar to the standard official method.

After this licensing process, officials can contact the school's sports programs for game assignments. Those looking to volunteer to fill the shortage around Franklin should contact Athletics and Activities Director Jordan Hein by emailing him at jordan.hein@franklin.k12.wi.us.

Youth sporting officials have experienced a slew of harassment across Wisconsin in the past few years, Madison's WKOW reported. Packers' former head coach, Mike McCarthy, was himself the subject of a harassment incident. McCarthy was caught on camera harassing referees at a youth basketball game, according to the WKOW report.

The State Assembly discussed a bill in April to address such harassment. The bill would make it a high-level misdemeanor to harass youth game officials, the WKOW report stated. The bill was discussed by the State Assembly but has yet to pass.