I am not a fan of broad statements because there is always an exception to the rule. That said, I am pretty confident no one I know has ever gotten rich coaching or officiating any sporting events from the high school level down.

 

That, in and of itself, is never a problem. Most of the coaches I have known or dealt with did it for the love of the game or enjoyed teaching a certain sport to youngsters.

 

The officials I have known also did it for love of the game, a way to stay in shape in many instances, and for a little bit of income on the side – with an emphasis on a little bit. Many officials will likely tell you they enjoy the friendships created in their fields as a reason they do it.

 

For those that have not noticed, a lot of the officials, or referees, you see are the same ones you have seen for decades. As for coaches, mixed in with the newer faces are either ones that have been at the same job for a lengthy period of time or who have been in the business for an extended period of time.

 

On the surface that may not seem important. Scratch just a little bit below and, as in the case in so many other professions, there is a manpower problem.

 

The problem involves the lack of fresh faces in the coaching business. The inability to find a strong talent pool applying for varsity jobs at the high school level, let alone at the levels dipping into the jayvee, freshman, and middle school levels, is real.

 

Why? It is a handful of very loud and growing number of folks sitting in the stands. Whether it is a follower of a program, an alum of the school, a parent or anyone else for that matter, the level of abuse sometimes spewed is not worth it anymore to those already in the profession or looking to enter it.

 

First, take a look at coaching. Growing up, and I am now a ripe 54, every coach I had in the school system was an educator. I do not know the exact date, but that has since changed. The WVSSAC began realizing the issue a long time ago and allowed for those able to meet qualifications to apply for jobs in the extracurricular sporting activities.

 

At first, it was a rarity. Now, you have coaches throughout the state who are the varsity coaches of major programs that do not have a teaching affiliation with the school or a teaching affiliation period save perhaps the ability to substitute.

 

That, in and of itself, may not be a problem. The reason for it is.

 

Bridgeport Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Mark Jones knows about the commitment coaching requires. Before he took over his administrative duties at BHS, he was a varsity baseball coach at RCB, involved with the Eagles basketball program, and was also a coach in basketball and football at South Harrison along with being in the classroom.

 

“I know some of the issues with getting into coaching is that there is such a time commitment. Coaches want to get in and most of them want to build a program and that takes time; a lot of time,” said Jones. “I can assure you no one is getting wealthy coaching. If anything, being a coach costs you money.

 

“Add to that all the platforms for communicating and it’s easier for others, outsiders to voice their opinion, many times in a bad way, which in turn can have a negative effect on the entire coaching staff and program,” Jones continued. “I don’t know the numbers, but it seems like statewide there are fewer applying every time there is an open job.”

 

I do not know the numbers either. I have not seen anything official regarding coaching numbers in West Virginia. However, there was a 2021 Texas study that did run the numbers – and they are not good.

 

In the first five years after a coach entered a job, more than 20 percent were gone for good. While that may not seem like much, the coaches I knew in school coached for decades at one school or another from Larry “Rabbit” Snyder and Tom Hilton to Pete Iquinto and Mike Carey. Hilton and Iquinto are still coaching decades later right now at BHS.

 

That used to be the rule. It is becoming the exception.

 

As for officiating, it is – in my mind – worse. And it is here where you find issues in the most critical of places, which are youth leagues. That was the place most officials began cutting their teeth before moving up.

 

They are not moving up anymore at the same numbers. And why would they?

 

Has anyone been to a sporting event not named Challenger League Baseball that has zero affiliation with anyone involved in said event and not left embarrassed for others about what they have witnessed? Poor and often unacceptable behavior is not always the case, but it happens too much.

 

The target of the behavior is usually the individuals officiating the games.

 

The National Federation of State High School Associations recently said the shortage of officials is a “national crisis.” The same group put together a study in 2017 that showed 80 percent – that is four out of five – dropped officiating within two years of starting. The worst area, the survey quoted in a major California newspaper was youth sports. Again, that is the feeder system for the rest.

 

“I can say a lot of those officiating here have been there forever and then you have officials that you’ve seen for years have to get out due to age or health reasons,” said Jones. “I have seen some younger officials get involved in some sports, but there is not much turnaround in who is calling the games. No one is jumping into that profession.”

 

Jones said you could voice an opinion, even a strong one, with an official as a coach and still develop a positive relationship by showing respect. He said that is generally the case with most coaches, but the scenario is sometimes a bit different beyond that.

 

“The problem is that those watching want everything to be perfect. The thing is, those officiating want everything perfect too,” said Jones. “They’re human, too, and make mistakes. We all do it in all of our fields, but the question becomes to the officials is it worth it.”

 

That is a good question, and one that may not have an exact answer. The numbers show more do not believe it is worth it.

 

Unless things change, and I do not believe they will and hope to be proven wrong, you will soon see games with fewer officials and some that may be scrapped due to lack of officials. You may see sports teams without a full coaching staff or a coach who does not want to be there other than the fact they know a team needs to have a coach.

 

When that happens, do not blame athletic directors or anyone else. If you have been hurling abuse at every event you go to beyond standard booing or catcalls, just take a look in the mirror. You will easily see the culprit.

 

Editor's Note: Top three photos show officials at work in various sports, while girls basketball Coach Herman Pierson is shown below. All photos by Joe LaRocca.