NC refs, officials seek better pay, representation from NCHSAA ahead of board meetings
As the N.C. High School Athletic Association Board of Directors meets this week, a group representing N.C. officials is asking the board to consider a suite of recommendations that they say will improve the profession.
The board is scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday in Chapel Hill.
Among the officials requests:
▪ Immediate pay raises for all officials.
▪ More representation at the state level with the NCHSAA.
▪ For the NCHSAA to better address sportsmanship issues affecting officials.
The Observer and News & Observer obtained a copy of the document that the group sent to the NCHSAA Monday. More than 20 officials, regional supervisors and three athletic directors, are part of the NCHSAA Ad Hoc Subcommitting on Officiating, which was commissioned by the association to study the problem of retention and attracting new officials to high school sports.
“We hope what’s presented here maps out a bright future,” the letter reads, “so our officiating program continues to be a vibrant part of the NCHSAA mission advancing education-based athletics.”
Among the group’s recommendations: An immediate pay increase, with more regular increases after that. The group also recommends officials be paid within one day of rendered services, plus receive discounts on registration fees and grants for officials to attend off-season camps.
They also want a committee of officials to represent all officials with the NCHSAA as well as a private locker room and bathroom with security, snacks and drinks at venues.
Other recommendations include a public relations campaign from the NCHSAA directed at its officials. The committee says officials feel “disconnected” from the association. Also, they seek an annual survey to better address issues, limit early start times for games when officials are not available and a new full-time position within the NCHSAA to help manage all of these recommendations.
Finally, the committee wants the NCHSAA to address poor sportsmanship and abuse of officials, two areas it feels is leading to a decline in officials statewide.
This story was originally published November 29, 2022 at 5:45 AM.
