A shortage of sports officials has prompted Concord High School in Dunlap, Ind., to offer a class that teaches students the ins and outs of refereeing.
Concord head varsity basketball coach Derrick Deshone is running the class and hopes it will lead some students to begin officiating games.
“We want our youth at Concord playing basketball, we want them swimming, we want them playing football, we want them doing different activities and I think that's huge in building our own community of athletics, but getting people who love the sport a way to give back and get involved,” Deshone told WSBT.
The class will currently focus on officiating basketball, football and soccer, with other spots possibly added at a later date.
Related: High School Students Step Up to Tackle Local Referee Shortage
Athletic director David Preheim said the class gives students a chance to see the game from a different perspective.
“When you're an athlete on the floor, on the field, on the court, how you deal with officials, how you respond to officials, maybe being able to see the game from a little bit different perspective so i think that's been a really positive thing for kids,” said Preheim.
The class is promoted by the Indiana High School Athletic Association, and the IHSAA's foundation helps to offset costs through a grant, alongside the Indiana Pacers.
When students are finished with the class, they're one step closer to experiencing real games and getting paid for it.
“Once we're done with our course, the students will have a certificate to print off that they will be licensed up to freshman in high school, to officiate those events, and they have a discounted rate that they can go take the IHSAA class or test to be licensed in that sport,” said Deshone.
