The IHSA needs officials. This pair from Peoria is doing something about it
MORTON — There's a shortage these days that can't be blamed on supply chain issues or a factory being shut down: Sports officials are needed across all levels, ranging from youth to college.
The officials shortage has gotten so bad that games are being rescheduled or canceled. The problem is present in the Peoria area, and officials Zo Evans and Don King are determined to do something about it.
Evans is an NCAA and minor league baseball umpire — along with being the executive director of the Junior Football League of Central Illinois and Morton Village Clerk — and King is an Illinois High School Association clinician and sports officials assignor.
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They held an information meeting Tuesday in the JFL of Central Illinois headquarters in Peoria Heights for anyone interested in giving officiating a try.
Payment, scheduling, certifications, and officiating equipment and uniforms were among the topics discussed at the meeting, one of a statewide series of "Officiating 101" meetings offered by the IHSA, which has seen its number of officials drop from 13,700 a decade ago to now 9,500.
The meeting Tuesday was a success, Evans said.
About 10 people attended, he said, including four who recently have or will soon sign up to be an IHSA official and a 15-year-old who is interested in the JFL's officials-in-training program and being an umpire in youth summer baseball leagues.
People who couldn't attend the meeting and are interested in officiating can call Evans at (309) 256-2493. He said he's fielded several calls about officiating since the meeting was announced.
Asked to describe the positives of officiating, Evans came up with a few:
"You make your own hours. You meet a lot of good people. You can stay involved in the sports you love," Evans said. "It's a hobby that pays you."
So what has caused the shortage?
Several factors are contributing to the shortage of officials, said Evans, including that there are not enough new officials replacing those who have retired.
There also is a vocal minority among spectators who take the fun out of officiating.
"In the past five to 10 years, some fans have become ruthless," Evans said. "They've made personal attacks against officials. It's a privilege, not a right, to be a spectator at a game. I'd like to go back to zero tolerance for any fan who is out of line.
"I can't tell you how many times we (officials) have had coaches and fans come up to us in the parking lot after a game and thank us for throwing out a fan who was being disruptive."
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Coaches who don't know rules or respect officials are another part of the problem, Evans said.
"Many coaches need to be educated not only on the rules, but the time and level of commitment it takes to be an official," Evans said. "If communication between coaches and officials can be improved, coaches can be part of the solution to the officials shortage instead of being part of the problem.
"You know, officials and coaches have the same calling. We're both there for kids and sports."
Evans said a lack of reasonable pay for officials also can be an issue, with soaring costs of transportation and officiating equipment.
Becoming an official
Evans and King hope increased awareness will draw people like Chris Merrill out of the woodwork.
This is Merrill's first season as an IHSA baseball umpire.
The 52-year-old Normal resident has worked high school games in the Bloomington/Normal area and made the drive on Interstate 74 to the Peoria area, where he worked high school games at Pekin, Limestone, Peoria High, Peoria Heights and Peoria Christian.
After being a player and coach in multiple sports for many years, Merrill said, he decided it was time to give back. So he became an IHSA umpire.
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"So far, I'd say being an umpire has been a positive experience," he said. "You get to see the greatest game ever invented (baseball) being played right in front of you.
"I'm not an umpire for the money. When I get my check before a game, I don't even look at it. I put it in my pocket and get ready to umpire a great baseball game."
As for dealing with coaches and fans, "if there was an award for the most patient umpire with coaches and fans, I'd deserve it," he said.
Merrill has jumped into umpiring with both feet.
"I don't want to be a good umpire. I want to be a great umpire," he said. "I study, study, study the rule book. I watch videos. I make phone calls. I learn from the veteran umpires I work with."
Merrill had umpired 34 high school baseball games this season through last week. For about 95% of those games, he said, he was behind the plate. Umpiring is a family affair for Merrill. His son Philip, 17, a junior at Normal Community, also became an IHSA baseball umpire this season and has worked high school games with his father.
Steve Stein can be reached at (248) 224-2616 or stevestein21@yahoo.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA officials shortage: Peorians host Officiating 101 meeting
