National Referee Shortage

STAFF SHORTAGES STAFF SHORTAGES AFFECTING TINO AFFECTING TINO SPORTS SPORTS

Uncovering how referee and coach deficiencies impact athletics at CHS

COACH DEFICITS

Allyson Matsuoka, Scott Stevens and Chris Oswald highlight the effects of coach shortages

SANIA MEHTA

website editor

From field hockey to football, athletic teams at Cupertino High School are experiencing a decline in individuals interested in coaching, contributing to a deficit in the number of qualified

per sonnel to fill coaching vacancies. Approaching the beginning of the season, the CHS junior varsity field hockey team returned to square one. The school had found a replacement for the coach who stepped down after the 2021-2022 school year — however, the new hire was absent at summer conditioning practices and departed in early August 2022. The unexpected situation led varsity coach, Allyson Matsouka, to accept the vacant coaching position, shouldering the hardships of overseeing both the varsity and junior varsity teams. One difficulty accompanying this decision was Matsouka’s difficulty in connecting with her players. Said Matsouka, “I think coaches are undervalued — the connection that they make with players, especially if they work on campus, that connection can be valuable on the field and in the classroom as well.” Athletic Director and former girls basketball coach Scott Stevens, currently responsible for overseeing coach recruitment, attributed the decline in Cupertino coaches to inadequate pay. “They don’t get compensated well enough for somebody to want to really do this on a regular basis, and [the] time that they have to put in and the amount of money they make is not really worth it,”

Stevens said. “So, you have to really love what you’re doing — otherwise, it’s just not something you’re going to do.”

He notes that a lack of compensation is especially evident when considering the water polo team. The pursuit of water polo coaches can be burdensome due to the scarcity of qualified individuals who desire to coach. This presented an issue for Stevens when the junior varsity girls’ water polo team lost their coach. Fortunately, during the 2022 season, Larry DeMuth

and Amanda “Slowikowski chose to maintain the team, resolving the issue.

Even high school football could not dodge the ramifications of coach shortages. Head coach Chris Oswald had a coaching opportunity open for two years but received no applications. Without the support of former players and his friends, the football team would not have had a coaching staff.

He attributed coach shortages at CHS to the school district’s refusal to hire teacher coaches.

“The district doesn’t care,” Oswald said. “They would rather survive the season than hire teacher coaches who are going to have an impact, a greater impact, on students.” Oswald expresses that as a coach on campus, he can establish more profound relations with his team. They often gather at lunch to observe films, lift weights during the school day and partake in other related activities. In comparison, off-campus coaches are only able to show up during allotted practice hours. He stated that the repercussions of such a decision are apparent in the losing record across every football team in the Fremont Union High School District. Oswald advocates for a pay increase due to rising transportation costs from gas price inflation and long-distance away games. Coaches are passionate about their sport and their players — how-

I WORKED 116 ever, the money they reHOURS THIS SUMMER ceive often serves as the WITH A FOOTBALL most prominent factor TEAM. ONE HUNDRED contributing to their deSIXTEEN HOURS WITHcision to coach. Oswald OUT GETTING PAID. CHRIS OSWALD ” said that although the district has sufficient funds, they do not allocate this money to support sports teams. Said Oswald, “I worked 116 hours this summer with a football team. One hundred sixteen hours without getting paid. And I’ve done that for 30 years.” Due to inadequate funds allocated to the athletic department, Cupertino coaches find themselves at a crossroads between coaching the sport they love and a greater salary with less of a demanding time commitment DESIGNED BY TARUNA ANIL | 21

TIME OUT

How the national referee shortage changes sporting events at CHS

RAJASI LADDHA | BENJAMIN LIU copy editor | writer

Despite throwing in red and yellow flags during games all week, a select few referthe roster. On any Friday, we’re munication methods with referees, running between 70 and 80 [offi- resorted to yelling at a referee to cials] on a Friday night based on alert him of a hazard caused by ees in the Bay Area refuse to throw in the towel amidst the national referee shortage. With Bay Area officials retiring at an unprecedented rate, remaining and new referees often find themselves spread thinly across the coast.

“Every now and then, [the Central Coast Referee Association] has a shortage,” John Fischler, a WHEN I TELL YOU HOW HARD IT IS TO OFFICIATE, I KNOW THAT “ seasoned water FROM PLAYING. polo referee and former player JOHN FISCHLER said. “I think on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they have a higher volume of games and high schools playing. [...] You might be asked to go solo on your own.”

Bay Area Sports Officials supplies referees for games across the Bay Area for nine sports: field hockey, football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, wrestling, baseball, softball and gymnastics. The number of newer officials joining BASO in the past few years has steadily declined, making it difficult for BASO to officiate with the same quantity and quality of games as in previous years. Rick Moore, owner of BASO, says the shortages impacted the organization heavily this year.

“Four to six years ago [...], we used to do between 20 and 24 [games] on a Friday night,” Moore said. “That’s between 100 and 120 varsity football officials on a Friday girls water polo coach Yuri Ujifusa, night. Right now, we have 100 on who firmly believes in calm comavailability.” missed calls. Many older officials retired or “[If] they are letting things unquit over the past few years due to called, that is making a dangerous age, family issues or having a job environment for our players,” Ujithat no longer allows them to be fusa said. “There was a moment available during the games. Other where [senior Baran Abbasi] was factors, such as COVID-19 impli- literally put in a chokehold, and the cations, rising gas prices and initial [referee] wasn’t calling anything.” equipment costs, Students reported that the also played a part. shortage stunts their ability to The shortage properly carry out gameplay due also resulted in to a lack of regulation for danger” lower-quality water polo referees in Fischler’s association. Since waous acts. With the constant violent motions happening above and underwater, referee calls are crucial to keep the game safe – with only ter polo is a more one referee, the game can become challenging sport to learn to offi- dangerous. ciate, he pointed out that the lack “They are not able to see evof available experienced officials erything if the foul is facing the makes it difficult for new referees other way, and they are not able to to acclimate in such environments. call everything,” Ujifusa said. “I can’t think of another sport Delving into the roots of this where an official shortage, Moore can’t see the player’s full body. When I tell you how hard it is to officiate, WE NEED COACHES, PLAYERS, PARENTS AND FANS TO UNDERSTAND “ offered the perspective of new referees on the current athletI know that from IT’S NOT A PERFECT ic atmosphere, playing,” Fischler said. “I am just looking at a pool of water, and I just RICK MOORE WORLD OUT THERE. ” identifying a decline in sportsmanship over the past years see some shoulders.” as the main culprit for the scarcity Fischler’s water polo associ- of new recruits. ation tried to bring officials from “The number one cause of the different sports. This decision referee shortage is poor sportsreportedly frustrated teams and manship,” Moore said. “I’ve been coaches, as newer officials may told straight up [by new referees]: miss calls due to unfamiliarity with I’m not gonna go out there for that the sport.Cupertino High School’s abuse. I know a lot of good people

that could actually officiate the sports. And they just told me ‘I’m not going up there for that.’ We need coaches, players, parents and fans to understand it’s not a perfect world out there.”

Televised sports often lead to unrealistic expectations of the quality of officiation, said Moore. Major league or Division I college referees are at the top of their game, with years of higher-level experience under their belts – local officials can not deliver the same caliber of calls.

“These officials at the top of their game have worked so hard to get up there. So when the littlest mistake is made, it gets blown out of proportion. When people watch that, they think the high school officials’ [job] should be that easy. Mistakes are going to be made if you’re at that level.”

Lack of experienced referees and poor sportsmanship have resulted in poor calls and a decrease in the quality of officials, exasperating coaches and athletes. Said Moore, however, the situation is not hopeless, although it will take a collective effort of coaches, referees, athletes and parents to turn the tide.

Said Moore, “The reason for quitting is [sportsmanship]. But it’s a good 90 to 95 percent good out there. It’s a lot of fun”

50,000

referees lost nationwide since the 2018-19 season

National Federation of State High School Associations

“The girl I was defending would put me in a choke hold, pull back my shoulder, kick me, and grab my legs back when I would try to swim away [...] Through all this, the refs did not call anything, nor acknowledge the danger I felt I was being put through as a player and athlete.”

Baran Abbasi, senior and water polo player

46%

of officials said they unsafe due to spectator or coach behavior

National Association of Sports Officals

“Well, the referee shortage probably has affected our team on the quality of the available referees. Given that refs are typically not paid well for their position, this means that we’ll end up with lesser-skilled refs.”

Joshua Amilcar, senior and football player