High school officials needed for fall sports season

Help wanted: no experience necessary.

The Southern Nevada Officials Association currently faces a shortage of referees for the upcoming high school season, according to commissioner Marc Ratner.

“We’re always looking for more officials,” Ratner said.

The SNOA presides over all the high school athletic events in Southern Nevada and makes sure that referees are present at the events. With football games getting ready to begin, the association is looking to add more officials before the start of play in two weeks.

Ratner attributed the shortage to a few things, including the economy. When money is tight, people turn to officiating as a way to make a couple extra dollars. Then there are the people that start it, and find the nature of being an official just isn’t for them.

“There’s no perfect game and there’s no way you can get everybody happy,” Ratner said. “You have to learn that criticism comes along with the job.”

The association currently has enough officials to make sure games will be played, but if no more are hired it will put the current officials in a bind, including more doubleheaders and extra shifts.

“The games will be played, but we want to deepen the pool,” Ratner said.

Ratner urged anyone interested in becoming an official to visit snoaofficials.com, and he said no experience is necessary.

Justin Emerson can be reached at jemerson@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @J15Emerson