Officiating high school sports may not be for those who take criticism to heart.
The number of referees in high school sports in Illinois and all across the country has taken a nosedive in recent years, as older officials retire without enough new people to replace them.
Sam Knox is the Illinois High School Association's assistant executive director in charge of officials. He says he tries to help younger officials develop a thick skin and not take the heat from coaches and fans personally.
"The old joke with officiating is people expect you to be perfect the first you go out and work, and then get better after that. Well, we all know that that's impossible. Nobody's perfect. Even the games we watch at the major league level aren't perfect," he said.
For those who stick with it, Knox says officiating can become a "healthy addiction." Eleven refs who have been making calls on the field or court for 50 years were honored at the IHSA officials conference in East Peoria over the weekend. One was recognized for 60 years.
You can learn more about becoming a licensed IHSA official, click here.
