If you know anyone who thinks Recruiting, Retention and training aren't important...have them look at this. It is coming here, already an epidemic in some places.

Reasons cited here may or may not be main factor, but it IS a factor.

http://hillsdale.net/sports/20180914/opinion-officiating-shortage-reaching-epidemic-proportions-in-michigan

To All Football, Soccer and Volleyball Officials:
 
This Fall, 2018, thanks to the OSAA Sportsmanship Committee and their work with the OAOA, all officials will have an opportunity to nominate players, teams, coaches, and fans for exhibiting good sportsmanship via a brand-new sportsmanship award program. 
 
How does it work?  Any referee who sees a great example of sportsmanship at any contest may click on this link http://www.osaa.org/officials/sportsmanship to submit a nomination.
  
You can then nominate any school, team, fan section, or coach by quickly using the drop-down boxes and share the outstanding example of sportsmanlike behavior you witnessed. 
 
It doesn’t end there!  The nomination will then go to the OSAA, who will, in turn, let the school know they were nominated and why. 
 
At the end of each sports season the program with the best nomination for sportsmanship for each sport will be announced and that program will earn 100 Oregonian Cup points for their school.
 
Be on the lookout for great examples of sportsmanship and vote today! 
 

Kelly Foster
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
O 503.682.6722 X233
C 503.318.1672
kellyf@osaa.org

Important reminder from the OSAA pertinent to thunder/lightning!

47.   Lightning Safety Guidelines  (From "NFHS Sports Rules Books")

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide a default policy to those responsible for making decisions concerning the suspension and restarting of contests based on the presence of lightning.

Proactive Planning:
1)       Assign a staff member to monitor local weather conditions before and during events.
2)       Develop an evacuation plan, including identification of appropriate nearby shelters.
3)       Develop criteria for suspension and resumption of play:
a)       Recognition.  When thunder is heard, or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning.  Suspend play and take shelter immediately.
b)       Thirty-minute Rule.  Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30-minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play.
c)       Any subsequent lightning or thunder after the beginning of the 30-minute count should reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.
4)       Hold periodic reviews for appropriate personnel.

OSAA Staff