Missouri officials blowing the whistle on fall prep sports

More than 13-hundred football officials are working games this fall at the Junior & Senior High School level.
Andrew Kauffman of the Missouri State High School Athletic Association says there are several qualifications to be a good official, beyond love of the game…

“You gotta be in shape, you gotta keep up with these athletes, which is very important. Somebody who knows the rules, who lives by the rules and and wants to be the best that they can be and really educate these athletes out there on on how to be the best that they can be, as well.”

34,298 junior high and high school boys were playing football during last fall.

Kauffman says they’re always recruiting officials. He says it’s not too late to apply & go thru training. He also notes, the demand for basketball officials in Missouri is even higher, because there are more teams.