The Georgia high school football world blew up nationally in the Hillgrove versus McEachern game.
On the final play of the game, Hillgrove quarterback Matthew McCravy scrambled to his right and dove for the end zone. The ball hit the pylon, and it appeared Hillgrove had won the game. But the referee marked McCravy down at the 1-yard line, and McEachern won the game.
Was the referee to blame for Hillgrove’s loss? Many think so, and they voiced that opinion loudly.
On Oct. 4, the GHSA released a press statement on the unruly behavior toward high school officials around the country. In the press release, they highlighted a resignation letter from a soccer official who had been officiating for 20 years.
His resignation included the following: “Soccer parents: You are absolutely 100% the reason we have a critical refereeing shortage and games are being cancelled left and right. And you are at least a part of the reason I’m done here. The most entitled among you are the ones that scream the loudest.”
This is a chilling message from the position of an official, and it is one that shouldn’t need to be said at all. In April 2019, In the Game produced an article calling for new referees in the state, noting the shortage of officials growing by the year. Not only is the state struggling to find officials, they’re struggling to keep them, with 80% of officials leaving their posts in the first two years.
The growing epidemic is a nationwide problem that each and every fan needs to look in the mirror and fix. The GHSA post highlights a youth football league in West Virginia, where the entire league had to cancel their season due to not having the referees to compete.
Referees are human. They make mistakes. And unlike the professional and college games, they do not have the luxury of instant replay to fix the mistake when it does happen. They do the best they can with the resources and experience they have.
So as a fan, I get it. In the heat of the moment, tensions can boil, and you say something you regret. But remember who is on the receiving end. We can all do a better job of patrolling the emotions of ourselves and the fans around us. High school sports are a privilege. Don’t let the behavior of a few ruin it for everyone else.
“On behalf of myself and so many other referees – and I say this with every ounce of my heart and soul – shut up about the referees, and let your kids rise or fall as a team, as a FAMILY. Because the vast majority of you truly have no idea what you’re talking about, and even if you have a legitimate gripe about one play or one decision, you’re not fixing anything.”
Fans have a responsibility to remember that it’s a game. Everyone wants their child or their team to be successful, but a team grows with winning and losing. To blame it on referees is unfair and insulting to the beauty of sport. You may win some, and you may lose some – but everyone loses if there’s no sport left to play.
