As our new high school basketball season tips off this week, Whatcom County will not lack for great players and successful teams. But there is something we are lacking: officials.
Before COVID hit in 2020, more than 100 basketball officials working local high school games and soon after the number shrank to almost half. The number started to rise the past three seasons when some veteran officials returned after the pandemic, but that is not enough.
The lack of officials has forced some varsity games to be rescheduled to different nights. At the lower levels, officiating crews might be limited to two referees a game instead of the usual three. More shuffling may be in store.
And don’t blame the men and women in pinstripes. Many are working varsity and JV doubleheaders, sometimes four or five nights a week. There just aren’t enough to go around.
The good news is that almost anyone can help.
“We encourage kids that are in college or even still in high school,” said Damon Bruland, the assignor for the Northwest Board of Officials Association for Whatcom, Skagit, and Island counties. “Officiating is a perfect part-time job for students.”
If you’re interested but have no experience, training is available. Newcomers can start with middle school games. And rookies will be paired with veterans to start out.
The association also works with officials as far as their personal schedules and availability. In addition to being paid per game, there are stipends for travel and, when needed, ferry fees.
If you’d like to support young athletes, be involved in school sports, get some exercise and get paid for it, contact the association by going to its website (www.nwofficials.com) or emailing nwbofficials@gmail.com. You can also text or call recruiting coordinator Bernie Upchurch at (360) 320-5594.
EDITORIAL COMMENT: Speaking for Whatcom Hoops and all our basketball fans, we want to thank our local officials for all they do in a job with little recognition and often a lot of pressure. Let’s all of us (participants as well as fans) continue to show our officials the respect they deserve … because we couldn’t do it without them.
