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Referee shortage impacts high school football game schedules in Sacramento region

Referee shortage impacts high school football game schedules in Sacramento region
NIGHT LIGHTS MAY HAVE TO GET USED TO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. SOME HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME DAYS ARE GETTING SHUFFLED BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF REFEREES. >> FORTUNATELY OR UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF THE REASON FOR THAT SHORTAGE IS NOT THE PEOPLE PLAYING THE GAME. IT IS THE SPECTATORS. >> CHRISTOPHER SAYS HE HAS EXPERIENCED IT FIRSTHAND. >> YES, I HAVE BEEN IN A COUPLE OF MATCHES IN WHICH THERE HAS BEEN REFEREE ABUSE AND SPECTATORS HAVE COME ON THE FIELD. >> THE SHORTAGE HAS MADE ASSIGNING A CREW OF OFFICIALS TO THE GAME A TOUGH TASK. >> I NEED TYPICALLY ON AN AVERAGE WEEK 30 TO 31 SITES I NEED TO COVER. WE HAVE 25 CREWS THIS YEAR. I’M FIVE TO SIX SHORT EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT. >> HE HANDLES GAMES IN THE SOUTHERN PART, BUT HE’S ALSO KEEPING AN EYE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE NORTHERN PART. SCHOOLS HAD THEIR GAMES FROM FRIDAY MOVED TO THURSDAY. 10 GAMES HAD TO BE SHIFTED TO ANOTHER DAY THIS SEASON. MORE -- MOORE WORRIES HE MAY HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN LATER IN THE YEAR. >> MAYBE SOME OF THEM COULD VOLUNTEER TO MOVE ONE WEEK, ONE COULD MOVE ANOTHER WEEK. >> KNOWING THE NEED IS THERE, HE DECIDED TO ADD FOOTBALL TO THE LIST OF SPORTS HE WILL BE OFFICIATING THIS YEAR. HE SAYS HE IS DOING IT FOR THE ATHLETES. >> I’M HERE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE. I’M HERE TO MAKE SURE THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE CAN BE AS POSITIVE FOR AS MANY ATHLETES AS POSSIBLE. >> ONE OF THE GAMES IMPACTED BY THAT SHORTAGE OF OFFICIALS WILL BE HAPPENING HERE NEXT WEEK AGAINST ROSEVILLE, AND THAT GAME WILL BE HAPPENING ON THURSDAY NIGHT INSTEA
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Referee shortage impacts high school football game schedules in Sacramento region
As football season kicks off, a shortage of referees is forcing high schools across Northern California to rearrange their game-day schedules. Instead of Friday night games, some schools will have to move a game or two to another night of the week this season.Kristofer Zanardelli, who has been a referee for volleyball and soccer for years, said the big issue is not the people actively involved in the game. He said the spectators instead are what's largely causing the shortage, having dealt with his own instances of unruly spectators."Yes, I've been in a couple matches in which there have been referee abuse. There have been spectators that have come onto the field," Zanardelli said.In July, the CIF passed an emergency rule that would ban parents for life if they physically assault someone in the game or a referee before, during or immediately after a game. The shortage has made assigning a crew of officials to a game a tough task.Monty Muller of Muller Sports handles that duty for games in the northern part of the California Interscholastic Federation Sac-Joaquin Section. He said 10 Friday night football games in the second week of the season had to be moved to other days due to the official shortage.For instance, games for Roseville High School at Placer High School and Natomas High School at Liberty Ranch High School were both rescheduled from Fri., Aug. 26 to Thursday, Aug. 25.Knowing the need is there, Zanardelli decided to add football to the list of sports he will be officiating this year. He said he is doing it for the athletes."I'm here to make sure that the high school experience can be positive for as many athletes as possible," he said.

As football season kicks off, a shortage of referees is forcing high schools across Northern California to rearrange their game-day schedules.

Instead of Friday night games, some schools will have to move a game or two to another night of the week this season.

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Kristofer Zanardelli, who has been a referee for volleyball and soccer for years, said the big issue is not the people actively involved in the game. He said the spectators instead are what's largely causing the shortage, having dealt with his own instances of unruly spectators.

"Yes, I've been in a couple matches in which there have been referee abuse. There have been spectators that have come onto the field," Zanardelli said.

In July, the CIF passed an emergency rule that would ban parents for life if they physically assault someone in the game or a referee before, during or immediately after a game.

The shortage has made assigning a crew of officials to a game a tough task.

Monty Muller of Muller Sports handles that duty for games in the northern part of the California Interscholastic Federation Sac-Joaquin Section.

He said 10 Friday night football games in the second week of the season had to be moved to other days due to the official shortage.

For instance, games for Roseville High School at Placer High School and Natomas High School at Liberty Ranch High School were both rescheduled from Fri., Aug. 26 to Thursday, Aug. 25.

Knowing the need is there, Zanardelli decided to add football to the list of sports he will be officiating this year. He said he is doing it for the athletes.

"I'm here to make sure that the high school experience can be positive for as many athletes as possible," he said.