Lack of Officials Sounds Warning Again
September 21, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Officials prefer to stay out of the spotlight, but the avocation is at the center of important discussion again as something seemingly inevitable has taken place in the southeastern Lower Peninsula – recently scheduled football games had to be moved because of a lack of officials.
The Hillsdale Daily News’ James Gensterblum tackled the topic in a recent column – and we couldn’t have said it better ourselves:
“This crisis has been a long time coming, and we have no one but ourselves to blame. Fan behavior has never been perfect at high school sporting events, but in the last decade it’s hit an all-time low, and I could find numerous examples across the country to back up this assertion.
… Over the years, I’ve seen opinion pieces to parents appealing to their humanity and civility in order to get them to treat referees better. I’ve seen shame, I’ve seen bargaining, all sorts of rhetorical tactics, all of which seem to have failed. So let me try something a little different. Let me appeal to your love of sports and your investment in their continued survival.”
Check out Gensterblum’s work in its entirety at the Hillsdale Daily News.
This Week in High School Sports: 11/6/25
By
Jon Ross
MHSAA Director of Broadcast Properties
November 6, 2025
This week's edition reviews the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Cross Country and Boys Soccer Finals, and awards Game Balls to high achievers in football.
The 5-minute program each week includes feature stories from MHSAA.com or network affiliates, along with "Be the Referee," a 60-second look at the fine art of officiating.
"This Week in High School Sports" is powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP).
Listen to this week's show by Clicking Here.
Previous 2025-26 editions
Oct. 30: Mendon football's Owen Gorham, MHSAA Girls Volleyball Tournament primer - Listen
Oct. 23: Lower Peninsula Girls Golf Finals review, LP Boys Tennis Finals - Listen
Oct. 16: MHSAA Football Playoff selection, Field Hockey Finals week primer - Listen
Oct. 9: Upper Peninsula Girls Tennis Finals review, 2025 Sportsmanship Summits - Listen
Oct. 2: 2026 MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Awards, Boys Soccer Tournament - Listen
Sept. 25: Saline's record-approaching performance, SAC sportsmanship statement - Listen
Sept. 18: Athletic director training, "Block Party" volleyball report - Listen
Sept. 11: Football coaching legend Al Fracassa, MHSAA Student Advisory Council - Listen
Sept. 4: MHSAA participation rising, Harbor Springs soccer's Henry Juneau - Listen
Aug. 28: Field hockey's first season, changes to Football Playoffs, Tennis Finals - Listen