Wyoming High School Activities Association Commissioner Ron Laird urged parents to step up their game in a recent editorial.

"If you are the mother or father of a high school athlete here in Wyoming, this message is primarily for you," Laird wrote in the Op-Ed, which was co-authored by 

"Yelling, screaming and berating the officials humiliates your child, annoys those sitting around you, embarrasses your child’s school and is the primary reason Wyoming has an alarming shortage of high school officials," he insisted.

Laird cited a national survey that claims that 80 percent of high school sports officials will quit within the first two years, primarily due to "adult behavior". He also noted a shortage of referees in the state and warned that it could affect the number of sports schools will be able to offer.

"If there are no officials, there are no games. The shortage of licensed high school officials is severe enough in some areas that athletic events are being postponed or canceled – especially at the freshman and junior varsity levels.," Laird said.

Last week, two parents were reportedly involved in a fight outside of the Wyoming State Wrestling Tournament at the Casper Events Center. Last fall, officials at the Class 3A Football Semifinals needed a police escort to the parking lot after receiving threats from parents who were upset with the outcome.

 

 

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