Anyone who played organized sports growing up knows: competitions cannot happen without officials. Yet, in recent years, it isn’t always easy to fill referee positions. Seeing this need, one group of UNI students is determined to ensure that games go on and are properly staffed by trained, dedicated officials. 

“A lot of the refs nowadays are getting older and definitely getting to the point where a lot of them are going to retire, and we're not going to have a whole lot of refs around here,” said Koby Lampman, a junior movement and exercise science major at UNI. 

In the last year, nine students who have been involved with officiating intramural games at UNI have also registered with the Iowa High School Athletic Association and completed a certification to referee youth sports, including basketball, football and soccer.

As students involved with intramurals began officiating in the community, Wes Privett, competitive sports coordinator at UNI, began to encourage other intramural refs to see if they too could use their skills to make a difference in youth athletic events.

“It's just a good way to get out and meet people and make a little bit extra money as a side job,” Lampman explained. “So I love everything about it.”

Easton Luzum, a junior majoring in sports administration, has seen the officiating shortage firsthand with family members who participate in organized sports. 

“I have a brother who plays soccer in high school, and there have been a couple games during  the year where there are only two refs,” he said. “My cousins also play soccer at the rec level, and they hardly ever have any refs outside of parent volunteers. So if I'm ever going down there to watch them, I'll be scanning for refs. If there aren't any, I'll kind of volunteer myself to go in and do that.”

The group of UNI referees have been working closely with the Waterloo Officials Association. In December, the list of events needing officials for basketball games in the area was near 900, but thanks to the nine students and other dedicated officials, 97% of the slots were filled.

“Our student officials have played a meaningful role in closing that gap,” said Privett.

It’s not just junior high and high school games that these young officials are helping with. Aaron Brost, a senior accounting and finance major, has also officiated for NCAA Division III collegiate basketball games. 

He already knows officiating is something he hopes to continue doing after graduation.

“As of right now, if I could officiate full-time during college basketball season from November until April, I would,” he said. “There are numerous Division I guys who do this six months out of the year and then don't work much the rest of the year.”

While not every intramural ref from UNI plans to work in sports after graduation, making connections with schools throughout the state is a great bonus for those that do.

“Going to all these schools and being involved in the athletics just so I'm not completely distancing myself is a good way to just talk to people,” said Lampman. “By being involved, I get to see how other schools run their athletics and talk to their athletic directors. I think it's just a great way to stay involved.”