Fans in stands need better behavior to keep refs working

As sports fans, we have all lamented that blown call. Just ask the New Orleans Saints, who were kept out of the Super Bowl by a missed call by a referee. Perhaps we have even gotten upset, and yelled things at the television. But yelling at the television while watching a professional sporting event is much different than shouting at referees in person, at the local high school gym. But it is happening more and more. And as a result, Wisconsin is experiencing a shortage of referees to work high school basketball games. It has gotten so bad that some high school games have had to be rescheduled until they could find refs to work the game. And what is the cause of this referee shortage? The WIAA, the governing body of high school athletics in the state, blames bad behavior by fans at local games. Older officials are retiring, and new referees aren’t sticking around as long, in large part to to verbal abuse. It is happening at the gym, where people shout obscenities at referees. And it continues on social media where angry sports fans call out referees over what they see as a missed call. We’re not setting a very good example for our kids if we get so upset over something that happens on the court that we resort to hurling obscenities. We can do better, and realize that its just a game, that people are human, and sometimes make mistakes. Players, coaches, parents and fans need to behave better. Because it takes a team effort to show some class even when we think the ref needs new glasses.