A looming crisis in sports officiating was a key topic at the recent Overland Park Community Development meeting, as officials highlighted a significant shortage of umpires and referees in both traditional and eSports. The discussion revealed concerns about an aging workforce in officiating roles, with fewer young people stepping up to fill the gaps left by retiring officials.

One speaker noted, “There’s an umpire and ref shortage... it’s only gotten worse,” emphasizing the urgent need for new talent in the field. The conversation also touched on the challenges of the job, which many consider thankless, contributing to the difficulty in attracting new officials.

Adding a light-hearted moment to the discussion, a participant shared a humorous anecdote from their own experience as a Little League umpire, illustrating the tough but rewarding nature of officiating. “The best compliment I ever got was, you know, a little kid came up to me and said, ‘You’re blind as a bat, but at least you’re fair to both teams,’” they recounted, highlighting the importance of consistency in officiating.

As the meeting wrapped up, officials expressed their readiness to engage with the community to raise awareness about the need for more sports officials. The implications of this shortage could affect the quality of local sports programs, making it a pressing issue for the community to address.