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Minnesota Now with Nina Moini
Cathy Wurzer and Lindsay Guentzel

MN State High School League doesn't have enough referees. Want to get involved?

A man in a referee outfit watches a game closely.
John Klinnert, 72, of Fergus Falls officiates a boys' basketball game between Pelican Rapids Vikings and Barnesville Trojans in January 2020. Klinnert officiated his first basketball game in 1977.
Matt Mikus | MPR News 2020

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Boys hockey is just one of the 13 winter activities overseen by the Minnesota State High School League. While the winter season is just heating up, the league is already looking ahead to spring athletics.

There’s a shortage of high school sports referees, both here in Minnesota and across the country, so organizers are putting out the call for people to get trained on how to do the job.

Jason Nickleby, coordinator of officials for the MSHSL, joined host Cathy Wurzer with more on the reasons for the shortage, what it’s like to be an official and how to get involved.

If your interest is piqued, find out more on how to become a high school sports official over on the MSHSL website. You can also attend the online officiating recruitment forum hosted by the MSHSL and Minnesota Youth Athletic Services on Feb. 21.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

Subscribe to the Minnesota Now podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.