Kentucky High School Athletic Association officials continue to emphasize the growing need for high school sports officials across the state, even as several sports showed increases in registration numbers during the 2025-26 school year.
Numbers released by the KHSAA comparing the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years show gains in several sports, led by baseball and softball, while other sports continue to see declines in the number of available officials.
Baseball posted the largest increase statewide, climbing from 647 registered officials in 2024-25 to 816 in 2025-26 — a gain of 169 officials.
Softball also showed a major increase, rising from 557 to 711 officials, an improvement of 154.
Other sports showing increases included wrestling, which rose from 185 to 231 officials; football, which increased from 951 to 976; girls lacrosse, which climbed from 59 to 71; outdoor track and field, which rose from 97 to 131; and field hockey, which increased from 38 to 46.
Despite those gains, several sports lost officials during the same period.
Basketball experienced the largest decline, dropping from 1,713 registered officials to 1,681 — a loss of 32 officials. Soccer also declined from 690 to 676, while volleyball fell from 720 to 705. Swimming dropped from 182 to 173 officials, and boys lacrosse decreased from 97 to 89.
The KHSAA has repeatedly identified officiating shortages as one of the most pressing concerns facing high school athletics, particularly in rural areas of Kentucky, where schools often struggle to secure enough qualified officials for regular-season contests and postseason play.
Across the country, state associations have reported similar concerns as longtime officials retire and fewer younger individuals enter the profession. Contributing factors often include time commitments, travel demands, public criticism from fans and parents, and increased scheduling pressures caused by growing participation numbers in youth and high school sports.
Kentucky officials have worked in recent years to recruit and retain officials through training programs, mentorship opportunities, and outreach efforts aimed at younger adults and former athletes.
While sports like baseball, softball, and wrestling showed encouraging gains this year, KHSAA leaders continue to stress that additional recruitment is needed statewide to maintain consistent officiating coverage for schools and student-athletes.
2 Responses
When you got assignors that give the good games to their friends it makes it hard to keep good officials interested. The buddy system is the problem with this group from top to bottom.
Julian Tackett takes care of his friends. That is the reason no one stays in officiating very long. If you're a buddy of the assignor you get the good games no matter how good or bad you are. They put the same old people in charge and nothing changes. One guy has got fired from several sports assignment jobs and they keep bringing him back and he does the same thing. That is why no one stays on the job very long anymore.
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