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NEW ULM -- Dave Bendix of the Mankato Area Officials Association (MAOA) said that there is a pressing need for more basketball officials in the area.
And he used an example of "creative rearranging" as an example.
"And I am thankful that the area Athletic Directors are pretty understanding," he said. "I do think that we will be able to get all of the varsity basketball games covered but we are moving some games to different days [because of the shortage]. But if someone gets hurt or sick we are in a boatload of trouble."
And when you add in the unknown factor of games being postponed and rescheduled for a future date because of weather, it can be a nightmare.
"All of our officials have full-time jobs," Bendix said.
While one problem is at the varsity levels, it is even worse on the lower levels.
"A lot of the officials we are using there are being pushed into service on the varsity levels because we need them there." he said. "And on that lower levels there are times when we are lucky if we get one official for a game. There just are not enough."
Right now, there are 72 officials on the roster for MAOA.
"But not all of them are varsity officials," Bendix said. "As far as varsity officials we are in the high 40s as far as numbers. And on any given night we are taking care of around 25 area schools.
"So that is difficult and if all of those 25 schools play on a given night, we cannot cover them."
Bendix said that that has caused some schools to change game dates.
"We have had numerous schools that have had to change game dates. New Ulm High School had to move a home varsity boys' basketball game with Kasson-Mantorville because Kasson-Mantorville was in the high school football playoffs. So we had to find a different date in January. Waterville called me and and wanted to know if I could fill a certain date and I could not."
Bendix said that he is still trying to find officials for a game in February in Granada.
"But no matter how hard I shake the tree I cannot cover all of the games that are on our schedule," he said. "I am going to have to ask the schools to move that game date."
He has even reached out to the Rochester Officials Association.
"They said that they do not have enough officials for the games that they have. On Tuesday and Friday, every official is working."
Bendix said that the ongoing basketball officials shortage could be eased.
"If we got 10 new officials every year so that we could mentor them properly and take them to a game with us -- that is the problem. The last few years we have not had more than one or two coming in."
Bendix recalled a recent incident where he had games assigned.
"But then two officials called me who had between 10-20 games assigned to them. They tell me that they cannot do them because they got a different job or they are moving. So they cannot work those games. Now I have two less officials but if I had some younger ones I could plug them in slowly and work them in with mentoring. But we are not getting the young officials at all right now."
One of the issues that Bendix thinks may have turned younger people from officiating is the fans.
"I think think that the younger ones try it but the fans turn them off, I don't care if the fans yell at me -- I can take it. But when it is a young official who is trying to determine whether they want to do this -- the fans can turn them off from doing it anymore."
Bendix is hoping that some young people will want to try officiating despite some fans and help the game.
"We need people to do this," he said. "Maybe not everyone will be a varsity official but even if they can help out in the fifth, sixth or seventh grade that would help out tremendously."
Those interested or just want more information can contact Bendix at 507-236-9898.