CARBONDALE, Pa. — With spring sports just around the corner, Carbondale Area High School is conducting a recruitment effort to help bolster the area's roster of referees.
"We want to keep the integrity of the game intact, having the right amount of officials covering these contests is important," said Brian Durkin, Forest City Regional School District Athletic Director.
This is Forest City Regional School District Athletic Director Brian Durkin's fourth time holding a recruitment camp to bring in new P.I.A.A. officials for the Lackawanna Interscholastic Athletic Association.
For years, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association has struggled with staffing numbers for all sports, something Durkin says he's seen firsthand.
"Some of the lacking of officials throughout the region is due to Covid. They just haven't come back like we expected them to."
But Durkin says what was once a struggle to find officials is now getting a little easier. Since starting the recruitment seminars, he says the P.I.A.A. has seen roughly 150 new officials, like North Pocono High School student Emily Biko.
She registered for the P.I.A.A. Junior Official Program.
"I just like playing basketball. I like watching it, especially my sisters' games, so I wanted to start reffing," said Biko.
"I applaud the athletic directors for taking the time to get, to put this together to get more and more people. To make it easier to get more people involved," said David Elliot, P.I.A.A. Official.
As a P.I.A.A. official for more than 35 years, David Elliott was one of several advisors on hand to help new members take their registration test. He says although the job has its ups and downs, it's a great way to learn about the game.
"I just really enjoy sports. You know, as somebody who wasn't that good at it, you know this is my way of staying involved in it and keeping active," added Elliott.
While recruitment numbers are going up, the PIAA is still looking for football officials for the upcoming fall sports season.