Referee Magazine
Return-to-Officiating
Survey Results
COVID-19 & OFFICIATING
READY TO RETURN?
F R O M T H E E D I T O R S O F R E F E R E E M A G A Z I N E
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
Although many officials are hesitant about returning to officiate
youth and high school sports amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a large
majority appear ready to return to the fields, courts and pitches across
the country, according to a survey conducted in late May by Referee
magazine.
With nearly 20,000 sports officials responding to the survey, 67.5
percent indicated that if youth and high school sports resumed today,
they would feel comfortable participating as an official from a health
and safety perspective.
Still, a sizable 32.5 percent indicated they would not be comfortable
officiating — a number that could have implications for staffing games as
sports resume, especially in areas or sports facing pre-existing shortages
of officials.
The survey results indicated the oldest officials — those 65 and older —
were more concerned than young officials. Approximately 40 percent of
those 65 and older indicated they were not comfortable participating as
an official compared to 19 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds and 33 percent
of 25-to-34-year-olds.
Looking regionally, those in the north-central part of the country (North
Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota and Kansas) were
the most ready to return — 77 percent indicating they were comfortable.
The northeast region (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maryland and New York) reported the lowest
percentage of officials who are comfortable returning — 59 percent.
Referee magazine conducted the survey in late May to accompany a
feature story — Back to Work? — coming in the August issue of the
magazine that explores what officials are thinking about with a return
to sports amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was modeled after
one conducted by United Travel Umpires of its members.
The Referee survey moved from sidebar-status to front stage when
nearly 20,000 officials weighed in from across the country. With such a
strong response on such a timely topic, we decided to release the results
ahead of the August issue.
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
In addition to asking officials about their comfort level
with returning to officiate, the survey probed into other
pandemic-related topics; here are some of the results:
• 64 percent of officials who responded said if they
had to travel to work a tournament, they would feel
comfortable staying in a hotel from a health and safety
perspective.
• 62 percent of officials felt it was reasonable for officials
to be asked to adopt different mechanics and positioning
to better adhere to social distancing guidelines.
• 43 percent said it was reasonable for an official to wear
a mask and gloves while performing his/her duties.
• Nearly 66 percent said if required, they would wear a
mask and gloves to officiate a game.
• Liability concerns were on many officials’ minds. On
a five-point sliding scale, with one being “not worried
at all” and five being “very worried,” the average of
responses fell at three.
• When asked about the single most important factor
dictating when they personally would feel comfortable
returning to the field/court/pitch as a sports official, the
following options were selected:
– Governing organization, school or municipality
taking steps to clean/sanitize a facility – 27
percent
– Widespread testing for COVID-19 – 19.5 percent
– Availability of a vaccine for COVID-19 – 23.5
percent
– None of the above; I will go out there now, none
of these factors are crucial for my return – 30
percent.
This survey, along with others like it, was made possible by the subscribers of Referee magazine, along with members of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO).
Please consider subscribing to Referee magazine or joining NASO to get the most up-to-date information in the officiating industry delivered directly to you every month.
REFEREE.COM
NASO.ORG
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
81%
67%72%
74%
68%
59% 59%
Based on the information available, if youth and high school sports resumed today, would you feel comfortable participating as an official from a health and safety perspective?
Answered YES basedon age group
QUESTION
01YES
NO 32.5%
67.5%
Answered YES basedon region
68%
77%
66%
72%
67%68%
68%
59%
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
74%
67% 70% 71%
66%
53.954
46%
Based on the information available, if you had to travel to work a tournament, would you feel comfortable staying in a hotel from a health and safety perspective?
YES
NO 36%
64%
QUESTION
02
Answered YES basedon age group
Answered YES basedon region
70%
73%
65%
69%
65%62%
67%
50%
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
From the perspective of your own safety, what is your level of concern regarding overseeing a game?
QUESTION
03
NOTCONCERNED
EXTREMELYCONCERNED
1 2 3 4 5
2
3
4
5
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
2
3 3
2
3 3 3
Answers based on age group
1
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
54%57%
53%57%
64%68% 67%
Do you feel it’s reasonable for officials to be asked to adopt different mechanics and positioning to better adhere to social distancing guidelines?
YES
NO 38%
62%
QUESTION
04
Answered YES basedon age group
Answered YES basedon region
59%
58%
65%
57%
62%61%
61%
70%
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
36% 37%33%
37%
44%
51%56%
Do you feel it’s reasonable for an official to wear a mask and gloves while performing his/her duties?
YESNO
57%43%
QUESTION
05
Answered YES basedon age group
Answered YES basedon region
38 %
35%
48%
40%
43%41%
41%
52%
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
If required, would you wear a mask and gloves to officiate a game?
YESNO
34%
66%
QUESTION
06
65% 62%
57%60%
67%
72%76%
Answered YES basedon age group
Answered YES basedon region
61%
62%
72%
63%
64%65%
65%
72%
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
From a liability standpoint, what is your level of concern regarding overseeing a game where COVID-19 could be transmitted betweenparticipants?
QUESTION
07
NOTCONCERNED
EXTREMELYCONCERNED
1 2 3 4 5
2
3
4
5
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
3 3 3 3 3 3 3
1
Answers based on age group
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
What is the single most important factor dictating when you personally feel comfortable returning to the field/court/pitch as a sports official?
23.5%
30%27%
19.5%
QUESTION
08Governing organization, school or municipality taking steps to clean/sanitize a facility
Availability of a vaccine for COVID-19
None of the above; I will go out there now, none of these factors are crucial for my return
Widespread testing for COVID-19
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-74
75+
24.7%
24.6%
25.8%
26%
28%
28%
30%
17%
22.7%
18.3%
17.7%
19.5%
21%
21%
13.1%
18.8%
18%
18.7%
23.2%
31.5%
31.4%
45.2%
33.9%
37.9%
37.6%
29.3%
19.5%
17.6%
Answers based on age group
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
80%81% 82%
78%73%
67%65%
Do you feel players wearing masks could be a hindrance or danger to their ability to play the sport as they normally would, causing possible safety issues?
YES
NO 26%
74%
QUESTION
09
Answered YES basedon age group
Answered YES basedon region
76%
77%
70%
75%
75%76%
75%
68%
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+
36%
45%
39% 39%44%
51%54%
From the perspective of personal safety, are you concerned about the ability to properly satisfy CDC social distancing guidelines in the environment of an officials’ locker room?
YESNO 56%
44%
QUESTION
10
Answered YES basedon age group
Answered YES basedon region
41%
37%
45%
39%
45%45%
44%
52%
R E T U R N - T O - O F F I C I A T I N G S U R V E Y R E S U L T S
736
255
1500
251
107
27
88
50
17 1433
238
193
30 112 78 222 13
8
603
266
445
494
1056
921 87
832
555
1271
208
317
211
6219
487
4
174 73239
8
420
75
85910
30
131
2486
359
43030
750
44 304
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