For Lee French, it feels good to get back into this routine. He’s standing on the sidelines at Niskayuna High School, where tonight the Warriors are taking on Columbia High School.

It’s his second basketball game of the season that he’ll be officiating, but his first high school matchup. It’s quite a way to begin his 40th year of officiating basketball.

“It’s different,” French said about officiating during a pandemic. “Anytime you do cardio with something over your face, it’s a little difficult.”

What You Need To Know

  • The Capital District Board of Women’s Basketball Officials reports 45 percent of its officials have opted out due to COVID-19

  • The organization says the number of eligible officials in the last five years dropped by 25 percent

  • Officials for boys' lacrosse have declined 8 percent since last year statewide

Tonight, he’s working the game with Jeff Van Dyk. The pair have officiated games together for 20 years.

“Early on, he pretty much taught me everything,” said Van Dyk, who is entering his 21st year as a basketball official. “Now, we just have fun together.”

As the game tips off, French and Van Dyk get into their positions and begin calling the game, just like they’ve done for decades.

“First off, nice job ladies so that we can play basketball tonight,” French tells the players just before the game begins.

But not all officials are on board this season due to COVID-19. In fact, the Capital District Board of Women’s Basketball Officials reports 45 percent of its officials have opted out.

“We’re an older population, and we’re not going to be here forever,” said Skip Spensieri, a basketball official and the Capital District assignor for girls' basketball officials. “We don’t get any slower. These young kids seem to run faster.”

He’s also one of the officials who is sitting out this year. Spensieri says two-thirds of its varsity officials are 60 years or older, which highlights a larger issue - a lack of younger and newer individuals signing up to officiate.

“We’re not getting the numbers which we need,” Spensieri said. “We might get one or two a year, but if you lose four or five or six a year, you’re running at a deficit.”

And this isn’t a new problem. The local girls' basketball association has seen its number of eligible officials in the last five years drop 25 percent. All sports across the state and country are being affected.

Spensieri says it’s the same with boys' lacrosse, where officials there have declined eight percent since last year statewide. One reason for it - spectators’ behavior.

“That’s what we have seen from officials who have decided not to officiate any long, is the unfortunate abuse that officials receive from fans,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, executive director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

He says people bring up this concern when they try to get new and qualified individuals on board. Zayas says everyone needs to understand, when it comes to sports, it is a group effort.

“Players play, coaches coach, fans, you spectate, you cheer on your son or daughter, and we need those officials to be able to officiate,” Zayas said.

He says recruiting has ramped up at state tournaments and colleges, and the association is holding seminars to get those with knowledge of the game involved. But he hopes this nationwide trend won’t get to a situation where student-athletes are affected.

Meanwhile, opening night is going well for French and Van Dyk. Niskayuna jumps out to an early lead and gets their first win of the season.

For Van Dyk, it was nice to get back into the swing of things.

“It was definitely a good run,” Van Dyk said. “It’s great to be back out there and make some calls. Kids played great.”

There is no shortage of passion for the game for Van Dyk and French. They acknowledge it can be tough at times, like with fans, but they try not to let it get to them.

They say the positives certainly outweigh the negatives, like interacting with coaches and running alongside great student-athletes.

“As long as we all keep doing the right thing and the cases stay down where they need to be so that the state will allow the kids to play, we’re going to be here to officiate,” French said.