For several years now, New York has been looking for more referees, umpires and officials for youth and high school sporting events. Some say the shortage is a crisis.

However, a North Country college is offering a special class in hopes of drawing more people onto the field.

“We need referees. We need officials, and we need them badly,” NYSPHSAA Section III Executive Director Jason Czarny said.

Czarny expressed the need bluntly.

“We don't see like this great horizon where this flood of new officials is coming,” he added.

Things so rough in New York that different sports leagues and different sports levels, down thousands of referees from just a handful of years ago, are either canceling or postponing games or having coaches pull double duty.

“Often, those coaches are going to stand behind the pitcher's mound, call balls and strikes, call outs in the field, try to coach their kids, and also try to keep control of spectators who might be, you know, disagreeing with the calls they're trying to make,” Czarny added, noting abuse from spectators is a massive problem in recruitment.

While Czarny and other officials in the state are doing everything they can to draw people in, SUNY Canton is joining in, becoming the first college in the state to offer New York State sport officiating as a micro-credential.

“It's designed to really provide them, a background in that area versus just stepping in and trying to do, you know, training over the course of three or four days,” Lead Instructor Carl Normandin said.

The interactive course is offered completely online and is open to anyone in New York. There are about 45 hours worth of learning materials to study at your own pace, with a certificate offered upon completion.

“I have a few people that are looking at finishing their credential so that they're going to be eligible to officiate a fall sport this coming year,” Normandin said.

He added that interested prospective officials can take the certificate that they've earned through the microcredential and join a local officiating board.

“You'll hit the ground running at that point. You'll they'll show you the operating system for how to garner your assignments and hopefully for all involved, make a dent in that shortage,” Normandin said.

“Anything that can expose them to the world, I think is good for the world of officiating. That is, you've got to expose them to it and to let them know it's an option, and also show them how easy it is to get involved,” Czarny said.