Verbal abuse blamed for decline of sports officials on Long Island

High school football official Bob Miller says angry spectators have followed referees into the locker room and to their cars after games.

Wrestling official Sean Brocking has ejected entire sections of spectators from events because of verbal abuse.

The number of umpires, referees and officials is declining on Long Island and nationwide, a decrease blamed on verbal abuse from parents, spectators, players and coaches, according to more than two dozen sports officials, school administrators and high school coaches.

#newyork #referee #highschoolsports

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