Pat Burns on Why Fewer People Want to Officiate Youth Sports Amid Rising Abuse from Parents

Pat Burns of PSB Officiating Services, who assigns referees and umpires to about 95 area schools, joins the show to explain a shortage hitting youth sports across the board. Burns says the average high school official is now in his early 50s, with too few young people stepping in to replace them, even as leagues like Parkway Rockwood host over 500 youth basketball games on a single Saturday. He shares harrowing stories, from a parent shoving a referee decades ago to being spit on by a player, and argues today's abuse isn't necessarily worse, just more visible thanks to social media amplifying every ugly moment. The takeaway for parents and grandparents alike: respect the people willing to do a thankless job, or there won't be anyone left to call the game. A grounded, common-sense conversation on The Marc Cox Morning Show about accountability, respect, and community. Hashtags: #YouthSports #OfficiatingShortage #ParentingMatters #Respect #CommunitySports #StLouisSports #MissouriHighSchoolSports #ConservativeTalk #FaithFamilyFreedom #MarcCoxMorningShow