Coaches and Admins,

We hope you are enjoying the Thankgiving Weekend and Black Friday!

The OSPL/COPL/OCL Spring 2022 Team Registration Forms are now available!  To register, click on the form:

https://freeonlinesurveys.com/s/Wsi4JabQ

ALSO, in order to make several improvements to the program, we are forming a committee of Coaches/Admins to review our processes in a number of areas including game scheduling, game rescheduling, division placement, league communications, coach-referee interactions, the Spring 2022 Tournament and other areas yet to be identified.  If you are interested in providing input, please complete this form:

https://freeonlinesurveys.com/s/44V8sZhB

Thanks in advance!

Ken and Team

Coaches and Admins,

Now that the season is drawing to a close, we have begun planning for the Spring Season.  We have heard about the referee shortage for several years now.  The numbers don't lie!  In the Columbus District in 2015, we had over 1300 referees.  At the end of 2021 (after adding over 200 since July!), we sit at just under 960.  That represents a decrease of over 25%!  The number of teams and games is increasing!  As these statistics collide, it becomes even more difficult to get all games covered.  

We have an ongoing survey of Central District Referees.  The results continue to come in, but one of the common themes is that new employees at Wendy's or McDonald's get paid during training and have uniforms provided to them.  Therefore, a teenager can start a fast food job with no money in their pockets.  By contrast, a new referee has to fork out over $120 before making their first dollar.  Through a series of discussions, we wondered whether it might make sense for teams to Sponsor-A-Referee (or at least partially sponsor a referee) by paying an additional $50 PER TEAM for Spring registrations.  That $50 would go directly to a fund that would allow new referees to register for the referee class and get a Starter Kit at no cost to them.  If a team would have a player/parent interested, that team could directly sponsor that person.  

Is this a stupid idea?  Well, it wouldn't be our first!  But, we thought we would ask.  If it is, we will move on with life and try to recruit new referees in other ways.  If it is something teams are interested in, then we can get started with our courses being held in January and February.  

Here is the form:  https://freeonlinesurveys.com/s/upYDBij2

Ken and Team