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“They’re not yelling at you. They’re yelling at your shirt”: Canadian sport system faces officiating crisis

Female volleyball ref making a call with back to the camera

Highlights  The Canadian sport system is experiencing a steep decline in number of match officials due to a combination of factors including abuse, lack of support from organizations, and lack of compensation  In this article, officials from various sports across the country share their perspectives on the officiating crisis, including potential solutions such as education…

Technology in officiating

Research shows that video assistance referee (VAR) technology in professional soccer has helped with officials’ decision-making, but has disrupted the flow of the game. To improve speed and accuracy, FIFA debuted a new technology at the 2022 World Cup that automates the detection of offsides. Using multiple cameras and artificial intelligence software, officials were able…

Recruitment of officials

Community organizations across the country are experiencing a shortage of sport officials. Research shows that nearly 80% of sport officials across Canada are either previously or currently active as an athlete in the sport they officiate. Individuals already involved within a sport are likely candidates to recruit as officials due to their passion for the…

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