A statewide shortage of officials for virtually all high school sporting events has prompted the North Dakota High School Activities Association to initiate a statewide recruitment effort aimed at new officials.

As part of the effort, the NDHSAA has created four radio public service announcements and has asked the state's media outlets to help spread the word.

"In our little state we've got approximately (1,400) people who are officiating, so there must be good stuff connected to it," said NDHSAA assistant secretary Dave Carlsrud. "Those are the things that we are trying to promote. We want to get some of the positives out there because when we usually talk about officiating it is a negative."

According to NDHSAA figures, there were 1,460 registered officials in 2008-09. That is up 53 from 1,407 a year earlier.

One of the main concerns expressed by Carlsrud and others is that the majority of registered officials in North Dakota are nearing retirement age. As of right now, there are not enough young officials to replace those officials when they retire.

One of the aforementioned veteran officials is Minot's Jeff Risk, who has been officiating for 35 years. He got into the business as a freshman in high school when the Binford area was in need of umpires.

"It's kind of the same deal that we are in now. They needed people to work and I was available," Risk said. "Someone just called me and asked if I'd do it and it took off from there."

Minot's Perry Olson got into officiating in much the same way that Risk did. Six years ago in the umpire room at Corbett Field, Minot official Kevin Harmon told Olson in passing that he should become an umpire.

After some careful thought, Olson followed Harmon's advice and has been officiating ever since.

"It is a way to still be part of athletics after you are done playing," Olson said. "I think the camaraderie with the other officials is wonderful. In general, it is tough to find an official that is hard to get along with, and that makes it great. You can work a hard game and when it's done you are back in the locker room with the guys that were out there with you and it is just a blast."

Risk, too, enjoys the relationships he has formed through officiating.

"Overall, the people are great - the players, the coaches, the other officials. You build some lasting friendships and meet a lot of really good people," Risk said. "It has also allowed me to stay involved in a lot of activities that had been a big part of my life."

Carlsrud, Risk and Olson are encouraging anyone interested in officiating to attend the various rules clinics the NDHSAA will be holding throughout the state during the months of August, October and March.

Locally, the Magic City Campus will host rules clinics for the sports of soccer, swimming, cross country, football, volleyball and tennis on Wednesday. Anyone can attend and there is no cost.

"There is a chance to be successful at every level. Whatever level you fit in. Whether it is the high school or college level," Risk said. "We need somebody for all those levels and I'd encourage them to try it."

"You are going to get a negative comment or two every once in awhile, there is some of that," Olson said. "But the positive things you hear from the coaches, players and fans far outweigh anything negative that I've heard. You will have a bad apple here and there, but for the most part people are great."

A full list of rules clinics dates and locations and more information about becoming a registered official can be found on the NDHSAA Web site.