Around here there is getting to be a serious shortage of referees/umpires.

The older guys are retiring and the younger guys have decided that the meager pay isn't worth all the verbal abuse they take mostly from parents, but also coaches and players. Way too much drama and emotion (and booze), wrapped up in a child's game that is supposed to be fun--and everyone expects perfection from officials who often are not much older than the players.

Even high school football has been forced to move games from Friday nights to Saturday mornings, or even cancel games altogether due to the shortage of referees.