Wheatley pointed out that the report also suggests schools use three officials for both games and allow some of those referees to work both games. Thompson said that some schools already do that and those areas have seen the number of soccer officials increase because of the opportunity to work more games.

The report also points out that schools need to have the field set up correctly so that the crowd is separated from the playing field. Wheatley said many of the problems can be eliminated by separating crowds from each other and the crowd from the players and officials.

"You wouldn't expect football or basketball officials to do crowd control, yet soccer officials we expect them to do that," said Thompson.

Also, the report asks administrators to be more visible and accessible at soccer games so that if there are issues, they can be dealt with by the school as quickly as possible.

Officials were asked to beef up their association and do more to recruit and retain new officials. It also suggests the UHSAA implement an evaluation system that would be completed by coaches and allow UHSAA staff to be aware of issues or problems.

There was also two pages of penalties outlined, which committee members suggested if the situation doesn't improve.

"We're hoping communication and education will be adequate," Thompson said. "If we don't see improvements, then we go to the last part, but it's fairly harsh."

The executive committee's decision to accept the report doesn't require schools to adopt every element of the report. It does however give principals guidelines to follow, and the meetings with parents and players are mandatory.

"Our goal is to have boys soccer off probation by the end of spring," Thompson said.

IN OTHER COMMITEE ACTION:

*The committee received an ejection report for fall sports. Football had 35 ejections, 10 of those at the American Fork/Hunter game. That number is down from last season when 43 players and coaches were ejected. Volleyball had no ejections, which was the same as last season, while girls soccer had nine ejections, down from 17 last season.

*They voted to move the 2A first round of softball from region sites to Spanish Fork Softball Complex on May 3. They also moved the 3A softball tournament to Valley Complex.

*The championship basketball games for 5A and 4A were changed to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively due to a scheduling conflict with KJZZ.

*The plan for girls golf was discussed and all of those who participate in high school golf will get free membership to the Junior PGA.

*Basketball officials will now be evaluated after each game by coaches on forms provided to them by their athletic directors.

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E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com