The number of registered high school sports officials remains above pre-pandemic levels and grew by six percent during the last school year, according to a follow-up survey of 36 NFHS member state associations that originated in 2018-19.

Data compiled by the NFHS from the 36 associations showed the total number of officials’ registrations at 237,811 during the 2024-25 school year, up 14,432 from the previous year, and an eight percent increase from pre-pandemic numbers (220,340) reported in 2018-19.

The growth in officiating continues despite an estimated loss of 50,000 officials during the COVID-19 pandemic. After dipping as low as 189,140 officials in 2019-20, participation has increased each year since the 2021-22 school year. For the past two school years, officiating totals have surpassed those from 2018-19.

All sports except field hockey and water polo saw a year-over-year increase in official registrations in 2024-25. Eleven sports, including baseball (1%), basketball (4%), football (10%), ice hockey (6%), boys lacrosse (4%), girls lacrosse (28%), soccer (13%), swimming and diving (10%), track and field and cross country (53%), volleyball (18%), and wrestling (22%), were above their pre-pandemic levels at the end of the most recent school year.

In addition, 27 states reported they were back above their pre-pandemic levels in 2024-25.

“With the steady increase of officials’ registrations over the past couple of years, the NFHS is not only focusing on how we can bring more officials into the avocation, but we are working to ensure that we are doing enough to retain the officials who have been with us for years,” said Dana Pappas, NFHS director of officiating services. “The emphasis on retention is as important as ever and we are stressing the need for support, training, recognition, education, advocacy and mentorship for officials and are collaborating with state associations and other organizations that are mission-aligned to be able to accomplish this.”

The NFHS has made a concentrated effort to improve the retention and recruitment of officials. The NFHS organized two consortiums to address the drop in officials during the pandemic, and the BecomeAnOfficial and BenchBadBehavior campaigns continue to make an impact nationwide, among other initiatives.

While the number of officials is rising overall, there remains a significant nationwide need. Anyone can apply to become a high school official at www.highschoolofficials.com.

150 Years of I.D. Booth, Inc.: A Legacy Forged in Iron, Service, and Community

What began in 1875 as a modest “Heavy Hardware” store on Railroad Avenue in Elmira, NY is now one of New York State’s longest-standing family-run wholesale suppliers. As I.D. Booth, Inc. celebrates its 150th anniversary, it reflects not only on its humble beginnings but on a legacy of innovation, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the communities it serves.

A Foundation in Iron and Grit

Irving Denman Booth, born in 1843 in Candor, NY, founded the company at age 32 after gaining experience as a hardware clerk in Elmira. A trailblazing entrepreneur, he recognized the needs of a rapidly industrializing region and stepped boldly into the opportunity. Launching “The Jobbinghouse of Irving D. Booth,” he supplied nails, horseshoes, tin plate, wire, and window glass—the building blocks of a growing region. Within three years, I.D. Booth expanded into a new brick facility at neighboring 611–613 Railroad Avenue. This was a time before electricity (which arrived in Elmira in 1883) or automobiles (first seen locally in 1889). By 1914, the company had incorporated under the leadership of his son, Irving Dennison Booth, marking the beginning of a six-generation family legacy. The corporate headquarters at 620 William Street, Elmira, NY was constructed in 1925 and continues to serve as the company’s central hub to this day.

Generations of Leadership, One Vision

Over 150 years, the Booth family has weathered wars, economic downturns, three fires, and natural disasters including floods, blizzards, tornadoes, and hurricanes, all while embracing change and innovation. Key leaders include:

• John S. Booth (3rd generation) – purchased the business in 1958 and led regional expansion. When John S. Booth started working at I.D. Booth, the salesmen traveled by train.
• Peter S. Booth and J. Seeley Booth Jr. (4th generation) – modernized operations and entered new market sectors.
• J. Walter Booth and John S. Booth III (5th generation) – continue to lead operations and sales today.
• John Hunter Booth (6th generation) – joined in 2024, ensuring a bright future for the firm.

Built by Employees, Backed by Community

Reflecting on the company’s legacy, J. Walter Booth remarked: “Our staying power truly comes down to our incredible team and the wealth of knowledge they bring every day.”

I.D. Booth is not just a company—it’s a family of more than 140 employees, many of whom have served for decades. Their dedication, product knowledge, and unmatched service have made I.D. Booth a trusted partner to contractors, municipalities, and institutions across the region.

“It’s not just a job—it’s a place where your work matters, your family matters, and your name means something,” says long-time employee Julie Ayres, who has worked at I.D. Booth for over 32 years.

The company fosters a “family-first” culture, where employees are encouraged to attend to family needs and be present for their children’s sports games, concerts, banquets and academic, LEGO, or robotics competitions. This philosophy reflects the Booth family’s belief that strong families make strong communities.

For over a century, I.D. Booth has published and distributed a large wall calendar each year—featuring a new photo of dogs or birds at the top, a tradition that has become a favorite among customers.

“Even our competitors hang them in their stores,” says J. Walter Booth. “We ship them across the country every year, and customers specifically request them. It’s a small thing that’s become a big part of our identity.”

Economic Impact

I.D. Booth has also forged multi-generational partnerships with customers and suppliers—some lasting more than 50 years. The company’s reputation for responsiveness, resourcefulness, and deep product knowledge has made it a preferred supplier throughout Upstate New York and Northern Pennsylvania.

With over 140 employees and 11 locations, I.D. Booth contributes significantly to the economic vitality of nine counties in New York State. Its continued reinvestment in local talent, infrastructure, and supply chains anchors the trades and service sectors across the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes, and Western New York.

The company also launched specialized divisions for steel, chemicals, and steel fabrication. In 1988, it entered the electrical wholesale market. Booth Electric Supply now accounts for one-third of total sales. By the 2000s, I.D. Booth added four branches through the acquisition of Harris Supply. Showrooms for kitchens and baths were introduced in three locations, beginning in Elmira in 1963.
I.D. Booth has been recognized by the New York State Senate, multiple Chambers of Commerce, and multiple industry associations for its contributions to economic development, workforce stability, and community service. I.D. Booth was awarded 2016 Affiliated Distributors U.S. Member of the Year for Performance Under $10 Million. In 2022, it was named Napoleon’s New Distributor of the Year.

A Culture of Community Support

Community involvement has always been core to the Booth identity. Founder Irving Denman Booth was vice president of the Board of Trade, an alderman, a fire commissioner, and a director of Arnot-Ogden Hospital. He also helped start the Elmira Country Club in 1897. His son, Irving Dennison Booth, served as president of the Association of Commerce, was a director of Chemung Canal Trust Company, and co-founded Ward LaFrance Truck Company with his friend A. Ward LaFrance to manufacture commercial vehicles.

John S. Booth and J. Seeley Booth Jr. continued this civic tradition through steady community presence, job creation, and quiet generosity that helped shape Elmira’s infrastructure and economy. That spirit lives on today:

• I.D. Booth actively supports youth and adult soccer, hockey, and other youth sports in its branch communities. Irving Denman Booth began the Booth family’s affinity for sports as an avid golfer, while his son Irving Dennison Booth was captain of the baseball team at Mercersburg and a track star.
• The company has supported area arts and music, including regional choirs and festivals.· Employees are encouraged to serve as youth sports coaches, community volunteers and on local boards of directors.
• J. Walter Booth co-founded the Eldridge Park Preservation Society, restoring the historic carousel in 2006 after decades of dormancy.
• John S. Booth III served as a board member of the Wellsville, NY Chamber of Commerce, contributing to local business development and community engagement.
• The Booth family has long supported the Chemung County Historical Society. Dr. Arthur W. Booth, son of founder Irving Denman Booth, was one of its founding members in 1923.
• Peter S. Booth helped form one of the first national buying groups for plumbing and heating supplies, Interco (later Omni). He also coached youth hockey, supported LPGAathletes during the Corning Classic, founded the Amateur Hockey Association in Elmira, and was a talented painter whose art supported many local charities.
• One former elementary school in Elmira carried the Booth name—the Arthur W. Booth School, which served Elmira students until 2004 and was named after Dr. Arthur W. Booth, a nationally recognized surgeon.
• In addition to their business leadership, the Booth family has shared a long-standing passion for wingshooting and conservation. Over the years, they have been dedicated supporters of Ducks Unlimited, promoting wetland preservation and responsible habitat management, and have actively participatedin the Ruffed Grouse Society to help protect uplandbird habitats. Their commitment to conservation reflects the family’s enduring values of stewardship, tradition, and community responsibility. J. Seeley Booth Jr. served as president of the Elmira-Corning Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and J. Walter Booth waschairman of the Ruffed Grouse Society’s local chapter.

Resilience Through Adversity

In 1972, Tropical Storm Agnes dealt a half-million-dollar blow. Peter S. Booth, then a company leader, famously worked 18-hour days and even slept in his office with a shotgun to guard against looters. The company recovered and expanded.

Moving Forward with Innovation

I.D. Booth introduced computers in 1991. Between 2021 and 2024, it implemented a new ERP system, handheld RF scanners and tablets, improving inventory control and delivery logistics. The newest generation embraces automation and digital tools to better serve a growing customer base of engineers, contractors, universities, and public agencies.

“Adopting new technologies has never been about chasing trends,” says John S. Booth III. “It’s about staying aligned with our customers’ needs and making it easier for our team to deliver excellence every day.”

A Rare Legacy

While over 90% of U.S. businesses are family-owned, only about 3% survive to the fourth generation. I.D. Booth is now in its sixth. From a Railroad Avenue storefront to a regional powerhouse, its success lies in service, family-driven perseverance, and enduring community ties.

The Booth legacy is built on more than inventory and invoices—it’s built on respect, hard work, service, and stewardship—values passed from one generation to the next like blueprints for both business and life.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers took time over the weekend to give back to the community, hosting a summer youth football camp filled with energy, excitement, and inspiration.

Sellers signed autographs, led drills, and passed along valuable football knowledge to campers, making a lasting impact on the next generation of players.

Following a breakout season last fall, Sellers and the Gamecocks are drawing attention heading into the 2025 campaign. SEC Media has picked South Carolina to finish fifth in the conference, with the Gamecocks also receiving five votes to win the SEC Championship.

South Carolina opens the season in Atlanta on Sunday, August 31, with a high-profile matchup against Virginia Tech.

Technological advancements have touched every aspect of our lives.  From how we shop for groceries, how we consume media, how we travel, how we play—technology has profoundly reshaped our world. 

But are we using that same power to protect kids in school districts, sports leagues, and youth-serving organizations?

We believe that advancing technology in background screening is key to creating safer environments for children.

JDP’s background screening solutions are powered by technologies designed to improve accuracy, reduce turnaround times, and offer a seamless experience for both employees and volunteers.

1. Biometric Verification: Integrates advanced biometric tools like liveness detection and facial recognition to verify identities in real-time, ensuring every volunteer and coach is thoroughly vetted.
2. Digital Credential Wallet: Portable, verifiable records that move with individuals across roles and organizations to provide on-the-spot proof that everyone on the field or in the facility is vetted, trusted, and safe.
3. Deep Learning Image Analysis: Uses sophisticated deep learning models to identify inconsistencies and potential signs of fraud in identity documentation, protecting against tampering and attempts to circumvent protection protocols.

These advanced technologies have helped us protect over 10 million kids annually with our background checks across youth sports leagues, schools, and youth-serving nonprofits. But we know it takes more than background screening, it takes a commitment to building a safe culture.

Build more safety and trust in your youth-serving organization’s culture.

The Abuse Prevention Toolkit was developed to help support our Every child. Every day. initiative to help bring more cultural change to organizations caring for children.

Get the FREE Abuse Prevention Toolkit here.

Jerry Arrington, Fort Belvoir’s Youth Sports Director, has quietly built a nearly 30-year legacy rooted in mentorship, inclusion, and giving military children a place to grow. With a warm smile and unwavering conviction, he has shaped lives far beyond wins and losses.

Arrington’s journey began with a football scholarship to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. He later served seven years in the Army and gained sports management experience in Frankfurt, Germany. He joined Fort Belvoir’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) team in 1995, leading Adult Sports. But in 2003, he found his true calling—Youth Sports—starting a remarkable chapter that reshaped the community.

Shifting his Focus
In those early days, Fort Belvoir’s sport offerings catered mainly to adults. Fields were prepped by hand, and volunteers filled gaps. But as the installation transformed into a family-centered post, Arrington met the moment.

“If the Soldier’s kids are taken care of, the Soldier can take care of the mission,” Arrington said. “That’s always been my guiding principle.”

Starting with two staffers and three sports—basketball, baseball, and soccer, Arrington cultivated a thriving youth program. It now includes seven employees and a robust lineup of clinics, leagues, and physical education initiatives. Field support, fitness instructors, and creative offerings like competitive cheer and preschool targeted Start Smart were added, helping children at every stage.

Meeting Kids Where They Are
More than a director, Arrington is a mentor to his largely young, developing staff. His assistant director, Rishad, has worked alongside him for nearly 19 years.

“I teach by example. I’ve done every role on this team,” Arrington said. “I want my staff to be well-rounded, understand the job, and be good people—in the office and out in the world.”

Leo Duran, Fort Belvoir’s Child and Youth Services Program Operations Specialist, said Arrington’s influence expands far beyond policy or playbooks:

“For over two decades, Mr. Arrington has built more than sports programs, he has built character, teamwork, and resilience in every child enrolled in Fort Belvoir CYS,” Duran said. “His legacy goes beyond sports programs that he manages, as he continues to impact countless lives. He leads with heart, honor, and commitment to our families.”

Growing a Program for Success
That philosophy drove one of his most inclusive offerings: Homeschool PE. Recognizing not every child wants to compete on a team, Arrington introduced age-specific sessions blending movement and play.

“We disguised physical activity as play,” he says. “They’re doing fitness, they just don’t know it.”

His advice to parents is simple and heartfelt: “Don’t force your child into a sport they don’t want. Just give them a chance to belong.”

Arrington’s legacy is woven into Fort Belvoir’s evolving identity—from a soldier-focused base to a vibrant family community. His compassion remains in the friendships nurtured, the families supported, and the leaders he has mentored.

George Dickson, MWR director, said Arrington stands out for his enduring contributions.

“Jerry Arrington has been a dedicated sports and fitness professional for over four decades working both in adult sports and Child and Youth Sports over the last two decades. He works tirelessly ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality sports experience that promotes growth, teamwork, and resilience,” Dickson said.

“Jerry has ensured Fort Belvoir’s Youth Sports have become a model of excellence for military-connected children. Jerry’s favorite line is, ‘it’s all about the kids.'”

Lakarie Swanigan set goals for herself this spring. She wanted to improve her time at the 4×400 meter and 4×800 meter relay events.

But one thing she didn’t have to think about? Her shoes.

That’s not always been the case for the track athletes at Purdue Polytechnic High School, coach Nicole Schadek said. Not long before Swanigan joined the team, Schadek kept a container of spare, used shoes for some of her athletes. Some on the team would trade pairs with one another before events so they had the specialty spikes they needed to be competitive.

That’s why the contribution of a growing central Indiana nonprofit has been so valuable, Schadek said. When New Shoe Day learned of her team’s needs, the nonprofit stepped up with dozens of new pairs of shoes — including Swanigan’s spikes.

“They feel different. It’s lighter than other shoes and it makes you go faster,” said Swanigan, who just finished her second year on the track team. “I’m grateful that we have New Shoe Day, because I probably would not have gotten that pair of spikes.”

New Shoe Day, which grew from an idea in 2020, has donated more than 7,000 shoes to kids and teens across central Indiana.

The goal is to make it easier for youth to get active, especially if they wouldn’t be able to participate otherwise. They also center mental health in their conversations with school groups and sports teams.

But, for its leaders, New Shoe Day is more than a social service provider. It’s a movement.

“It’s a gateway to so much for a kid,” co-founder Casey Crouse said. “It empowers them to participate in gym class or physical education-type activities or sign up for that team or, we say, ‘just be a kid.’”

New Shoe Day started with random acts of kindness

New Shoe Day launched out of a challenge made by a group of Indy-area runners in the summer of 2020: Run 10 miles for 100 days, each in a different Indianapolis neighborhood.

Their purpose was to show community strength in response to social distancing during the pandemic and to the civil unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd.

They documented their runs on social media and added in random acts of kindness along the way — small gifts, like a water bottle with a note and a little money, for people who they encountered on their path. They called those days with gifts a “new shoe day,” after the confidence and joy a runner feels when they break in a new pair of shoes.

As the group took to Indy’s streets, neighbors began to notice — and some asked how they could help. Though not an initial goal of the group, the runners began accepting donations through a GoFundMe account, and those donations started to add up.

At the end of their 100 days, the group wrote a $4,500 check to Beyond Monumental — the nonprofit arm affiliated with some of the city’s largest distance running events, such as the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. But, the running community that came together through the new shoe days remained.

So, with time, Crouse and some leaders of the group established a nonprofit to continue the runs and to keep giving back.

Each partner comes with a different need

New Shoe Day doesn’t just partner with schools and athletic teams; the nonprofit also partners with community groups.

The Latinas Welding Guild, for example, needed work boots for its youth summer camp last year. Girls Inc. needed footwear to help stock a new community closet.

New Shoe Day started out using what’s called a dropshipping model, meaning the nonprofit doesn’t warehouse the shoes. Instead, New Shoe Day takes requests from community partners and works with a third-party retailer for shoe orders and direct delivery.

Most of the work is led by New Shoe Day’s volunteer board — a passion project that the team coordinates outside of its regular work hours. And, many of the group’s partnerships have grown organically through referrals or relationships in the running community.

There’s also been happenstance meetings. That’s how Broad Ripple Middle School physical education teacher Trenton Vickrey and Crouse connected.

Shifting to shoe banks

The two had met once before when Vickrey worked at another school. But, when Crouse stopped in last winter to the Athletic Annex store where Vickrey worked part time, the two reconnected.

Vickrey told Crouse about his classes. Some of his students, he told Mirror Indy, had to sit out of P.E. at the start of the year because they didn’t own the right shoes. He recalled one week last fall when five kids showed up wearing Crocs or boots.

“Initially I thought, ‘You knew you were coming to P.E., why didn’t you come prepared?’” Vickrey said. “Through talking to them, I realized these are the only shoes they had.”

Vickrey told Crouse about the small shoe bank he’d tried to start on his own. He collected just four or five used pairs from other runners he knew and let his students wear them for gym class. By the spring, New Shoe Day provided him brand new shoes in all the needed sizes.

The sets were so nice that even kids with the proper footwear were asking to use the new shoes. He said the experience has normalized changing shoes before class so no one student feels like they stand out.

“No matter what, they can exercise now,” Vickrey said.

Visions for the future

And, with each new partnership, the word is spreading.

Vickrey said he wants to help coordinate other shoe banks in Indianapolis Public Schools.

New Shoe Day, which is based in Carmel, has already launched 11 shoe banks across central Indiana and another in the Evansville area. The nonprofit also hired its first full-time employee last month, and is working to further organize its volunteer efforts.

It’s part of a long-term vision Crouse sees as taking the New Shoe Day model statewide.

“We are trying very hard to scale this to do well beyond what you see it as today,” Crouse said. “I’m just super motivated because I can see the potential of what we can do.”

In Indianapolis, the nonprofit’s work is already making a difference. Schadek, the coach at Purdue Polytechnic, said she’s been able to grow her team since New Shoe Day stepped in. She went from having about 11 athletes on her team to fielding a full roster.

“If I didn’t have shoes to provide to them, they wouldn’t be able to do it or they wouldn’t have a good reason to feel like they’re a part of anything,” she said. “To have shoes for each of them is just a huge blessing.”

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.

Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.

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