Three officials to begin working 4A, 5A girls' basketball games

Midvale • There will be three.

The UHSAA Executive Committee voted Monday to feature three officials per game during Class 4A and 5A girls' basketball. The vote passed by a 7-1 vote by those representing 4A and 5A schools. In the last five seasons, 4A and 5A boys' basketball games have had three officials per game.

"It's our responsibility to develop officials as part of this whole program," said Woods Cross principal John Hanning, who represents Region 6. "I realize it costs more money, but we still have to train our officials."

The subject of cost effectiveness was brought up during discussion at the first UHSAA Executive Committee meeting of the 2013-2014 calendar year. UHSAA staffers explained to those on the committee that representatives had to pay for girls' basketball to have three officials during the regular season or go back to two officials for the boys due to equality.

"If we go back to two-man [officiating], we're taking a giant step backward," Hanning said.

Jordan principal and Region 3 representative Tom Sherwood said some teams in his region don't have the money to cover the costs of paying three officials per regular-season game.

"The cost of officials already exceeds their intakes," he said.

The motion still passed to use three officials for 4A and 5A girls' basketball beginning this winter.

The UHSAA is responsible for paying for postseason officiating and has provided three-person officiating teams for boys' and girls' basketball 3A through 5A.

- Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani —