South Dakota university takes aim at state's referee shortage

University of South Dakota partnering with South Dakota High School Activities Association to create sports official training curriculum, programming

About 50,000 high school referees, umpires, and other athletic officials across the U.S. hung up their whistles in the last half-decade, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

And in South Dakota, where there’s no shortage of kids wanting to suit up, just 1,600 sports officials are available, willing, and qualified to cal…