By Andy Walter

DOVER — The start of the downstate high school football season is facing some uncertainty because of a contract disagreement with an officials group.

The Delmarva Football Officials Association’s membership has twice voted not to accept a new contract proposal by the DIAA.

The new one-year contract would raise referees’ pay from $77 per varsity event to $84 for the upcoming school year.

Originally, the state’s athletic directors association and Delaware Interscholastic Officials Committee agreed to a longer deal that would raise officials’ pay to $90 by the 2026-2027 school year.

But the DIAA board of directors, at its monthly meeting last week, voted for a one-year contract at $84 for the time being.

The leadership of the Delmarva Officials organization declined interview requests on the matter this week. The group officates games in Kent and Sussex Counties.

The referees are reportedly asking for $100 per game, in part to cover increased travel costs, mileage payment and/or the chance to negotiate a contract themselves. Of the 18 officials’ groups for various sports in the state, the DFOA is the only one that hasn’t approved the contract.

The first games of the regular season are slated for Sept. 1.

The situation, though, also means that referees aren’t available for preseason scrimmages. Those sessions are already being held without referees.

DIAA board member Dr. Bradley Bley said he believed the state would benefit from having a longer contract with officials.

“I don’t want to be held hostage by the officials every year we have one of them abstaining and complaining about the fees,” he said during the meeting. “I like the idea of having a five-year contract and we’re all set and done. It guards against inflation and down times, and we’re good.”

District budgets have already been set for the upcoming school year. Any pay increase for one officials group would open the door for other state associations to ask for more money as well.

In 2016, Delaware’s volleyball officials briefly went on strike due to a dispute over the wording of their contract with DIAA.

Membership in both the Delmarva and Northern Delaware football referees groups was down last season, in large part due to the COVID pandemic. That led to games around the state being moved to different days or different times.

Sports editor Andy Walter be reached at 302-741-8227 or walter@iniusa.org. Follow on Twitter at @DSNSports.