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Batson played for the Augusta Arsenal club in Georgia, served as a referee and a referee assignor and is a former member of the USSF’s finance committee.

To alleviate the problem — and to jump-start potential recruiting among younger individuals — the assignor made a proposal to the high schools.

In football, the Fairfax County Football Officials Association said it has experienced a 40 percent drop over the past three years, according to an estimate by referee assignor Andre Jones.

Yes, there may be the odd instance when an assignor gives a referee a game that is over his head, but it happens far more rarely than angry fans might think.

Mr. Mano counsels new referees to join officiating associations to learn about local “assignors,” the talent coordinators who book officials for collegiate games.