When the Big Country chapter of the Texas Association of Sports Officials began meeting this summer to prepare for the 2023 season, a declining number of officials was especially concerning to members of the board of directors.

The local chapter, one of at least 15 in the state, was confronted with a shortage of 30 officials this year — a number that equates to fully staffing five or six games every week.

That’s where Rueben Morales, who is in charge of recruiting for the local chapter, and his team got to work and succeeded in a major way.