ST. LOUIS - High school football is back in St. Louis but not every game is being played on a Friday night. 

A shortage of referees is forcing some schools to move games to Thursdays or even Saturdays. Across the region, officials say they are stretched so thin that schedulers are having to move games to keep the season going.
 
The demand for referees in Missouri has never been greater. For schedulers, the challenge is finding enough officials for every game on Friday nights. 

This is the second year the Missouri State High School Activities Association rule has been in effect, allowing week one to begin on Thursday instead of Friday.

“There's demand outside the high school environment. Work demands, family demands  it makes it more challenging,” Pat Burns said.

Burns says negative attention on social media has also driven some away from the profession. 

To help with this shortage, the Missouri State High School Activities Association launched a training program called ref reps to mentor the next generation of referees. Despite the challenges, referees like Tracy Hounsom say the job is rewarding.

“It's very 21st century; it's video-driven. But it's no secret, we need 20- and 25-year-olds really bad. They've got to learn, grow and make mistakes on the field, just like players do,” Burns said.

Although the shortage has changed the schedule, Hounsom said it’s a good part-time job. 

“You get paid, you get exercise, you stay healthy—it's really been a plus,” Hounsom said. “I enjoy it; I love being out there. It brings me back to my youth when I used to play. And I've developed great relationships with other coaches and officials.”

Schedulers say if the trend doesn't change, even more games could be rescheduled next year. for anyone interested in joining the ranks and becoming a referee, visit here.