Testing body cameras as a potential solution to abuse of game officials.

Washington school officials are the first state in the country to equip referees and umpires with body cameras.

The cameras record and delete video on a 30-second loop.

Officials are instructed to switch them to continuous-record mode when they encounter problematic situations that they consider "triggers".

Reveal's cameras were first deployed for athletic events in February 2023 , when the English Football Association launched a trial in some of its men's amateur soccer leagues.

The devices seemed to cut down on abuse of officials, and the association plans to double the number of cameras it uses to 200 beginning this month .

The deteriorating landscape has left many sports organizations struggling to find people to officiate their events.

It is unclear whether a body camera would have helped de-escalate the situation or even have helped Coffin document what happened.

Advocates of camera usage see it not as a total solution to abuse but as one additional tool in the effort to improve civility.

"The idea is to not get into arguments like you sometimes see umpires and referees doing on television," Coffin said.