The associations of New Jersey Coaches and Referees say it will be OK for players to kneel during the national anthem, whenever high school football players take the field again.

A joint statement from the NJFCA & NJFOA say coaches and refs should treat any peaceful protest with dignity, and if that's a problem -- now's the time to reconcile your feelings.

In a joint statement, they say, “We also implore our coaches and officials to reflect on these events prior to the season in an effort to address and personal feelings that may hinder our ability to provide objective leadership that is devoid of emotion or partisanship."