2018 Sports Officiating Summit - Resource Manual

RESOURCE MANUAL 2018 SPORTS OFFICIATING SUMMIT N E W O R L E A N S – J U LY 2 9 - 3 1 , 2 0 1 8

Dear Summit Participant: Welcome to New Orleans! The 2018 Summit is going to be like nothing you’ve ever experienced, and we’re very pleased you’ve chosen to be a part of it. It is truly a commitment to the officiating industry to take time out of your busy schedule, your busy life, to join this event over the next three days.

The annual Sports Officiating Summit is the industry event of the year, and it marks the one time annually when the best and brightest from all corners of the officiating landscape come together to learn, share and develop the skills we need to make officiating better. This year those skills are needed more than ever to bear down on the recruitment and retention challenges facing our industry. The theme is “Say Yes to Officiating,” and that will be our rallying cry now and throughout the year as we take the critical learning and sharing of ideas we gather here back to our own organizations and associations.

Within this Resource Manual, you will find not only everything you need to navigate through the next three days, but also a wealth of information directly related to the “Say Yes to Officiating” theme. Nearly half of all the material inside is culled from the databases of Referee magazine and the National Association of Sports Officials archives to provide valuable content and information on how our industry has faced the recruitment and retention challenge until now.

After we finish our work here, there will be a fresh supply of new ideas, innovative approaches, and well-used concepts revitalized that NASO will gather and publish within a few months. Every Summit attendee will receive that publication.

This Summit, the 36th, is presented by NASO in cooperation with the Louisiana High School Officials Association (LHSOA) and the National Federation (NFHS). The cooperation and support of these organizations have made this event possible.

Additionally, this year we have another historic high from our support organizations that have committed to funding this event. Ninety sports and officiating organizations have provided the financial support to enable us to provide the finest educational program anywhere and presented in a way that is visually stunning and full of impact. I urge you to go out of your way to support these sponsors. Their financial support benefits you and everyone attending this Summit.

Thank you for your time and your commitment to making this Summit one of meaningful and lasting value to all of us in officiating. We have important work to do over the next three days. Let’s get started.

Sincerely,

Barry Mano

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CONTENTS SECTION 1

GENERAL INFORMATION

THANKS TO our SPONSORS

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SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

55

WHY SPONSOR?

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

56

LIST OF SPONSORS

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WHERE DO I GO? (HOTEL MAPS)

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NASO/REFEREE STAFF

SECTION 2

SUMMIT PROGRAM

SECTION 5

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION 72

WHY I LOVE OFFICIATING

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NASO SURVEY: KEY DATA POINTS

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SUNDAY, JULY 29

86

NOT ENOUGH REFS

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MONDAY, JULY 30

90

HOW WE ANNOY ASSIGNERS AND HOW THEY ANNOY US

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TUESDAY, JULY 31

95

40 REASONS WE LOVE OFFICIATING

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MENTORING IN OFFICIATING

107

HOW TO KEEP GOOD OFFICIALS

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GET THE WORD OUT

SECTION 3

CELEBRATE OFFICIATING GALA

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SECTION 4

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GALA COCKTAIL RECEPTION

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GOLD WHISTLE AWARD RECIPIENT

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MEL NAROL MEDALLION AWARD

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PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

SECTION 1

GENERAL INFORMATION WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW In this section you will find important information to help you navigate throughout the next few days.

Included are maps to help you get around, a snapshot schedule similar to the one on the back of your name badge, and general info on our host hotel, registration, Wi-Fi and charging station, sponsored by Zooom.

You will also find a complete listing of the NASO staff members. If you need help with anything, the Registration & Help Center, sponsored by Fox40shop.com, can assist, as can any of our staff.

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SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE DAY 1 – SUNDAY, JULY 29TH, 2018 Registration Open Time: 2:00 PM – 6:45 PM Location: Grand Ballroom A Exhibit Hall Open Time: 2:00 PM – 6:45 PM Location: Grand Ballroom A 2018 Sports Officiating Summit Grand Opening Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC Welcome Reception Time: 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM Location: 41st Floor & Salons A-D

Guest Breakfast (for guests and spouses of attendees) Time: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Location: Riverview 1 What Exactly is the Problem?

Time: 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM Location: Grand Ballroom BC Getting to a Yes Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Location: Various Exhibitor Showcase Time: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM Location: Grand Ballroom A

DAY 2 – MONDAY, JULY 30TH, 2018

The Officiating Industry Luncheon Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Location: Salon DE

Registration Open Time: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM Location: Grand Ballroom A

Shop Talk: Sport-By-Sport Breakouts Time: 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM Location: Various

Exhibit Hall Open Time: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM Location: Grand Ballroom A

You Get to Call It Time: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC

The Most Important Things I’ve Learned About Officiating Time: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Location: Grand Ballroom BC

The Assigner’s Impact Time: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC

DAY 3 – TUESDAY, JULY 31ST, 2018 Who, What, When, Where, Why…Why Not Time: 8:45 AM – 9:15 AM Location: Grand Ballroom BC

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Registration Open Time: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM Location: Grand Ballroom A

Exhibit Hall Open Time: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM Location: Grand Ballroom A Skills for a Lifetime Time: 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM Location: Grand Ballroom BC Actions Speaking Louder Than Words Time: 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM Location: Grand Ballroom BC GameChangers Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Location: Various After Further Review with Mike Pereira Time: 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC Lunch Workshops: Food for Your Thoughts Time: 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM • Managing Up Location: Grand Ballroom BC • State Association Leadership Forum Location: Salon FG • Legal and Insurance Q & A Location: Salon AB Now We Say Yes to Officiating Time: 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC Referee Voices Time: 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC Gala Cocktail Hour Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Location: Grand Ballroom A Celebrate Officiating Gala Time: 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC

SUMMIT EXHIBIT HALL When you’re not in the Grand Ballroom for the 2018 Sports Officiating Summit’s exceptional educational program, you will want to be right next door at the Summit Exhibit Hall. The room will feature two dozen officiating industry vendors and organizations, with a wide variety of products and services – from uniform and gear suppliers to cutting-edge technology companies, apps, digital, communication and assigning services, and much more!

REGISTRATION

Sponsored by Fox40Shop.com Located directly in the Exhibit Hall is the Registration and Help Center, sponsored by Fox40Shop.com. Be sure to check in here to pick up your name badge and attendee bag.

The NASO staff will be on hand to answer any question you have.

CHARGING STATION Sponsored by ZOOOM

Centrally located within the Exhibit Hall, you are welcome to relax at the Charging & Recovery Station, sponsored by ZOOOM. Feel free to sit down and relax for a few moments while charging your phone, tablet or other mobile device.

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important information Name Badges Please be sure to wear your name badge to ALL Summit functions. It is your admittance to the Opening Ceremony, Welcome Reception, educational sessions, workshops, exhibits, Officiating Industry Luncheon and Celebrate Officiating Gala.

2018 NASO SUMMIT APP The NASO Summit 2018 app is designed to help you connect with other attendees and access information in order to maximize the Summit experience. Use the app to view the daily schedule of events, connect on social media and much more.

On Android Phone/Tablet: Google Play • Go to the “Play Store” App on your Android Device.

• Search: NASO Summit or NASO Summit 2018 within the Google Play Store.

• Click the Install button.

• Click the Open button or Launch the NASO Summit 2018 App from your App Launcher or Home Screen.

On Apple iPhone/iPad: App Store • Go to the “App Store” App on your Apple Device.

• Click the Search Icon.

• Search: NASO Summit or NASO Summit 2018.

• Click the GET button and then the INSTALL button.

• On your Home screen, click the NASO Summit 2018 icon.

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Recording and Copying of Materials Policy The Sports Officiating Summit is an education-based event that encourages the sharing of ideas to improve officiating.

Referee Enterprises, Inc., NASO and/or the individual participants and speakers hold the copyright to materials distributed during the event, and therefore the reproduction and distribution of such materials is strictly prohibited without written permission. The recording of sessions by any device, such as a cell phone, camcorder, or audiotape recorder, is prohibited. Any use or reproduction in any format of such materials is prohibited without the written permission of Referee/NASO and the author(s).

Members of the media are asked to register at the Summit Registration Desk. NASO staff will be happy to accommodate to the best of their ability media requests for personal interviews and/or provide materials for story development.

Please silence all devices including mobile phones, tablets and laptops during all sessions.

Fox40Shop.com Registration – 3rd Floor, Grand Ballroom A Sunday, July 29: 2:00pm - 6:45pm Monday, July 30: 7:00am - 5:00pm Tuesday, July 31: 7:00am – 2:00pm

Events The following events are covered with your general registration fee • Opening Keynote Presentation • Welcome Reception • Educational Sessions (including lunch workshops and sport breakout sessions) • Exhibit Hall • The Officiating Industry Luncheon • Celebrate Officiating Gala The following events are covered with your GUEST registration fee • Opening & Closing Presentation • Welcome Reception • Guest Welcome Breakfast • Exhibit Hall • Celebrate Officiating Gala

Dress Code Welcome Reception and Educational Sessions - business casual

HOTEL INFORMATION New Orleans Marriott 555 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: (504) 581-1000 Concierge Desk Located in the main lobby 7:0am – 8:00pm High-Speed Internet There is complimentary wireless internet in the hotel public areas, guest rooms and all meeting space

RESTAURANTS & LOUNGES • 5Fifty5 – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 6:30am – 11:00pm (closed 2:00-5:00pm) • 55 Fahrenheit Lounge – Lobby Bar serving appetizers/shareable small plates; M-Th 2pm – 1am; Fri-Sun 10am – 1am • Canal Street Pantry - Beverages, graband-go items; open daily 6am – 2am

Celebrate Officiating Gala – Ladies: pantsuit or dress; Gentlemen: Suit/tie or sport coat/tie and slacks. No shorts or jeans, please.

EXHIBIT HALL –Grand Ballroom A Sunday, July 29: 2:00pm - 6:45pm Monday, July 30: 7:00am - 5:00pm Tuesday, July 31: 7:00am – 2:00pm

Tax Deductible Under the current law, personal expenses and the cost of travel, meals, lodging, and Summit registration can be fully deductible.

WI-FI PASSWORD

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WHERE DO I GO? The following maps will help you visualize where you are and where you need to go. While most sessions are in the Grand Ballroom BC, you won’t be tied to that room. There are multiple break-out rooms and separate meeting and dining spaces. These maps can also be found in their entirety through the NASO Summit App.

3rd FLOOR

This is an overview of the 3rd floor where the majority of your time will be spent.

R GRAND BALLROOM BC

QUARTER TOWER ELEVATORS

GRAND BALLROOM A

SALON

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RIVER TOWER ELEVATORS

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SALON

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GENERAL SESSIONS RECHARGE STATION

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REGISTRATION RESTROOMS EXHIBIT HALL ELEVATORS

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The Opening Ceremony takes place in Grand Ballroom BC. Directly after head to Salons A-D or the 41st Floor for the Opening Reception.

GRAND BALLROOM BC

QUARTER TOWER ELEVATORS

GRAND BALLROOM A

SALON

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SALON

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OPENING CEREMONY

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GRAND BALLROOM BC

RIVER TOWER QUARTER TOWER ELEVATORS ELEVATORS

GRAND BALLROOM A

SALON

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SALON

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OPENING RECEPTION SalonS A-d or TAKE river TOWER ELEVATORS TO 41ST FLOOR 9

The two spaces you will likely spend your most time. The Exhibit Hall is immediately next to the Grand Ballroom.

GRAND BALLROOM BC

QUARTER TOWER ELEVATORS

GRAND BALLROOM A

SALON

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• EXHIBIT HALL • REGISTRATION & HELP DESK

SALON

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GRAND BALLROOM A

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ER RS

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SALON

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• GENERAL SESSIONS • AFTER FURTHER REVIEW • REFEREE VOICES

QUARTER TOWER ELEVATORS

BALLROOMsessions BC Use these maps to GRAND help locate the various rooms forGRAND our breakout on BALLROOM A both Monday and Tuesday.

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Getting to a yes breakouts

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LAFAYETTE

ST. CHARLES RIVERVIEW II

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NAPOLEAN

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41ST FLOOR GRAND BALLROOM BC

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sport breakouts

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FOOTBALL - GRAND BALLROOM BC

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BASEBALL - SALON A

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VOLLEYBALL - SALON B SOFTBALL - SALON C BASKETBALL - SALON FG

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SOCCER - LAFAYETTE

NAPOLEAN

RIVER TOWER ELEVATORS

LAFAYETTE

ST. CHARLES RIVERVIEW II

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41ST FLOOR

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GRAND BALLROOM BC

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game changers

RIVER TOWER ELEVATORS

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LUNCH WORKSHOPS

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RIVER TOWER ELEVATORS

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• MANAGING UP • LEGAL/INSURANCE Q&A • STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP FORUM

NASO/REFEREE STAFF Be sure to keep an eye out for NASO/Referee staff members. Any of these dedicated people can help you with any questions or comments related to the Summit, the sessions or any NASO/Referee products or services you may be interested in.

Jim Arehart

Chief Marketing Officer Member of the executive team who oversees all marketing, promotions, circulation, fulfillment and advertising; has further shared responsibilities for business operations, business development and strategic planning; has been with Referee and NASO for 16 years; high school football official.

Judy Ball

Data Analyst / Fulfillment Manager Provides data analysis of product sales, membership information and subscription information; oversees circulation including serving as fulfillment manager while being liaison to fulfillment company; has been with Referee and NASO for 14 years.

Ross Bray

Director of Design, Digital Media and Branding Provides creative guidance and helps devise concepts and strategies to launch new projects across company’s entire product and services line; Implements a creative vision and act as point of reference for any creative plan that makes its way to the customers; has been with Referee and NASO for 12 years.

Dustin Brown

Graphic Designer Creation and development of overall layout/design for advertisements, marketing materials, custom publications and Referee magazine; primarily responsible for the design of basketball, football and softball sections within Referee magazine; assists with design of all book productions and multimedia platforms; has been with Referee and NASO for 4 years.

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Mike Dougherty Video Coordinator

Responsible for creation and managing of all corporate video productions, including videos in the areas of promotional, social-media ad, referee training, presentational, etc.; audio-visual technical for NASO’s annual Summits; responsibilities for IT/tech support, including liaison with IT management company; has been with Referee and NASO for 17 years.

BRENT KILLACKEY Managing Editor

Serves as Referee’s managing editor and he also oversees the baseball section content. He has umpired baseball at the youth, high school and adult-league levels for more than 25 years.

Ken Koester

Chief Business Development Officer Create, build and support prospect relations that promote and support the mission of NASO and Referee; maintain ongoing client relationships that maximize NASO and Referee’s revenue and organizational goals; has been with Referee and NASO for 12

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years; high school and NCAAM basketball official, having officiated multiple high school basketball state tournaments and postseason collegiate assignments, including the 2010 NCAA D-III Final Four; NCAA football replay official, including the 2016 Mid-American Conference championship game.

Cory Ludwin

Director of Administration and Sales Support Responsibilities within business operations and human resources, who provides support for NASO’s Association Advantage program; NASO Members Information and Consultation program coordinator; NASO Insurance program liaison; has been with Referee and NASO for 15 years.

Dan Olson

Director of Audience Development Responsibilities for audience engagement, development and expansion of market penetration across the company’s entire product and services line. Oversees strategy, planning, and management of the company’s digital properties and efforts, as well as product marketing and custompublication sales; has been with Referee and NASO 10 years.

Garrett Randall

Office Administrator Provides administrative support to the entire company with primary focus on the administration team; Completes administrative tasks and special projects to support the entire staff and keep the office running efficiently; has been with Referee and NASO for two years; starting umpiring baseball in 2017.

Nancy Short

Event Planner / Marketing Manager Responsibilities include event-management, planning for all company travel events; serves as NASO’s Summit Coordinator working as liaison between hotel and NASO; collaboration with all departments to ensure seamless production of all company outside events (including the Summit); has been with Referee and NASO for one year.

Dave Simon

Associate Editor Serves Referee and NASO as Associate Editor, including writing, story generation, and editing for the magazine, and session and speaker planning for the annual NASO Summit.

Officiated basketball for 18 years, 12 at the small college level, and currently observes

and mentors high school officials for the Wisconsin Basketball Officials Association.

Freelance writer for Referee magazine for 29 years before joining the staff full-time this year.

Scott Tittrington Associate Editor/ Basketball Editor

Joined REI in February after 20-year newspaper career; responsible for all basketball-related content, books and instructional materials for Referee and NASO; also assists with football and baseball content; has spent the past 10 years working as a high school baseball, basketball and football official.

Bill Topp

Chief Operating Officer / Executive Editor Oversees the day-to-day operations of REI and helps lead the content team; has been with Referee and NASO for 26 years; former football official (high school 1990-2011, small college 1991-2005), basketball official (high school 1989-2007, small college 1993-2005) and baseball umpire (high school 1989-94, small and major college 1992-2000), including multiple state tournament game and postseason collegiate assignments; former high school conference commissioner and assigner; Officiating Development Alliance member; NASO board secretary.

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SECTION 2

SUMMIT PROGRAM WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Follow along in this section with the entire Summit Program from Sunday through Tuesday, including all educational sessions, social and networking events, breakouts, interactive video sessions, dedicated exhibitor and Game Changers segments and lunch information. You’ll find all speaker information listed within each of the session descriptions, as well as references to bonus resources specifically related to this year’s theme of recruitment and retention – Say Yes to Officiating.

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sunday, july 29 GRAND OPENING Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM / Location: Grand Ballroom BC The kickoff to the 36th Sports Officiating Summit begins at the New Orleans Marriott featuring a welcome from distinguished presenters while keynote speakers will set the tone for the event to come.

SPEAKERS: JOAN POWELL

BARRY MANO

Pac-12 Conference coordinator of women’s volleyball officiating; former NCAA national coordinator of volleyball officials; former Professional Association of Volleyball Officials president; team leader for the U.S. women’s national team competing at World Grand Prix and the Olympics in 2008; more than 20 years as a USA Volleyball national official and more than 30 years as a collegiate national official; former NASO board member (2001-05 and 2011-15); Officiating Development Alliance member.

Referee chief strategy officer; Referee magazine founder (1975) and publisher; National Association of Sports Officials founder (1980) and president; former 23-year basketball official, who worked nine seasons at the NCAAM D-I level; a renowned public speaker and media guest on issues important to the officiating industry; Officiating Development Alliance (ODA) and Officiating Commentators Alliance (OCA) member.

DEBBIE WILLIAMSON Coordinator of women’s basketball officials for the American Athletic, Atlantic 10, Big East, Metro Atlantic Athletic conferences; former NCAA national coordinator of women’s basketball officiating; former NCAAW basketball secretary-rules editor; former collegiate basketball coach, administrator, instructor, official and student-athlete; doctorate of education from the University of Houston in 2000; NASO board member.

PAUL LAROSA Louisiana High School Officials Association (LHSOA) president; former Louisiana high school football official for more than 40 years; Greater New Orleans Football Officials Association member; serves as game officials’ sideline liaison for Tulane University football and for the New Orleans Saints.

KARL BENSON Commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference since 2016, Benson previously served as Commissioner of the Western Athletic

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Conference since 1994. Benson served on the NCAA Management Council from 1999-2002 and a five-year term on the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee from 2002-06. Prior to his time at the WAC, Benson served as the commissioner of the Mid-American Conference for four years.

VINCENT STIO Ten-year-old Vincent Stio of Fuquay Varina, NC has been a fixture at Carolina Mudcat baseball games, donning umpire attire and calling games from the stands.

He frequently travels to other stadiums

to visit umpires and continues working on his mechanics. Though umpiring is his passion, he also enjoys playing baseball and acting camp.

MIKE BREEN Breen is a play-by-play sports commentator for NBA on ABC and is the lead announcer for New York Knicks games on the MSG Network. Breen also called regular NFL season games for both NFL on Fox and NFL on NBC. Breen also calls the NBA Finals every year regularly on ABC.

Welcome Reception Time: 8:30 PM – 10:30 PM / Location: Salons A-D & 41st Floor Directly following the Grand Opening, we will gather for the Summit Welcome Reception. Meet old friends, make new connections and enjoy an evening filled with a great hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and stirring conversations. This event is included with your registration fee.

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MONday, july 30 The Most Important Things I’ve Learned About Officiating Time: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Location: Grand Ballroom BC

SPEAKER:

Why it matters as much as it does. Few have the standing, history and unique ability to put officiating into proper perspective as NBA Vice President and longtime professional basketball referee Monty McCutchen. His keynote address opens the Summit and it will open your eyes and challenge you. It is when officiating is viewed “horizon-to-horizon” that certain things can come into sharp focus. The lessons are strong. They can be stark. They are historic. They paint a clear picture of where we are headed.

NBA Vice President, Head of Referee Development and Training and an NBA referee for more than 20 seasons; has officiated 1,242 regular season games and 127 playoff games; worked Game 3 of the 2014 NBA Finals, his 10th finals assignment; spent four seasons in the CBA, working playoffs all four years and the CBA Finals the last three years in the league.

MONTY McCUTCHEN

Who, What, When, Where, Why…Why Not Time: 8:45 AM – 9:15 AM Location: Grand Ballroom BC The voices of 17,478 officials have been heard.

Recently completed, the NASO National Survey of Sports Officiating lays bare what has been learned about the men, women and young people who officiate. We now have hard data about why they start and why they end. We have uncovered the areas of surplus and the areas of shortage. We can show with certainty the most critical element needed in any recruitment effort. We grasp what it will take to keep officials officiating longer.

The numbers, the analytics, the charts, the correlations – on display for the first time.

SPEAKER: BILL TOPP As Chief Operating Officer and Executive Editor, Bill oversees the day-to-day operations of REI and helps lead the content team; has been with Referee and NASO for 26 years; former football official (high school 19902011, small college 1991-2005), basketball official (high school 1989-2007, small college 1993-2005) and baseball umpire (high school 1989-94, small and major college 1992-2000), including multiple state tournament game and postseason collegiate assignments; former high school conference commissioner and assigner; Officiating Development Alliance member; NASO board secretary.

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What Exactly is the Problem?

Time: 9:30 AM – 10:15 AM Location: Grand Ballroom BC Lip service has well been paid! This session gets down to cases. The main challenges staring officiating smack in its face. A trip to “pity city” clears the air. Loss of civility and poor behavior call the question: who wants to do this job? Building the infrastructure – whose job is it? Who are the best candidates for your program? Do we recruit harder or retain smarter? Officials are worth more than they are paid…aren’t they? The burden of ever-increasing scrutiny. Officials as their own worst enemies. A stout line up of background-noise-clearing discussions and opinions from a group that has been at the front lines.

Speakers: JERYL E. FISCHTZIUR Louisiana Representative, NIAAA, Fischtziur is a Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA is an NIAAA Certification), and has served as an AD in Louisiana for over 30 years. He also serves as the NIAAA (National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association) Section 3 Louisiana Representative, and as NIAA’s Professional Development Academy State Coordinator. He previously served on the NIAAA Conference Advisory Committee.

He is a 25-year member of the Louisiana High School Athletic Directors Association (LHSADA), serving as President 2008-2010.

CINDY C-WILSON A Washington state Hall of Fame volleyball official, Cindy has been officiating youth

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sports for more than 30 years, mostly volleyball with some experience in basketball and football. She has served as the Washington Officials Association representative for Seattle, WA for many years, including as Executive Board President.

Cindy has been inducted into the WOA and WIAA Halls of Fame. She has a Master’s degree in Organization and Management with 20+ years of designing, developing, and conducting training in the private and public sector. Mother of two amazing daughters.

chris graham Chris Graham is the sixth Commissioner of the NCAA DII Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, beginning his duties in December 2013. During his time as a Commissioner in two separate NCAA conferences, Graham has placed special emphasis on the recruitment, development and improvement of officials in all sports.

He serves or chairs multiple NCAA DII committees and subcommittees, and serves on the Board of Directors of the United State Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association and the Association of Chief Executive Officers of Sport.

STEVE SAVARESE Steve Savarese, who has been coach, teacher, athletic director and administrator in high school athletics for more than 40 years, became the Executive Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Association in 2007. His emphasis on sportsmanship through the AHSAA’s Sportsmanship program has helped reduce fines and ejections considerably since 2007. He is

currently serving as chairman of the NFHS Network Board of Directors. Savarese, who has been a presenter at numerous NFHS meetings, including the annual Summer Conference. He was recently selected to represent Section III on the NFHS Board of Directors.

JIM THOMPSON Founder and CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), started PCA at Stanford University in 1998 to create a movement to transform the culture of youth sports with the goal to develop “Better Athletes, Better People.” PCA has helped lead a sea change in public awareness that positive coaching is the key to get the best out of youth athletes and help them elevate self, teammates and the game by the way he or she competes.

PCA’s vision has attracted the support and involvement of many elite coaches, athletes, academics and business leaders in this country as well as Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association and more than 1,000 youth sports organizations. He has

written nine books including: The DoubleGoal Coach, Shooting in the Dark: Tales of Coaching and Leadership, Elevating Your Game and The Positive Sport Parent.

Moderator:

DANA PAPPAS Dana Pappas is beginning her 22nd year with the New Mexico Activities Association, all of which have been spent working with the New Mexico Officials Association.

She served as the assistant to the NMOA from 1997-2004 and was promoted to the position of NMAA/NMOA Commissioner of Officials in 2004. She was promoted again to NMAA Deputy Director in 2012. The New Mexico Officials Association, under Dana’s direction, served as host of the 2014 NASO Summit in Albuquerque, NM. She has been a moderator and panelist at the NASO Summit on numerous occasions, a repeat presenter at the NFHS Summer Meeting and the keynote speaker for the Alabama State Officials Conference in 2016.

Getting to a Yes Time: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM Location: Various

session on Tuesday afternoon. Participants will be pre-assigned (no whining permitted).

Time to get your hands dirty! A whole new “ballgame” for the Summit! A dozen interactive workshop sessions. Each one with the specific purpose of having a small group collaborate, using their best thinking on that topic – to uncover and state a solution to that unique challenge. Will be hard, fast work – just like refereeing! We can do it. Twelve groups meeting independently and then preparing to provide their reveals at a special

TOPICS INCLUDE: Public Relations, Treatment Of Officials, Inclusiveness, Social Media As A Tool, Local Association Culture, Incentivizing Officials, Mentoring, The “Elevator Pitch,” Succession Planning, Managing Expectations, Funding, The “Pipeline.”

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BREAKOUT LEADERS:

Julian Tackett

DEBBIE WILLIAMSON

CRAIG ANDERSON

PAUL LAROSA

KHSAA Executive Director

IHSA Executive Director

LHSOA President

MARK UYL

Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officials for AAC, A-10, Big East, MAAC

BILL CAROLLO

Vice President CBOA

MHSAA Executive Director

THERESIA WYNNS

JULIE VOEcK

NFHS Director of Sports and Officials Education

John Lozano

Coordinator of Football Officials JERRY MARKBREIT BigTen, MAC & MVC NFL Consultant to the Officiating Department MIKE CARR NFL Line Judge

J.D. COLLINS

CHARLIE OBERMAYER

US Lacrosse Senior Manager of Officials NCAA National Coordinator of Men’s Development Basketball Officials

DAVE DODGE Sports Officiating Consulting LLC Founder

RON FOXCROFT Fox 40 International Chairman and Founder

NCAA Women’s D-I Basketball Official

JOAN POWELL PAC 12 Coordinator of Women’s Volleyball Officials

Kenny Seifert

SCOTT GREEN

MSHSAA Assistant Executive Director

NFLRA Executive Director

STEVE SHAW

TERRY GREGSON

NCAA Football Secretary Rules Editor

NHL Officiating Consultant

Kurt Klier Intramural Sports Director at the University of Maryland

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ANITA ORTEGA

TODD STORDAHL WOA Executive Director

PAVO President and USA Volleyball National Referee

PUBLIC RELATIONS KNOW BEFORE YOU GO The Public Relations Society of America defines P.R. as a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics. At its core, public relations is about influencing, engaging and building a relationship with key stakeholders across a myriad of platforms in order to shape and frame the public perception of an organization.

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: How do we anticipate, analyze and interpret public opinion, attitudes and issues that might impact, for good or ill, our operations and plans relating to officiating shortages.

We must research, conduct and evaluate, on a continuing basis, programs of action and communication to achieve the informed public understanding necessary to the success of our recruitment goals.

How do marketing efforts, financial considerations (including fundraising) and community relations and outreach efforts play into that?

How do we go about planning and implementing our efforts to influence or change public perceptions in such a way that it leads to more willingness to consider officiating in a positive light?

What are the challenges in managing the resources needed to perform all of the above.

TREATMENT OF OFFICIALS KNOW BEFORE YOU GO It’s often said that officiating is a thankless job, that it’s not for the faint of heart, that you have to have tough skin to be a sports official. All those are true, but it’s also true that officials are human beings and will only put up with a limited amount of abuse no matter how tough their skin is.

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: What are some areas you can identify in which the treatment of officials is a problem? Sportsmanship? Parents? Hosting schools?

Why do those areas exist? What brought us to that point? Is it simply a lack of respect for the officiating product and thereby the officials themselves?

What can be done to address such issues? Is it systemic or can we deal with things one aspect at a time?

What about the officials themselves? It’s sometimes said officials are our own worst enemies. Do we sabotage ourselves? In what ways?

INCLUSIVENESS KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Sports officiating has long been the domain of men – and often white men at that.

Even as recently as last year, NASO’s groundbreaking nationwide survey revealed that a whopping 64 percent of all 17,487 respondents were white males. The next highest responding groups were: white females (5 percent), African-American males (3 percent) and Hispanic males (3 percent).

No other group, male or female, was above 1 percent.

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: What recruitment areas are still largely untapped? Discuss gender and minority communities and the representation of each.

Similarly but less obvious, consider and discuss other under-represented groups, such as older people or people who never played the sport. Brainstorm other groups as well.

Is it realistic to expect equality of diversity?

For example, we often look at AfricanAmericans as under-represented in officiating in comparison to the diversity among players of the various sports. At the same time, we look at females as an untapped opportunity to recruit new officials in sports where females rarely play. Can such concepts co-exist? Why or why not?

How does local association culture help or hinder the recruitment and progression of female and minority officials?

What problems do under-represented groups face when coming into officiating and how can we deal with those problems?

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LOCAL ASSOCIATION CULTURE KNOW BEFORE YOU GO The term “Good Old Boy Network” is sometimes thrown around in a negative way to describe how some local officials associations operate. Depending on your perspective, that can mean that the organization is rife with cronyism, or that perhaps it is perceived to be discriminatory against women, minorities, older officials or anyone who’s not part of the “incrowd.” No matter how a local association conducts itself, there’s no doubt that those organizations have an outsized influence on the experiences of officials. The reputation and actions of associations and its members have a lasting impact on whether or not officials are retained.

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: What aspects of local associations impact the retention of officials the most?

How do assigning practices play into the retention of sports officials?

What are the pros and cons of setting time and resources aside to focus on new or newer officials training?

What does a “perfect” association look like?

What types of efforts can local groups do to recruit officials? How and why do such efforts benefit the association?

MENTORING KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Mentoring is a relationship in which a

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more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps to guide a less experienced or less knowledgeable person. It doesn’t necessarily matter if the mentor is older or younger than the person being mentored, but he or she must have a certain level of expertise in officiating to be effective.

Some officiating organizations have formal mentoring programs in place, but often mentoring is done on a much more informal basis between officiating colleagues. Even more often, it’s not done at all, but the benefits of mentoring – personal and social support, career guidance, role modeling, and communication – can go a long way toward keeping people involved in officiating.

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: Why should local officials association invest time and resources into developing formal mentoring programs? What are the benefits?

How can individual officials become engaged in a mentoring relationship either as the mentor or the mentee?

What short-term and long-term benefits can be realized from a mentoring relationship?

What is the role of the mentor? And what are the expectations for that role? What are some things that are NOT the role of the mentor?

THE ELEVATOR PITCH KNOW BEFORE YOU GO An elevator pitch is a brief, prepared statement that defines a product, service or outlines the value of an organization or

individual in as little as 15 seconds, the length of time of a typical elevator ride. An elevator pitch usually begins with an introduction, quickly moves on to a short summary of the subject and concludes with a question or provocative statement intended to make the listener think about the pitch later on. An effective elevator pitch contains clear language that the audience understands and uses layman’s terms rather than hardto-follow technical terms. The pitch is personalized for the intended audience and can be tailored to suit the interests of varied listeners. So, what’s the perfect elevator pitch an official can give to a non-official to get them interested in sports officiating?

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: Brainstorm potential opening lines that would engage someone in a conversation about officiating?

What are some unique aspects of officiating that would capture a non-officials’ attention?

What questions can you ask a non-official to provoke interest?

What are some of the obvious audiences that an elevator pitch may be delivered to? And how do you tailor the pitch to each of those audiences?

SUCCESSION PLANNING KNOW BEFORE YOU GO On the opposite end of the spectrum from recruiting is succession planning, which has everything to do with gracefully ending a long career while also ushering in new officiating talent. In officiating, we sometimes

view veterans as “sticking around too long,” which can foment resentment from younger officials who think it’s their turn to move up. Other times, we say goodbye to veteran officials and then never see them again – and more importantly, we never tap into the positive things those retired veterans can still provide to our industry, especially at a local level.

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: Is there an expectation, stated or otherwise, that officials should endeavor to find their own replacements?

How can veteran officials be used in mentoring, recruiting, retention, training and other ways to ensure that their talents continue to have a positive impact on the community of officials?

How can officials at all levels of progression in their careers help ease the transition from working official to retired official?

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Strongly related to two other discussions – Mentoring and Succession Planning – how we manage the expectations of people who enter into the officiating avocation is another key to how well we retain them.

Often, young people get into officiating and think they should be working the biggest games or be assigned postseason games well before they’re ready to. Some of those expectations may be generational, but how we set the stage during process of recruiting new officials and during their first few seasons is critical.

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POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: What can be done to communicate expectations on the front end when officials are new to keep those expectations both realistic, attainable and still desirable.

What early or intermediary successes should be celebrated or acknowledged more to help offset the fact that larger rewards are still a ways off in the future?

Have expectations changed from generation to generation? Or do we just perceive it that way?

What factors – both external and also within the officiating community – tend to reinforce unrealistic expectations? How can we address each?

FUNDING KNOW BEFORE YOU GO As in most things in life, the question of money is front and center when discussing how to solve the problem of officiating shortages. If we “had more money in the budget” we could solve all kinds of problems. We could buy radio spots, newspaper ads, even TV commercials. We could fund the best mentoring programs and the best sportsmanship initiatives.

Heck, if we solved the funding problem, we could simply raise the game fees for sports officials to the point that we’d be turning people away from joining the ranks. When it comes to funding, we need fresh ideas.

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: When it comes to funding, what sort

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of value are we placing on officiating?

Whether you’re coming from a local, state or national perspective, the issue is the same: Are we allocating funds to officiating at the same level as officiating’s importance to the games? Why or why not?

What other areas of sports are demanding funding? Could those areas do with less funding?

What other creative ways can we allocate, reserve or raise more funds specifically for officiating?

What are the obstacles to accessing those funds?

THE “PIPELINE” KNOW BEFORE YOU GO The officiating ranks, like so many other avocations, is reliant on a steady stream of new people coming in every year. If that stream decreases – like it’s been doing for the past several decades – we face the situation we’re in now – an officiating shortage. More and more games are played every year and fewer and fewer officials are available to work those games. So how do we re-energize our pipeline of potential candidates? Are there other areas we need to tap into?

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: Who do you want to hire? You have to move beyond skills, experience and credentials because the pipeline is about finding the right people, not just filling specific openings.

Come up with an ideal officiating profile,

one that aligns with your sport or your local association’s vision and values.

What aspects of your current recruiting efforts did your newer officials find most frustrating? How can you fix those while implementing a new recruiting pipeline?

Where do you go to find candidates? Contact area colleges and universities. Participate in job fairs. Build relationships with area athletic organizations. The goal is to establish a brand (officiating is worthwhile for “X” number of reasons) by being present and engaged in your community.

It takes time to develop relationships whether in friendships or in business. You may want to begin thinking about recruiting potential officials the same way. Talk to player groups or to other kids or teens about the benefits of officiating. That could yield benefits farther down the road.

Incentivizing Officials KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Incentive strategies to produce a specific outcome are very common in many industries, most notably sales.

Organizations often develop full incentive programs, specifically outlining the various goals and rewards. The same strategies can be applied to the officiating industry to incentivize working sports officials – who under normal conditions may have little to no motivation to recruit their competition - to become active in the recruiting process.

In a less formal way, incentives can be used as potential lures to attract officials into the industry.

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: How reasonable is it to expect officials to find and recruit their own replacements?

What types of incentives will motivate officials to recruit new officials?

What types of incentives will attract nonofficials to the profession?

Assuming some or all incentives come with a cost to an organization, how can such incentives be financed or budgeted?

What types of non-financial incentives can easily be put in place for sports officials?

Social Media As A Tool KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Social recruiting (also known as social hiring and social media recruitment) is using social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to advertise jobs, find talent, and communicate with potential recruits about company culture. In the business world, a full 94 percent of professional recruiters network on social media and use it to post jobs with a wide net or to a specific audience. These days, nearly 60 percent of employees say a company’s social media presence was part of the reason they chose their workplace. Social recruiting strategies can easily be tweaked to recruit new sports officials.

POTENTIAL DISCUSSION DRIVERS: In the business world, 75 percent of potential hires are not actively searching for jobs, but recruiters effectively reel them

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in through social media anyway. What sort of passive “pool” might be available to become officials?

What types of messages can be used through social media to attract officiating candidates?

How can we use social media to target the types of recruits we want? Brainstorm what sort of online groups or communities would be receptive to officiating messages.

Can hashtags and/or other social media tools help prospects identify opportunities? #SayYestoOfficiating

EXHIBITOR SHOWCASE Time: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM Location: Grand Ballroom A What’s new? What works? What will make any officiating program better? The largest gathering of products and services serving officiating. From leading-edge companies and organizations. This place and this time – set aside for you to immerse yourself, introduce yourself, inform yourself. In just a few steps you experience the latest tools, techniques and tested programs to help you better manage, lead and administer sports officiating programs.

The Summit Exhibit Hall is open throughout the event, but during this special dedicated time, attendees can take advantage of unique offers, raffles and giveaways. Make sure you’re in the hall engaging with each exhibitor to learn how you could win.

2018 EXHIBITOR LINEUP ADAMS USA Featuring an officials product line of newly redesigned apparel for all sports, including the games’ best hard goods and protective gear.

ARBITERSPORTS The company pioneered the use of sportsofficial-assigning software in 1984 and has been the industry leader ever since.

CLIFF KEEN ATHLETIC The officials apparel company dedicated to the advancement of athletics through innovative products.

DVSPORT Specializing in digital video acquisition, analysis, and play-back software designed specifically for the sports market.

FOX 40 Inventors of the pealess whistle, the innovative and reliable product that revolutionized the requirements of the whistle and changed the industry forever.

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GERRY DAVIS SPORTS Owned by the 35-year Major League Baseball veteran umpire, the company has been a leader in officials apparel and equipment for 20+ years.

GET IT RIGHT ENTERPRISES Adapting 3D visualization technologies to accelerate learning and improve retention of rules knowledge and officiating mechanics.

HONIG’S An industry leader in officiating equipment and clothing for over 30 years and now under new ownership. Look for revamped customer service and improved product line quality.

IAABO Founded in 1923 to educate, train, develop and provide instruction for basketball officials and to promote the welfare of the game, its players and officials.

NASO/REFEREE The voice of officiating for decades, and the only national membership organization for sports officials in all sports and at all levels.

certify referees in close partnership with USA Volleyball, NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA.

PEOPLETRAIL Leading provider of custom vetting services for athletic programs, including eligibility, criminal background checks, volunteer screening, drug screening, ATS integration & program security solutions.

PURCHASE OFFICIALS SUPPLIES Offering premium officiating gear in nine sports. The company works with several states to provide officially licensed apparel.

REF LIFE The “Officials’ Brand,” built on passion, dedication and commitment to excellent gear, as you are in your performance on the field or court.

SILBO Powered by machine learning and a cuttingedge smartphone app, Silbo simplifies officiating administration and empowers sports officials everywhere.

NISOA

SMITTY

Dedicated to the development of soccer as a major sport in the United States and to improving the quality of officiating at the college and high school levels.

The company that got its start with the original “Smitty” lanyard continues to develop a wide range of officiating apparel and accessories.

Creators of the patented and innovative clothing accessory that keeps sports officials uniforms tucked and looking their best every game.

UMP-ATTIRE.COM

PAVO

Bringing exclusive Vokkero headset technology to officiating, enhancing communication between crews.

NEAT TUCKS

The independent, non-profit volleyball officiating organization working to train and

The leading online retailer for sports officials’ gear and apparel.

VOKKERO

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WHISTLE

ZOOOM

Removing all the pain and inefficiencies out of scheduling and coordinating game officials, the hassle-free dedicated service connects game officials with organized sports events across every level.

Helping officials use video to get better.

Associations can easily create and share training videos and deliver consistent training messages to all your officials.

Officiate. Evaluate. Elevate.

The Officiating Industry Luncheon Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC The Officiating Industry Luncheon (OIL) is the largest attended event of every Summit. A superbly-catered meal followed by remarks on the state of sports and officiating by a representative of the NFHS and by Barry Mano, president of NASO. The audience is composed of the best and brightest in the world of officiating – at all levels. The OIL provides the only annual national-overview of the main accomplishments and the primary challenges of officiating management: high school, youth, collegiate and professional. A must for any officiating leader.

Speakers: BOB GARDNER NFHS executive director; served as NFHS chief operating officer since 2000; has 40 years of experience in education as a teacher, coach, principal and commissioner of the Indiana High School Athletic Association; former voting member of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and served on the NFHS Football Officials Manual Committee; chaired the Fiscal/Funding Subcommittee of the NFHS Strategic Planning Committee; has chaired the NFHS Rules Review Committee,

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an internal committee composed of all NFHS rules editors; has been responsible for NFHS insurance programs and the NFHS committee nomination process.

BARRY MANO Referee chief strategy officer; Referee magazine founder (1975) and publisher; National Association of Sports Officials founder (1980) and president; former 23-year basketball official, who worked nine seasons at the NCAAM D-I level; a renowned public speaker and media guest on issues important to the officiating industry; Officiating Development Alliance (ODA) and Officiating Commentators Alliance (OCA) member.

Emcee:

THERESIA WYNNS NFHS director of sports and officials education; former Indiana High School Athletic Association assistant commissioner; former high school administrator, teacher and coach; former basketball, swimming, track and field, and volleyball official of more than 20 years, officiated multiple state championships; named Indiana’s outstanding girls’ basketball official in 1983 by the IHSAA and the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association; Officiating Development Alliance member.

Shop Talk: Sport-By-Sport Breakouts Time: 1:45 PM – 2:45 PM Express yourself: watch, listen, learn. Sportby-sport video breakdown sessions that have record-breaking attendance every Summit.

Immerse yourself in a sport you work or manage. Led by some of the most respected and renowned officials. Watch the play, hear the breakdown, listen to the dialogue and then add your perspective. Together with the others, you help to build the body of officiating knowledge and practice. Hands on. Ears open. Mind engaged.

BASEBALL Sponsored by Minor League Baseball Location: Salon A

SPEAKERS: DUSTY DELLINGER: Minor League Baseball (MiLB) director of umpire development; joined MiLB in 2008 as a field evaluator and instructor before being named director in 2014; umpired 11 seasons in the International, Southern, Carolina, South Atlantic and New York-Penn leagues; during his five years at the Triple-A level was awarded two Arizona Fall League invites and worked parts of three seasons in the MLB; umpired two offseasons in the Puerto Rico Winter League and umpired the inaugural World Baseball Classic (2006).

DARREN SPAGNARDI Minor League Baseball (MiLB) umpire development evaluator; MiLB Umpire Training Academy lead field instructor; current NCAA baseball umpire in the Atlantic Coast and Southeast conferences; former umpire in the Gulf Coast, New York-

Penn, South Atlantic, Carolina, Southern and International leagues (1996-2004); umpired part-time in MLB during his four years at the Triple-A level.

BASKETBALL Sponsored by IAABO Location: Salons FG

SPEAKERS: TOM LOPES International Association of Approved Basketball Officials Inc. (IAABO) executive director; former coordinator of officials for the Northeast Conference; former high school and NCAAM basketball official; officiated 20 consecutive NCAAM D-I tournaments and three NCAAM Final Fours; 1997 Naismith Men’s College Basketball Official of the Year winner; former Collegiate Basketball Officials Association executive director; retired educator and administrator.

DONNIE EPPLEY International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc. (IAABO) associate executive director, working with the executive director developing educational programs for both beginning and veteran officials; NCAAM D-I basketball official, officiating in 11 conferences (primarily in the Big Ten and Mid-American conferences); eight NCAA tournament assignments; high school basketball supervisor, assigning more than 40 high schools in central Pennsylvania; small college basketball assigner of more than 35 D-III colleges and universities; served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army.

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FOOTBALL Sponsored by the Southeastern Conference Location: Grand Ballroom BC

SPEAKER: STEVE SHAW NCAA football secretary rules editor; Coordinator of football officials for the Southeastern and Sun Belt conferences; former NCAA football referee for 21 years, officiated the 2000 and 2005 BCS national championship games and eight BCS bowls and four SEC championship games; former NASO board member (2009-13).

SOCCER Sponsored by NISOA Location: Lafayette (41st Floor)

SPEAKER: DR. ROSS MELOAN

VOLLEYBALL Sponsored by PAVO Location: Salon B

SPEAKERS: SUZANNE DODD

Sponsored by USA SOFTBALL Location: Salon C

As a PAVO and USA Volleyball National referee and a PAVO National line judge, Suzanne has worked conference, regional, and national championships in both positions. She currently works in several NCAA Division I and II conferences, and as PAVO Director of Training Camps. She holds a doctorate and master’s degree from Florida State University and currently is on faculty at Anderson University (South Carolina). Her two children are active volleyball players – one of them even aspires to be a volleyball official herself.

SPEAKER:

JULIE VOECK

NISOA national clinician, local chapter training coordinator and interscholastic director; Dr. Meloan worked in Murray State University’s student affairs division until he retired in March of 2017; doctorate in university administration (emphasis in student personnel administration) from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill.

SOFTBALL

STEVE NELSON Deputy Director of Umpires for the Southern Territory, USA Softball; Steve started umpiring with USA Softball, then ASA, in

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1979, starting as a slow pitch umpire. After 17 years, the game of Fast Pitch started to grow again, and Steve became a Fast Pitch umpire as well. Through a 40-year career, Steve has umpired in 32 USA Softball National Championships as well as the Armed Forces Championship and the Border Battle. He is a member of the National Indicator Fraternity and was elected as a Slow Pitch Elite umpire in 2002. Steve was elected to the USA Softball National Umpire Staff as a Regional Umpire-in Chief in 2012. In December 2015 Steve was selected on the National Staff as a Deputy Director of Umpires.

Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) president; USA Volleyball and PAVO national referee; Badger Region Volleyball Association commissioner and president; NASO board member.

You Get to Call It Time: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC Never met a call we didn’t like! We used to call these “great” calls but truth be told, they were always TOUGH calls – made by great officials. An array of plays, presented bigscreen and in HD. Presented by the people who lived through and with them. You get to vote…let your clicker be your guide. Your vote is tallied and quickly the audience makes its voice heard – on full display in the front of the ballroom. Terrific mix of education and entertainment – just plain energizing to watch officials work through plays worth remembering.

Speakers: LARRY YOUNG MLB umpire supervisor since 2009; former MLB umpire (1985-2008); worked the World Series in 1996 and 2003; umpired three AL championship series, six AL divisional playoff series and two All-Star games (1991, 2003); worked in the minor leagues from 1978-82; 2002 Gold Whistle Award recipient.

MONTY McCUTCHEN NBA Vice President, Head of Referee Development and Training and an NBA referee for more than 20 seasons; has officiated 1,242 regular season games and 127 playoff games; worked Game 3 of the 2014 NBA Finals, his 10th finals assignment; spent four seasons in the CBA, working playoffs all four years and the CBA Finals the last three years in the league.

DON VAN MASSENHOVEN As NHL Director of Officiating Operations, Don is in charge of supervision and assigning, and the officiating administration duties for the department, including expenses and travel. Former NHL referee (1993-2014); worked 1,364 games; officiated 7 Stanley Cup Conference Finals; 2002 NHL All-Star game in Los Angeles; 2004 World Cup of Hockey; 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino; 2008 Winter Classic in Buffalo (first one held). Former Ontario Provincial police officer for 10 years.

CHARLIE OBERMAYER US Lacrosse senior manager, officials development; responsible for the overall development, implementation and management of US Lacrosse’s national initiatives towards recruitment, retention, training and leadership programs for US Lacrosse men’s and women’s officials, serving youth, scholastic, collegiate and international games; current NCAAM lacrosse official; Officiating Development Alliance member.

SANDRA SERAFINI Serafini is a retired FIFA, men’s/women’s professional and collegiate soccer referee, whose officiating brought her to multiple NCAA Final Fours and international events across North America, Europe, and Asia. She currently serves with the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) as the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation. She is a National Referee-Coach for USSF and Elite Assessor for CONCACAF, and served as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Sports Officials

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(NASO) in 2017. She also continues to serve within the Duke University Medical Center’s Department of Neurosurgery as an Adjunct Assistant Professor.

high school basketball in Louisiana in 1985, and has worked 15 Louisiana High School State Championship games.

STEVE NELSON

Serves as the NFL’s Vice President of Officiating Evaluation and Development, responsible for managing the on-field officials weekly crew evaluation process, as well the staff of officiating supervisors and trainers. A highly-respected on-field game official for the past two decades at the collegiate and professional level, Mackie entered the NFL in 2007 as a head linesman and quickly established himself as one of the league’s top officials at his position. He has officiated in eight NFL playoff games, including serving as head linesman at Super Bowl 50 and for two conference championship games during his 10-year NFL career.

Deputy Director of Umpires for the Southern Territory, USA Softball; Steve started umpiring with USA Softball, then ASA, in 1979, starting as a slow pitch umpire. After 17 years, the game of Fast Pitch started to grow again, and Steve became a Fast Pitch umpire as well. Through a 40-year career, Steve has umpired in 32 USA Softball National Championships as well as the Armed Forces Championship and the Border Battle. He is a member of the National Indicator Fraternity and was elected as a Slow Pitch Elite umpire in 2002. Steve was elected to the USA Softball National Umpire Staff as a Regional Umpire-in Chief in 2012. In December 2015 Steve was selected on the National Staff as a Deputy Director of Umpires.

PAUL GUILLIE Baseball Coordinator, Southeastern Conference, Sun Belt, Atlantic Sun, Ohio Valley. Paul’s umpire Experience: 34 Years Division NCAA Division I, four-time College World Series. Triple A professional baseball fill-in for 80+ games. International Events: 2015 Premier 12 World Tournament in Taiwan and Japan. Pre-Olympic Game – Australia vs. USA, 1996.

JOHN FLETCHER VP, LHSOA, John Fletcher has officiated women’s DI college basketball since 1994, and currently works in 6 conferences. He has been selected for the NCAA tournament 6 times, twice for the WNIT and 4 times for the WBI Tournament. He began officiating

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WAYNE MACKIE

STEVE LANE Steve Lane became involved in the birth of the Professional Umpire program in January 1993, and has umpired many high goal games nationally and internationally. As an internationally recognized trainer of polo umpires and Head Umpire Instructor of the US Polo Association (USPA), he brings his expertise and instruction skills to the sport, and oversees the USPA on all aspects of umpire training. The USPA’s goal is to grow the umpire training program with Steve at the helm.

JULIE VOECK Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) president; USA Volleyball and PAVO national referee; Badger Region Volleyball Association commissioner and president; NASO board member.

Moderator:

Ron Foxcroft Ron Foxcroft is Fox 40 International chief executive officer and founder; former NCAA D-I and international men’s basketball official; officiated the 1976 Olympic Gold Medal championship basketball game; former NBA

officials observer; inducted into several halls of fame; NASO Education Partner; former Officiating Development Alliance member; 2004 Mel Narol Medallion Award recipient; proud charter member of NASO and threedecade sponsor; 2016 NASO Gold Whistle Award recipient; NASO board special adviser.

The Assigner’s Impact Time: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC That’s Assigner with a capital “A.” Officiating assigners have an outsized and often inordinate impact on officials and the organizations that use their services.

Thousands of assigners blanket the country, doling out millions (yes, millions!) of officiating assignments. They are a large, completely independent array of private businesses. They provide important and valuable services.

At the same time, they can be the bane of schools, conferences, leagues, to say nothing of the officials themselves. Good assigning practice and policy can go a long way in helping bring new officials in and hanging on to current officials longer. That needs to be a goal embraced by assigners.

SPEAKERS: DONNIE EPPLEY International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc. (IAABO) associate executive director, working with the executive director developing educational programs for both beginning and veteran officials; NCAAM D-I basketball official, officiating in 11 conferences (primarily in the Big Ten and Mid-American conferences); eight

NCAA tournament assignments; high school basketball supervisor, assigning more than 40 high schools in central Pennsylvania; small college basketball assigner of more than 35 D-III colleges and universities; served more than 20 years in the U.S. Army.

MARK UYL Michigan High School Athletic Association assistant director, where he supervises the officiating program; current NCAA D-I baseball umpire; umpired the 2014 NCAA World Series and the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil; former NASO chair (2015) and board member (2011-15).

MICHAEL SILVER An LHSOA Executive Committee, Multi-Sport Assignor and local high school and junior high assignment secretary for soccer since 2010 and for basketball since 2014 for more than 60 schools in central Louisiana. State Director of Assignment and State Games Assignor for the Louisiana State Referee Committee for the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) overseeing assignors and assigning all state games. Soccer official for over 15 years-Current Grade 6 USSF State Referee, a Division I collegiate soccer official, and a high school official.

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Debbie Williamson

Moderator:

Coordinator of women’s basketball officials for the American Athletic, Atlantic 10, Big East, Metro Atlantic Athletic conferences; former NCAA national coordinator of women’s basketball officiating; former NCAAW basketball secretary-rules editor; former collegiate basketball coach, administrator, iinstructor, official and student-athlete; doctorate of education from the University of Houston in 2000; NASO board member.

An active NCAA Division I referee from 19852012, Marcia Alterman worked NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA postseason events. She was PAVO Executive Director (1996-2016), and a Conference Coordinator for 22 years. She received the NASO Gold Whistle Award in 2015. She is Women’s Volleyball Conference Coordinator of Officials, Big Ten, Big East, AAC, C-USA, Horizon, MAC.

MARCIA ALTERMAN

TUESday, july 31 Skills for a Lifetime Time: 8:00 AM – 8:45 AM Location: Grand Ballroom BC

Worked 3 World Series, 3 All Star Games and over 90 Postseason Games.

Here are some really good reasons why we officiate! Based on the feature story in Referee magazine celebrating its 40th birthday.

Accenting the positive enables us to light a fire in others – getting them thinking about joining this undertaking. On a practical level, officiating gives us skills for a lifetime: fairminded, decisive, accountable. These stand us in good stead in throughout our lives. To say nothing of the emotional bonds created in officiating. Our panel will touch and touch you on this score. They will help everyone in the audience uncover ways to Say Yes to Officiating.

MIKE DEFEE

Speakers: DALE SCOTT Retired Major League Baseball Umpire and MLB Umpire for 32 years; 16 as Crew Chief.

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Big 12 Referee and President and General Manager of Newtron Holdings, a large electrical contractor with 800 employees on the Texas Gulf Coast. Former Big 12 Back Judge; officiated four Big 12 Championship Games, 2017 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship, 2016 CFP SemiFinal (Cotton Bowl), the 75th Sugar Bowl, the 100th Rose Bowl, Capital One Bowl, Outback Bowl, 2 East/West Shrine games and several other bowl games.

DEE KANTNER As a Women’s Division 1 basketball official, Dee started officiating women’s Division I basketball in 1984.She officiated in the NBA for 5 years and was the WNBA supervisor of officials for a total of 15 years. Has officiated in numerous women’s Division I Final Fours.

MARK WHITEHEAD Since 2016, Mark has served as a coordinator for men’s basketball officials in the SEC, American and Atlantic Sun, adding the Sun Belt in 2017. He officiated over 2,000 games in the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, American, and several other DI conferences. Mark worked 22 consecutive NCAA tournaments, 18 Regionals and five Final Fours, including the 2012 championship game. In 2017, he was selected as Mr. Louisiana Basketball by the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches, only the third referee to receive the award since its 1975 inception.

Moderator:

TERRY GREGSON NHL officiating consultant (in the area of succession planning and international events); former NHL senior vice president and director of officials; former NHL referee (1979-2004); officiated eight Stanley Cup Finals and one All-Star game; officiated the 1982 World Championships, Helsinki, Finland; NHLOA executive board member for 20 years; 2012 Gold Whistle Award recipient; NASO board member.

Actions Speaking Louder Than Words Time: 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM Location: Grand Ballroom BC Here’s what’s “real” in officiating. Each panelist is tasked with showing an innovative, out-of-the-box program or initiative to recruit, retain, support and celebrate officials. You will see the videos, the ads, the posters, the websites. You will hear about the unique clinics, the “tree of officiating,” the 9-Rules initiative, the “Thank-A-Ref” campaign and many others.

Each panelist has primary responsibility for the topic being presented. This session alone will give you the “takeaways” you come to the Summit to find. It works for them. It can work for you.

ONLINE NATIONWIDE RECRUITMENT The NFHS is a solid resource for video productions, web-based applications, rules apps and officials’ education courses for state high school associations and high

school officials across the country. This presentation will provide details and demonstrations of the online nationwide officials’ recruitment program enacted last fall by the NFHS. In addition, the presentation will offer ways that state associations have provided incentives for new officials in hopes of increasing members and strengthening the high school officiating pool across the country.

Speaker: DAVIS WHITFIELD NFHS chief operating officer; former commissioner of the North Carolina high school athletic association (NCHSAA); former associate commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC); previously served as the assistant athletic director for operations and facilities management at Wake Forest University.

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WOA ‘9 RULES YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW’ INITIATIVE The WOA Statewide Recruitment and Retention Program aims to increase membership in local boards/associations by producing materials in partnership with NASO that the local groups can use to recruit new members. Each local board/association is challenged to increase its membership by 25 percent.

Speaker: DEAN CORCORAN President of the Washington Officials Association Executive Board, member of Snohomish County Football Officials Association for 31 years and Snohomish County Wrestling Officials Association for five years. Washington. Officials Association (WOA) Executive Board member for nine years. WOA Executive Board President for the last seven years. NFL Sideline Coordinator (Green Hat) for the Seattle Seahawks.

THANK A REF CAMPAIGN The “Thank a Ref Campaign” promotes officiating as a desired occupation. It emphasizes one event per sport to recognize the officials and their hard work and dedication to their craft. Another objective on the campaign is to encourage good sportsmanship throughout the contest from players, coaches, administration and parents.

Speaker: JASON NICKLEBY Minnesota State High School League coordinator of officials; responsible for the overall development and implementation of registration, training and mentorship

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programs for 6,300 officials serving over 525 member schools; NCAA D-I football official in the Big Ten Conference; NCAAM D-II and D-III basketball official; former physical education and adapted physical education teacher of 10 years.

SOCCER SPORTSMANSHIP CHALLENGE This innovative program seeks to enhance sportsmanship at high school soccer matches in Northern Virginia by issuing a “Sportsmanship Challenge” to athletes and the schools. Those teams that successfully meet criteria are awarded $500. Teams must go through an entire season, including playoffs, without receiving a yellow or red card due to unsportsmanlike conduct.

Speaker: BEN GLASS Ben Glass is an attorney, entrepreneur, soccer official and, most importantly “Dad to 9.” He picked up the whistle to referee soccer games at age 16 and still loves it.

Today he works high end youth and high school games. Upset with the level of sportsmanship at high school soccer games in Northern Virginia, Ben is going to show his “outside the box” idea for getting the sportsmanship conversation started in your community.

TASO STart Program TASO STaRT (Students Today are Referees tomorrow) Program. This is primarily aimed at coaches. Every coach is challenged to identify a graduating senior that loves the game, but will not be playing at the next level. Additionally TASO is partnered with Battlefields to Ballfields, and has produced video and audio recruitment tools.

Speaker: MIKE FITCH Fitch has served as the TASO (Texas Association of Sports Officials) Executive Director for eight years. He officiated NCAA Division II and III football and is currently an observer in the Great American Conference.

Fitch began his officiating career while in high school, and became a high school official in 1973 as a junior at Texas Tech University.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION OFFICIATING INITIATIVE This session focuses on “Growing the Game” for volleyball officials. It addresses the need to develop a pipeline and discusses a junior referee program to get younger individuals interested. Officials are encouraged to network and help bring others into the system, and become part of a culture change in attracting newer officials.

Speaker: JOAN POWELL Pac-12 Conference coordinator of women’s volleyball officiating; former NCAA national coordinator of volleyball officials; former Professional Association of Volleyball Officials president; team leader for the U.S. women’s national team competing at World Grand Prix and the Olympics in 2008; more than 20 years as a USA Volleyball national official and more than 30 years as a collegiate national official; has officiated numerous NCAA semifinal and final matches; former Coronado (Colo.) High School head volleyball coach; former NASO board member (200105 and 2011-15); Officiating Development Alliance member.

EXPOSURE COMBINE This NHL recruiting video showcases multiple interviews of prospective officials going through an “Exposure Combine.”

Through video clips demonstrating drills, the video paints a picture of why former hockey players should take up officiating to stay involved with the game. When players are done with their careers, what is next? The video paints a picture of the fun, opportunities and advantages involved in hockey officiating as players transition to their next stage of life.

Speaker: DON VAN MASSENHOVEN As NHL Director of Officiating Operations, Don is in charge of supervision and assigning, and the officiating administration duties for the department, including expenses and travel. Former NHL referee (1993-2014); worked 1,364 games; officiated 7 Stanley Cup Conference Finals; 2002 NHL All-Star game in Los Angeles; 2004 World Cup of Hockey; 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino; 2008 Winter Classic in Buffalo (first one held). Former Ontario Provincial police officer for 10 years.

SEC/BIG TEN MINORITY RECRUITMENT CLINIC The Big Ten and the SEC conferences partnered together in sponsoring a developmental clinic with an emphasis on diversity to provide opportunities for officials who are working their way up.

This year’s clinic, at Vanderbilt University, featured classroom work as well as on-field action that allowed the participants to see snaps. This video presents a good summary of the weekend and the continuing efforts of both organizations.

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Speaker: bill carollo

Speaker: Jeff Collis

Coordinator of football officials for the Collegiate Officiating Consortium-Football (COC) (includes the Big Ten, Mid-American and Missouri Valley Football conferences); prior to joining the COC he served in various management roles at IBM and Manpower for 35 years; former NFL official for 20 seasons before retiring in 2009; officiated eight NFL Championship games, two Super Bowls (XXX and XXXVII) and the 2008 Pro Bowl; former National Football League Referees Association board member and executive director; former Big Ten Conference football and basketball official (1980-88); former semi-pro baseball umpire; NASO treasurer and board member emeritus; Officiating Development Alliance member.

Jeff started officiating Baseball as a 15-year-old in 1981, and formed the Fox Valley Blues Umpires Association (he is currently their Assignment Supervisor) in Chicago in 1994, which now has 600+ members. He umpired D-1 Baseball for 14 years, worked two IHSA State Finals, and is now focused on making FVB the best Association in the country, and mentoring up-and-coming umpires. As Assignment Supervisor for FVB, Jeff and his partner assign over 26,000 games annually for over 100 High Schools and several tournament organizations. In 2017, Jeff launched a Youth Umpire program that today boasts over 80 umpires, and Jeff leads all recruiting efforts for FVB.

FOX VALLEY BLUES RETENTION

Moderator:

In this presentation, Jeff Collis will share his umpire retention model from the Fox Valley Blues Umpires (FVB). FVB built an attrition model to measure recruiting successes and ability to retain officials. Cost for beginning umpires was identified as a significant hurdle. FVB started a program to use donated equipment/apparel from current members to defray startup costs for new officials.

JULIE VOECK Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) president; USA Volleyball and PAVO national referee; Badger Region Volleyball Association commissioner and president; NASO board member.

Game Changers Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Location: Various You get to choose your sessions. Feel free to go to one or more, or move between rooms.

One of the Summit’s most practical bank of sessions! Shorter presentations, fast-paced and each focused on a topic of unique importance.

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Each Game Changer has been carefully selected by NASO. You will be able to attend more than one of these sessions because of the way they are timed. Each speaker has a concept or a product that can be a Game Changer for you and your officiating program.

Every year, this session gets rave reviews for its practical and timely presentations.

SESSION 1 (10:00 AM-10:30 AM) • Get It Right: Digital 3D Training (Salon A) • Whistle: Making Officiating Universally Accessible (Salon B) • ArbiterSports: Officiating Management Resources (Salon D) • Establishing an Effective Integrity Program (Salon C) • How Prior Playing & Coaching Experience Affect Officiating (Salon FG) SESSION 2 (10:30 AM-11:00 AM) • Vokkero Wireless Communication (Salon A) • Zooom: Making Training & Evaluation Easier (Salon B) • ‘What It Takes’ Film Docuseries (Salon D) • Silbo: Simplifying Officiating Administration (Salon C) • Mental Practice of Sports Officials (Salon FG)

SESSION 1 10:00 AM-10:30 AM GET IT RIGHT: DIGITAL 3D TRAINING Location: Salon A

special product that animates the Referee Mechanics Illustrated crew of 4 and 5 mechanics is available with the purchase of the Referee Mechanics Illustrated manual.

WHISTLE: MAKING OFFICIATING UNIVERSALLY ACCESSIBLE Location: Salon B CHECK IT OUT: Whistle’s vision is to make sports officiating universally accessible to everybody. At the 2018 Sports Officiating Summit, Whistle’s non-executive director Dean Blandino will be hosting a live stream Q&A session. Delegates that wish to attend Whistle’s Gamechanger can submit their questions to Dean by signing up to Whistle via www.wearewhistle. com or by downloading the App from the App stores. Whistle will also present how amateur tournaments like Hoopla, the 2nd largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world, are staying on the cutting edge of technology to advance their overall coordination of officials.

ARBITERSPORTS: OFFICIATING MANAGEMENT RESOURCES Location: Salon D

CHECK IT OUT: Get It Right Enterprises, LLC is adapting 3D visualization and gaming technologies to accelerate learning and improve retention of rules knowledge and officiating mechanics. The Deluxe Football product includes rules, mechanics for crew sizes of 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 and an evaluation module to test penalty enforcement.

Available subscriptions include NFHS, NCAA, IFAF, and TASO/UIL-based products.

The NCAA Deluxe product includes mechanics for crew sizes of 6, 7, and 8. A

CHECK IT OUT: The leading provider of officiating management resources at the collegiate, high school, youth and recreational levels, ArbiterSports offers a full line of technology-based officiating management solutions, including products for assigning, registration, payroll, eligibility, evaluation, communication, game reporting, streaming video, online testing and rules study and research.

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ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE INTEGRITY PROGRAM Location: Salon C CHECK IT OUT: Featuring session leader David D. Dodge, CEO, Sports Officiating Consulting, and former Division I Men’s basketball official. Participants will learn why now is the time to implement an Integrity Program for their officiating department or organization. Each participant will receive NASO’s new publication, a booklet titled, “Getting Started Developing and Establishing an Effective Integrity Program for Sports Officiating.”

HOW PRIOR COACHING & PLAYING EXPERIENCE AFFECT OFFICIATING Location: Salon FG CHECK IT OUT: Have you ever wondered if an officials background knowledge affected their officiating skills? Does playing the sport or coaching within the sport help the growth of a sports official? Can it stunt their growth? Does officiating multiple sports help or hinder a sports official? The answer may help in the process of recruiting, training and retaining sports officials. Using research from the field as well as multiple NASOfunded research studies, the presentation will explore the topic of previous experiences and the drive for expertise.

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SESSION 2 10:30 AM-11:00 AM VOKKERO WIRELESS COMMUNICATION Location: Salon A CHECK IT OUT: The age of wireless communication is upon us. Providing a system of portable wireless radios and headsets that enables officials to create an instant, continuous and secure audio conference, Vokkero has become the preferred officiating communication system globally. Vokkero continues to innovate and evolve with the launch of the Officiating Video Review equipment linking on field officials to video officials on site, or even remote. In addition, Vokkero is pleased to announce its latest line of the wildly popular Squadra, with the launch of the Varsity, designed to fit the budget needs of officiating organizations. Find out how Vokkero can help your officials communicate better and why it’s all the rage in officiating today.

ZOOOM: MAKING TRAINING & EVALUATIONS EASIER Location: Salon B CHECK IT OUT: Tens of thousands of sports officials around the country are ushering in a new era of training and education. State associations, college conferences, professional sports leagues and collegiate campus recreation departments have partnered with ZOOOM (www.zooomapp.com), to change the way they train and prepare their officials for contests. By using ZOOOM, they create and send training videos with the click of a button, ensuring every official is prepared

to call games the same way. By using video and collecting data, they are able to train and evaluate their officials more effectively than ever before! ZOOOM is the best video tool for you and your association – period.

Come see what it’s all about!

‘WHAT IT TAKES’ FILM DOCUSERIES Location: Salon D CHECK IT OUT: Three years ago, Shantel Hansen, documentary filmmaker and producer attended the NASO Summit to identify women officials to film for “What It Takes” docuseries. Hansen is back to share unprecedented behind-the-scenes footage and interviews that showcase what it takes to be an official on and off the field. You will engage in a rare opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with all three women football officials featured in the docuseries. They are Annice Canady, Tangela Mitchell, and Mary Podesta. You won’t want to miss this GameChanger session!

SILBO: SIMPLIFYING OFFICIATING ADMINISTRATION Location: Salon C

AFTER FURTHER REVIEW MIKE PEREIRA WITH

CHECK IT OUT: Silbo is the digital marketplace directly connecting amateur sports games with qualified sports officials.

Officials select their own schedules, working when they want and where they want, and get paid weekly via direct deposit. Powered by machine learning and a cutting-edge smartphone app, Silbo simplifies officiating administration and empowers sports officials everywhere.

MENTAL PRACTICE OF SPORTS OFFICIALS Location: Salon FG CHECK IT OUT: Part of NASO’s mission is to advocate for sports officials and help members maintain the highest level of officiating skills they can. As sports officials, we are always looking for an edge to help prepare us to officiate the game.

Given the large number of sports officials in amateur and professional sports, it is vital that researchers explore topics related to how we can train officials better. This session will explore the mental practice literature in sport and sports officiating.

At the end of the session, participants will have another tool in their tool belt to help officiate a game or match.

Time: 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC Back by overwhelming popular demand!

FoxSports celebrated football-officiating analyst, Mike Pereira will have his mojo working. First, his stand-up monologue about the trends in officiating and the

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impact of media on that. Then Mike, using the Tonight Show as a template, brings to the sofa, noted personalities – each with opinions, stories and personal remembrances about officiating. The interaction is stirring, never dull and can be emotional. A unique concept for the Summit – one guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.

HOST: MIKE PEREIRA Fox Sports rules analyst for network’s NFL and NCAA coverage; Chief Zebra Productions Inc. president; Battlefield to Ballfields founder and president (a non-profit foundation that awards scholarships to Veterans of the Armed Forces to become sports officials in their communities); former NFL vice president of officiating (2001-10) where he appeared on NFL Network show, NFL Total Access during the “Official Review” segment; former NFL supervisor and Western Athletic Conference supervisor of officials; retired NFL and NCAA D-I football official; officiated eight college bowl games; former Officiating Development Alliance member;

Officiating Commentators Alliance member; NASO chair.

GUESTS: GENE STERATORE NFL Referee for 13 years and 16 years in the league; Gene has worked 12 playoff games and 2 Super Bowls, one as the Referee and one as an alternate. He has also been an NCAA DI men’s basketball official the past 22 years, serving in 9 leagues. He has officiated the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for 12 years, making the Sweet 16 twice.

DEE KANTNER As a Women’s Division I basketball official, Dee started officiating women’s Division I basketball in 1984.She officiated in the NBA for 5 years and was the WNBA supervisor of officials for a total of 15 years. Has officiated in numerous women’s Division I Final Fours.

BATTLEFIELDS TO BALLFIELDS You won’t want to miss the rest of Mike’s guests as he brings to the stage graduates from his highly successful Battlefields to Ballfields initiative, in which new sports officials are recruited, equipped and trained from the ranks of America’s military service veterans.

Lunch Workshops: Food for Your Thoughts Time: 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM Grab your complimentary box lunch and go! Summit attendees get to choose your “track” for Tuesday’s working lunch.

The majority of attendees will stay in the Grand Ballroom for the leadership track, “Managing Up.” Those interested

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in legal and insurance issues should look to participate in our interactive panel session, “Legal and Insurance Q&A.” Finally, state high school association personnel should plan to attend the closed-door, invitation-only session, “State High School Association Leadership Forum.”

Managing Up Location: Grand Ballroom BC Featuring a unique opportunity to hear and interact with the NCAA national coordinators of both men’s and women’s basketball officiating. First there is position power. Next there is leadership. Many “leaders” look left, look right and mostly look down. They are looking at the folks they have been hired to work with and to “lead.” That is the path trod most often. But, and that is a big word here, they often get too busy to look up – at those they report to. Effectiveness and longevity comes only with looking up…managing up to those who have your fate in their hands. Careers crash, standing suffers, political capital gets wasted, desired outcomes become outliers when the expectations from on high don’t mesh with the goals you’ve set for your administration.

Time for a personal check up.

Speakers: JUNE COURTEAU NCAA national coordinator of women’s basketball officiating; former Women’s Basketball Officiating Consortium assistant coordinator of technology and staff development; former NCAAW regional clinician; former NCAAW D-I basketball official for 45 years; former WNBA referee; officiated 12 NCAAW Final Fours, five NCAAW championship games, 13 WNBA Finals, two WNBA All-Star games, and the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona; 2016 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee; 2013 WBCA Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award recipient; Winona State University Warrior Hall of Fame member;

1998 Naismith Women’s College Basketball Official of the Year; 1988 Minnesota Girls and Women in Sports Award for Leadership and Support of Girls and Women’s Sports.

J.D. COLLINS NCAA national coordinator of men’s basketball officiating; former coordinator of officials for the Mid-American Conference and Summit League; former consultant to the Big Ten Conference; former D-I official for nearly two decades, including two Final Fours.

Legal and Insurance Q & A Time: T5 – 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM Location: Salon AB Go ahead, ask your question. Past Summits make clear – attendees want to ask questions.

They want hard information about the law and legal responsibilities that affect officials and organizations that use their services.

They want definite, understandable answers to the questions they have about insurance coverages and potential risks. These areas are two bedrocks of smart, savvy and sensible officiating practice in the litigious world we find ourselves practicing in. This workshop is presented by renowned speakers, each of whom has years of experience servicing and supporting the sports officiating industry.

Bring something to take good notes!

Speakers: ALAN GOLDBERGER Sports law attorney and recognized legal authority for game officials; author of Sports Officiating: A Legal Guide; Member Information and Consultation Program

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(MICP) representative; professional speaker; Referee and NASO writer and contributor; former NCAA D-I basketball official; former college baseball umpire; former high school football official; serves as special counsel to national, state and local officiating associations, insurance carriers, claims administrators and national and regional sports governing bodies in the sports industry.

DON COLLINS California Interscholastic Federation, San Francisco Section commissioner; Member Information and Consultation Program, Referee, NASO and NASO Association Advantage contributor; longtime track and field, and basketball official; longtime lawyer; former NASO board member (2011-14); 2016 Mel Narol Medallion award recipient.

DREW SMITH American Specialty Insurance and Risk Services Inc. (Fort Wayne, Ind.) president; American Specialty has been NASO’s

insurance provider since 2004; Drew joined American Specialty in May of 1997 as an account executive; American Specialty is NASO’s 2017 Mel Narol Medallion award recipient.

State High School Association Leadership Forum Time: T5 – 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM Location: Salon FG Invitation-only, closed-door, workshop for state high school office executives, staff members and invited guests – a unique opportunity to share ideas and best practices. Topics include: new requirements for officials, how and when to discipline, public-statements about officiating, state-tournament officiating selections, turning video into a program that can teach, improved interpretation meetings, recruitment efforts, background checks, budgeting tied to registration fees and much more.

Now We Say Yes to Officiating Time: 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC Okay, get ready for the big reveal! Summit attendees have worked so hard. Especially in the M7 Workshop session. That session evaluated, discussed and argued over 12 key topics. (Review the description of the M7 session to refresh your memory.) Now,

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that work is done and the results have been assembled. This session will be the reveal of those results and some are stunning. This session will be a gift – providing so much information and insight to take back to the office. Guaranteed to be one of the most revealing and riveting sessions in Summit history.

REFEREE VOICES Time: 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM Location: Grand Ballroom BC

LIVE

Stand up for officiating and be heard. The concept is simple: presenters on stage, telling a story, giving an insight, sharing a moment – all that will make you feel good about sports officiating. RefereeVoices begins with this session and it will grow and grow on this session’s base. There will be an expansive body of short, memorable videos that have captured the voices of so many needing to be heard on behalf of who we are and what we do. Not to be missed.

Speakers: BOB DELANEY Former NBA Referee Operations Vice President and NBA Referee; prior to becoming vice president was a referee development advisor and a crew chief development advisor within the NBA officiating department; a former NBA official (1987-2011), having officiated more than 1,500 regular season games and 210 playoff games, including nine NBA Finals; he is an NBA Cares ambassador; Naismith Hall of Fame Mannie Jackson Human Spirit award recipient; Armed Forces Foundation Leadership award recipient; President Obama’s Volunteer Service award recipient; U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal recipient; Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame board trustee; 2003 Gold Whistle Award recipient; incoming NASO board member.

SARAH THOMAS An NFL Down Judge, Thomas is the first female official in the NFL, entering her fourth year this coming season. She began officiating

in 1996, had her first high school football contest in 1999, and joined Conference USA in 2007. She also officiated in the United Football League, including the 2010 championship game.

ANITA ORTEGA An NCAAW D-I Basketball Official, Anita has officiated the NCAAW basketball tournament 20+ times; 1978 UCLA women’s basketball national championship team member and inducted in UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame; retired Los Angeles Police Department commanding officer; former NASO board member (20032007) and started a second term in 2017.

CARL CHEFFERS An NFL Referee, Carl began officiating in 1980 in Long Beach, CA working various levels of HS and college football. In 1995, he was honored to follow in his father’s footsteps by being appointed to the officiating staff of the Pac-10 where he worked for five seasons. He had the opportunity to work NFL Europe and eventually completed eight seasons there. Following the 1999 NCAA season, he was added to the roster of officials in the NFL as a side judge. Carl became a referee in 2008. He has worked many NFL post-season assignments including Super Bowl LI (Atlanta vs. New England) in 2017.

JIM RADCLIFFE The veteran Louisiana High School Officials Association member and longtime high school football referee is best known on the national stage as the crew chief on the 2013 Louisiana high school football game in which Radcliffe and one of his crewmates were arrested midgame by a local police officer after a bizarre standoff regarding clearing the sidelines of unnecessary personnel.

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SECTION 3

CELEBRATE officiating

Gala

– SPONSORED BY –

It’s the grandest party at the officiating event of the year. You’ll feel an intimate connection with and tremendous pride in our shared officiating community – while at the same time helping to recognize those who have made an impact.

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cocktail hour Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM / Location: Grand Ballroom A Mix and mingle with all the attendees, speakers and luminaries of the officiating world before the big gala. Make sure you stop by and take a picture next to the NASO Gold Whistle, the most coveted award in officiating. Cash bar available. Dress is business casual to formal.

celebrate officiating gala Time: 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM / Location: Grand Ballroom BC Join us as we celebrate the best that officiating has to offer during an elegant evening banquet to close the 2018 Summit program. NASO is privileged to recognize the efforts of outstanding people and outstanding deeds by awarding the Mel Narol Medallion Award and officiating’s highest honor, the Gold Whistle Award. You’ll feel an intimate connection with and tremendous pride in our shared officiating community – while at the same time helping to recognize those who have made an impact.

Fox 40 International is the premier producer of officiating whistles. The complete line of Fox 40 products includes whistles for all uses, whistle attachments, Fox 40 gear, pro coaching boards, mouthguards and marine & outdoor products. Fox 40 continues to invest in new technology, designs and machinery, resulting in many new products being launched each year. Fox 40 has sponsored the Celebrate Officiating Gala and for more than two decades.

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GOLD WHISTLE 2018

Award

NASO President Barry Mano said Carollo’s “influence and fingerprints are on so many organizations, leagues and conferences. But well beyond that and more importantly actually is the fact that Bill has personally helped so many officials have wonderful careers, and at many levels.”

R E CIP IENT

B ILL CA ROL LO Bill Carollo, Shorewood, Wis., former NFL referee and currently coordinator of football officials for the Collegiate Officiating Consortium, will receive the 2018 Gold Whistle Award, presented by the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO).

The award will be presented during the Celebrate Officiating Gala, sponsored by Fox 40 International, which caps the 2018 Sports Officiating Summit.

Carollo officiated in the NFL from 1989 to 2008, breaking in as a side judge before being promoted to referee in 1997. He was on the field for Super Bowls XXX and XXXVII. From 2000 to 2006, he was director of the NFL Referees Association. Carollo now directs officials of the Big Ten, Mid-American and Missouri Valley football conferences as well as a number of NCAA Division III leagues.

“It’s a bigger challenge,” he said, “and it allows me to help give back (to officiating) — try to make a bigger dent in the second half of my career. I came to the realization that I could do more to help officiating by coming off the field.

“I realized I didn’t need another Super Bowl ring,” he said. “I tried to look at the big picture and now if I create opportunities for 10 more people, 25, 100 more (in officiating) then I’m doing something. I’m helping make it (officiating) cool, make it a respected profession.”

The Gold Whistle Award is presented annually by NASO. Those considered are individuals or groups that have made significant contributions to the betterment of officiating, exhibit a high degree of integrity and ethics and other qualities that are held in high regard by the industry. Candidates must have a consistent record of presenting officiating in a positive light as well as exhibiting a “service above self” attitude. Public service to officiating, having a motivating effect on others and/or strong community involvement are also considered. This year’s honoree will be the 30th to receive the award, joining an elite group of past individual recipients or other organizations.

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MEL NAROL Medallion 2018

from 1993-2010. During his tenure, he was known for promoting the education of high school coaches and his ongoing mission of protecting and promoting a positive education-based culture in high school sports.

Under his watch, there was an increased effort by NFHS to rid prep sports of steroid use, as well as programs maintaining amateurism and preserving Friday nights for high school football.

“Bob extended his hand to NASO and Referee magazine, and to me personally, at a time when our organizations were viewed as on very different wavelengths,” Barry Mano, NASO president and founder, said.

R E CIP IENT

BOB KA N A B Y Bob Kanaby, retired executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), will receive the 2018 Mel Narol Medallion Award during the Celebrate Officiating Gala at the annual NASO Sports Officiating Summit. The award recognizes an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the betterment of NASO. Kanaby was executive director of the NFHS

“Bob’s statesmanship led the way to our gaining wisdom in dealing with people. He did not have to extend that branch but thank goodness he did. Today, we have a flourishing partnership with the NFHS and wonderful working relationships with virtually every state association. We are in Bob’s debt.”

Kanaby said, “I’ve always thought the real lesson of sport is to develop athletes and help them become good citizens in the hope they add to society and pass that message onward in their day-to-day life. Sports should help high school athletes become the best people they can be.”

The Mel Narol Medallion recognizes an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the betterment of NASO. Contributions might include, but are not limited to, organizational leadership, education and training, promotion of officiating and NASO and sponsorship. Mel Narol, longtime officiating legal advocate and NASO leader, received the award posthumously in 2003 and the award was then renamed to honor him.

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previous recipients GOLD WHISTLE RECIPIENTS 1988 - Art McNally 1989 - Ed Myer 1990 - Pete Pavia 1991 - Larry Barnett 1992 - Jim Tunney 1993 - Steve Palermo 1994 - Ron Asselstine 1995 - Ed Hightower 1996 - Bernie Saggau 1997 - Ted Butcher 1998 - Durwood Merrill 1999 - Tommy Nunez 2000 - Tom Dooley 2001 - Paul Stewart 2002 - Larry Young 2003 - Bob Delaney 2004 - Bob McElwee 2005 - John W. Keys 2006 - Blow the Whistle on Cancer Campaign 2007 - Jerry Markbreit 2008 - Marcy Weston 2009 - Mills Lane 2010 - Emily Alexander 2011 - Esse Baharmast 2012 - Terry Gregson 2013 - Bill LeMonnier 2014 - Joe Crawford 2015 - Marcia Alterman 2016 - Ron Foxcroft 2017 - Ralph Swearngin

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MEL NAROL MEDALLION RECIPIENTS 2001 - Jerry Seeman 2003 - Mel Narol (posthumously) 2004 - Fox 40 International 2005 - Dick Honig 2006 - Marcy Weston 2007 - Bill Kolbe 2008 - Ed T. Rush 2009 - Ronnie Carter 2010 - David Dodge 2011 - Alan Goldberger 2012 - Marriott Corp.

2013 - Gary Whelchel 2014 - California Basketball Officials Association 2015 - Patty Viverito 2016 - Don Collins 2017 - Drew Smith and American Specialty Insurance

GREAT CALL AWARD RECIPIENTS Samuel Alito John Allen Marcia Alterman Esse Baharmast Jack Bissell Joseph Blatter Larry Boucher Patty Broderick Matthew Burkhart Rick Cacciatore Caroline Carter Ronnie Carter Red Cashion Don Cerimeli Randy Christal Don Collins Chuck Coplan Danny Crawford Joe Crawford Craig Cress Frank DeFord Bob Delaney Doug Elgin Sandee Ellender Bill Esau Reid Evans Rich Fetchiet Mary Flynn Ron Foxcroft Chris Gambino Dave Gannaway Brian Gessner George Gissell Alan Goldberger Roger Goodell

Bryan Greenwood Jerry Grunska Don Helinski Daria Hebert Cole Henggeler Tom Herre Mary Hickman John Higgins John Hogan Julie Ilacqua Jim Jorgensen Bob Kanaby John Katzler Jack Kemp Bill Kennedy Bill Kolbe Rick Kuntz Don Lawrence Tom Lepperd Lou Levine Dotson Lewis John Lozano Jerry Markbreit Jerry McGee Lamell McMorris Kevin Merkle Steve Meyer Tommy Nunez Ronnie Nunn Anita Ortega Lindsay Paradise Mike Pereira Jean-Louis Piette Mike Port Joan Powell Jim Radcliffe Marc Ratner

Joe Reed Ruth Rehn Danny Rennels Stephen Rey John Richey Family Vaughan Rody Ed Rush Mike Sammons Gary Schumann Jerry Seeman Todd Self Sandra Serafini Pat Sharpe Steve Shaw Jeff Siegel Dan Steir Kevin Stine Mary Struckhoff Ralph Swearngin Dave Sweeney Julian Tackett George Thompson Bill Topp Jeff Triplette John Tumpane Jim Tunney Mary Uyl Nina Van Erk James Vernier Kevin Wallace Tom Washington Wright Waters Robert Watts Marcy Weston Gary Whelchel Paul Wilson Wayne Winkler

Dave Yeast Larry Young Hank Zaborniak Rhonda Zeringdue

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SECTION 4

thanks to our sponsors While the National Association of Sports Officials, which is a non-profit educational organization, hosts the Summit and provides staffing, financial and logistics support, there is no way the annual Sports Officiating Summit would exist without the continued financial support of the Summit sponsors. This year’s 90 Summit Support Organizations run the gamut from large wellestablished national organizations to small start-ups just entering the industry. Always remember that every one of these organizations support the officiating industry; you should support them, too!

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why sponsor?

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Recognition of your organization will appear in selected materials associated with the Summit.

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Signage with your organization’s logo will be displayed during the Summit.

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Each SSO logo will appear in the Summit Attendee Resource Manual.

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Every SSO will receive name recognition as an “NASO Education Partner.” This recognition appears in all 2018 issues of Its Official, the association’s newsletter read monthly by more than 26,000 members and media.

NASO firmly believes that any partnership must be a win-win relationship. For that reason, NASO is proud to provide every SSO with significant exposure. Most importantly, every SSO is immediately recognized as a positive supporting of officials throughout the officiating industry.

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Your organization’s logo will appear in Referee magazine on the NASO Vision In Action page at least once during the year. This promotional page appears monthly in the magazine promoting various NASO activities and is read by more than 60,000 officials.

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Complimentary Summit attendee registrations for your organization’s use at its discretion.

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Each SSO logo will appear on the NASO website promoting it as an “NASO Education Partner.

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Sponsors receive first consideration for exhibit space for both the NASO Sports Officiating Summit and the annual State Day event one day prior to the Summit.

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Every SSO will be recognized in the NASO Summit publication Say Yes to Officiating to be published and distributed to hundreds of officiating leaders and media following the Summit.

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NASO will make a national announcement promoting your organization’s grant.

Financial support for the NASO Sports Officiating Summit comes from a wide variety of sports and officiating organizations — from pro leagues like the NFL and NBA, state athletic and activities associations, gear and uniform retailers, college conferences, national governing bodies, officials associations and many others.

In 2018, 90 different organizations served as Summit Support Organizations (SSO).

Their financial support enabled NASO to have the most important and far-reaching event since it began in 1980. An important measure of the success each year is the financial support provided by the key stakeholders within our industry.

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AHSAA.COM

THEAMERICAN.ORG

Founded in 1921, the AHSAA regulates, coordinates and promotes the interscholastic athletic programs among its 401 senior high members and 287 junior high and middle school members, representing more than 75,000 students.

Not entirely unlike the nation that provides its namesake, the American Athletic Conference was born from an ideal in which members with ambitious goals are provided with the means to a succeed in their quests for excellence.

AMERSPEC.COM

ARBITERSPORTS.COM

Founded in 1989, American Specialty specializes in insurance and risk services for the Sports and Entertainment industry. Over 50 niche programs are offered on a nationwide basis to the Professional Sports, Amateur Sports, Motorsports, and Entertainment industries.

The company pioneered the use of sportsofficial-assigning software in 1984 and has been the industry leader ever since.

AIAONLINE.ORG

THEACC.COM

AIA has a history that can be traced back to 1913, and is committed to the inclusion of equitable interscholastic opportunities for both boys and girls in all Arizona high schools.

The Atlantic Coast Conference, through its member institutions, seeks to maximize the educational and athletic opportunities of its student-athletes, while enriching their quality of life. It strives to do so by affording individuals equitable opportunity to pursue academic excellence and compete at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics competition in a broad spectrum of sports and championships.

BIGEAST.COM

BIGTEN.ORG

Founded in 1979, the league’s 10-member schools maintain an unyielding commitment to academic integrity, athletic excellence and community service. Reorganized in 2013, the Conference chose to enter a new era by returning to its basketball-focused heritage.

The Big Ten Conference is the oldest Division 1 collegiate athletic conference in the United States, and despite its name, the conference consists of 14 member schools.

The Big Ten Football Officials Association is composed of the on-field officials who work Big Ten Conference assignments. There are roughly 65 members, not including replay officials who choose to join.

CBOA.NET

CFL.CA

A consulting company founded by Mike Pereira, the former vice president of officiating for the NFL.

The professional football league of Canada has been in existence as the CFL since 1958.

Currently nine teams battle each year for the Grey Cup.

More than 3,700 officials are members of the only statewide basketball officials association in the state, from youth to semi-pro competition.

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CLIFFKEEN.COM

CHSAA.ORG

An officials apparel company, Cliff Keen Athletic is dedicated to the advancement of athletics through innovative products.

Serving 223,000 students in 338 member schools, the CHSAA co-sponsored and hosted the 2008 NASO Summit.

DVSPORT.COM

FOX40WORLD.COM

DVSport, Inc. specializes in digital video acquisition, analysis, and play-back software designed specifically for the sports market.

Fox 40 International Inc. is the manufacturer of the world famous Fox 40 Pealess Whistle. Fox 40 developed an innovative and reliable product that revolutionized the requirements of the whistle and changed the industry forever.

FOX40SHOP.COM

FOXSPORTS.COM

Fox40shop.com is the online retailer of Fox 40 products. Fox40shop.com offers Fox 40’s complete product line and allows ease of purchase for all of Fox 40’s customers.

The Fox Sports Network includes Fox Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company and 19 regional sports networks.

GAATHLETICOFFICIALS.ORG

GHSA.NET

GAOA provides services and support to its member officials statewide to encourage excellence, emphasize sportsmanship, fair play and integrity at all levels.

With 421 member schools and serving more than 450,000 students, the governing body for high school athletics in Georgia was the cosponsor and host for the 2011 Sports Officiating Summit.

GETITRIGHTTRAINING.COM

HONIGS.COM

Get It Right Enterprises, LLC is adapting 3D visualization technologies to accelerate learning and improve retention of rules knowledge and officiating mechanics. The animated rule book will assist officials, coaches, and student-athletes to better understand what is legal and illegal and what is safe and unsafe.

Honig’s has been an industry leader in officiating equipment and clothing for over 30 years. Please join the new ownership team as we revamp our customer service, website redesign, and improve the quality of our product lines.

IHSA.ORG

INCHECK.NET

With 770 schools, the IHSA is the fifth largest state association in the country. More than 546,000 students attend schools governed by the IHSA.

A nationwide provider of cost-effective, customized background screening services for small, medium and enterprise organizations, including state athletic associations for background checks on officials. We take the time to identify your needs and create solutions that fit.

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IHSAA.ORG

IAABO.ORG

This school year, more than 160,000 students will compete in IHSAA-sanctioned tournaments in 20 sports, 10 for boys and 10 for girls.

Founded in 1923, two of IAABO’s stated purposes are to educate, train, develop and provide instruction for basketball officials and to promote the welfare of the game, its players and officials.

KHSAA.ORG IAHSAA.ORG The governing body for boys’ sports in Iowa serves nearly 400 schools and more than 230,000 students.

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The KHSAA, organized in 1917, sanctions 40 state championships in 12 sports and 4 sport activities, and licenses and trains over 4,000 officials. Kentucky served as the host state for the 2017 NASO Sports Officiating Summit.

LHSAA.ORG

LHSOA.COM

The LHSAA, organized in 1920 sanctions 109 championships in 27 sport programs, governs approximately 390 member schools, and certifies the eligibility of nearly 90,000 student athletes, 8,000 coaches and 5,000 officials annually.

The Louisiana High School Officials Association was formed in 2009 to provide officials for the interscholastic sports programs of Louisiana.

There are more than 6,000 officials in the LHSOA that are registered by the Louisiana High School Athletics Association (LHSAA) to officiate in 7 different sports.

MLB.COM

MAGBO.NYC

MLB is the highest level of play in North American pro baseball. Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities and the Youth Baseball Academy are of MLB’s community programs.

MAGBO provides professional development and advancement opportunities in the New York Metro area to enhance the experiences of our members who officiate women’s basketball from youth leagues to NCAA Division I.

MHSAA.COM

GETSOMEMACTION.COM

Nearly 300,000 male and female athletes participate in MHSAA sports each year, competing for more than 120 state titles.

Michigan served as the host state for the 2013 NASO Summit.

The 12-team league is one of 11 Division I football-playing conferences. The MAC offers 11 men’s and 12 women’s championships.

MSHSL.ORG The MSHSL governs 255,000 students and more than 550 schools and was the host for the 2010 Summit in Minneapolis.

MILB.COM Minor League Baseball, was formed on September 5, 1901, from a meeting of Minor League executives at the Leland Hotel in Chicago. An important function of the National Association office is the running of the annual Baseball Winter Meetings™, the convention of professional baseball, in conjunction with the Commissioner’s Office.

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MISSHSAA.COM

MSHSAA.ORG

The Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) is the official sanctioning body of all public and some private junior high and high school academic and athletic competitions in the state of Mississippi.

MSHSAA sponsors 17 sports and more than 175,000 students by promoting the value of participation, sportsmanship, team play, and personal excellence.

MVC-SPORTS.COM

VALLEY-FOOTBALL.ORG

The Missouri Valley Conference, the nation’s second-oldest NCAA Division I conference, continues to be a leader in college athletics and is one of the nation’s most progressive conferences, celebrating its 111th season in 2017-18.

A member of the Football Championship Subdivision, the Valley is made up of 10 schools in the Midwest.

NAIA.ORG

NBA.COM

Founded in 1937, the NAIA is the governing body of small athletics programs that are dedicated to character-driven intercollegiate athletics.

Founded in 1946, the NBA is home to the highest level of one of the most entertaining sports.

NCAA.COM

NFHS.ORG

Founded in 1906, the NCAA is made up of three membership classifications that are known as Divisions I, II and III. Each division creates its own rules governing personnel, amateurism, recruiting, eligibility, benefits, financial aid, and playing and practice seasons.

A co-sponsor of the Summit, the NFHS serves the state associations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It writes rules for 16 sports.

OFFICIATING DEPARTMENT

NFLFOUNDATION.ORG

NFL.COM

The National Football League Foundation (NFL Foundation) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of sports, youth football and the communities in which we live.

The NFL’s office that coordinates all operations related to officiating.

NFLRA.ORG

NHL.COM

The group that represents all of the NFL’s officials. The association is involved with charitable and educational efforts throughout the country.

The National Hockey League was established in 1917 as the successor to the National Hockey Association (NHA), officially called the National Hockey Association of Canada Limited. It is a professional ice hockey league composed of 30 member clubs: 23 in the United States and 7 in Canada.

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NHLOFFICIALS.COM

NISOA.COM

The NHLOA was born in 1969 out of a need to improve working conditions, salaries and other benefits for NHL officials.

NISOA is an organization of more than 5,500 soccer officials, which trains, certifies and provides qualified soccer referees for the college soccer community throughout the country. The mission of NISOA is to assist in the development of soccer as a major sport in the United States and to improve the quality of officiating at the college and high school levels.

NEATTUCKS.COM

NSAAHOME.ORG

Neat Tucks are a patented clothing accessory which keeps sports officials uniforms tucked.

Neat Tucks allows sports officials to look their best whether at a camp/tryout or officiating a championship game. Made by a sports official for sports officials.

The state association for Nebraska High School Athletics.

NJSIAA.ORG

NMACT.ORG

The state association was founded in 1918 and is a voluntary, non-profit organization of 433 schools in the state.

The NMOA is the officiating body for high school sports in the state, serving more than 46,000 student-athletes.

NYSPHSAA.ORG

OHSAA.ORG

More than 389,000 athletes participated in one of the 27 sports sponsored by the governing body for New York State.

The OHSAA co-sponsored the 2008 NASO Summit. There are more than 800 schools and nearly 600,000 students affiliated with the OHSAA.

OREOFFICIALS.ORG

OSAA.ORG

The OAOA represents all high school officials in Oregon. Among the purposes for the OAOA is to enhance the quality, consistency and perception of officiating throughout the state.

The OSAA co-sponsored and hosted the NASO Summit in 2003 and 2013. The OSAA serves 295 schools and more than 170,000 students.

PAC-12.COM

PEOPLETRAIL.COM

Upholding its tradition as the “Conference of Champions,� the Pac-12 has won more NCAA national team championships than any other conference in history.

Peopletrail is a leading provider of custom vetting services for athletic programs: eligibility, criminal background checks, volunteer screening, drug screening, ATS integration & program security solutions

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PROREFEREES.COM PAVO.ORG For around 20 years, PAVO has operated as an independent, non-profit organization working to train and certify volleyball referees in close partnership with USA Volleyball, NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA.

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PRO is the organization responsible for managing the referee and assistant referee program in professional soccer leagues in the U.S. and Canada, working alongside the U.S. Soccer and MLS, among others.

PURCHASEOFFICIALS.COM

QWIKREF.COM

Purchase Officials Supply is based in Ohio and offers officiating gear in nine sports. The company works with several states to provide officially licensed apparel, including Georgia, among other states.

QwikRef is an online reporting tool used by the Coordinator of Officials to evaluate, train, and analyze conference officiating staff.

REFEREE.COM

GOSILBO.COM

As the original magazine for sports officiating and the industry’s best-known publication, Referee has set the journalistic standard for developing educational and training materials vital to sports officials.

Silbo is the digital marketplace directly connecting amateur sports games with qualified sports officials. Officials select their own schedules, working when they want and where they want, and get paid weekly via direct deposit.

SMITTYOFFICIALSAPPAREL.COM

SECSPORTS.COM

The company that got its start with the original “Smitty” lanyard continues to develop a wide range of officiating apparel and accessories.

A pioneer in the integration of higher education and athletic competition, the Southeastern Conference is a leader on the national landscape for intercollegiate athletics in the 21st century.

A group of anonymous donors that contribute annually to the NASO Summit.

SUNBELTSPORTS.ORG

TASO.ORG

THSBOA.ORG

Formed in the 1930s, TASO is an independent organization of sports officials governed by sports officials.

The association, in conjunction with the state governing body, aids in the education and development of officials throughout the state.

Founded in 1976, the Sun Belt is one of 10 NCAA Division I FBS conferences and conducts championships in 10 women’s and 9 men’s sports.

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UFC.COM

UMP-ATTIRE.COM

Started in 1993, UFC is a professional mixed martial arts organization offering the premier series of those events.

The leading online retailer for sports officials’ gear and apparel.

USAHOCKEY.COM

USARUGBY.ORG

With a membership of more than 585,000 ice and inline hockey players, coaches, officials and volunteers, USA Hockey’s main emphasis is on the support of grassroots hockey programs.

Founded in 1975, USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby in America, and a Full Sport Member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and World Rugby.

USSOCCER.COM

TEAMUSA.ORG/USA-SOFTBALL

U.S. Soccer is the governing body for all levels of soccer played in this country, from the smallest youth organizations through the professional leagues.

Established in 1933, USA Softball, formerly the Amateur Softball Association is the largest governing body for softball competition in the U.S.

TEAMUSA.ORG/USA-VOLLEYBALL

USPOLO.ORG

Founded in 1928, it was one of the 12 founding countries of the International Volleyball Federation. There are 40 regions serving members across the country.

The governing body for the sport since 1890.

Sponsors numerous programs for education and promotion of the sport in the United States.

USTA.COM

UILTEXAS.ORG

The governing body for tennis, the USTA sponsors local leagues and tournaments and also runs the U.S. Open, one of professional tennis’ four Grand Slam events.

Since 1910 the UIL has grown into the largest inter-school organization of its kind in the world. More than 785,000 athletes participate in UIL sports each year. The UIL was the cosponsor and host for the 2016 Sports Officiating Summit.

USLACROSSE.ORG

VOKKEROUSA.COM

The national governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse, primarily serving the youth game. It offers programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the sport.

Adeunis NA is a company working to bring Vokkero headset technology to officiating, enhancing communication between crews.

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WIAA.COM

WOA-OFFICIALS.COM

Founded in 1905, the group governs high school sports for nearly 800 member schools..

Founded in 1946, the Washington Officials Association (WOA) provides qualified officials for WIAA-sanctioned regular season and postseason events. The organization works tirelessly to promote, recruit, educate and retain officials throughout the state of Washington.

WCCSPORTS.COM

WEAREWHISTLE.COM

Formed in 1952 to support five basketball programs in the San Francisco area, it has grown to 10 schools and 13 sports.

Whistle removes all the pain and inefficiencies out of scheduling and coordinating game officials! The hassle-free dedicated service connects game officials with organized sports events across every level.

WIAAWI.ORG

ZOOOMAPP.COM

WIAA serves 506 schools and more than 300,000 students by cultivating, developing and organizing high ideals of good citizenship and sportsmanship.

We help officials use video to get better.

Associations can easily create and share training videos. Deliver consistent training messages to all your officials, provide educational materials for local chapters to use in meetings, find out if plays are being called the way you want them called, and connect with your officials to get them the training they need.

SECTION 5

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION In the pages that follow, you will find a wealth of information that not only relates to the recruitment and retention theme of this year’s Summit, in many cases, it also directly relates to many of the Summit Educational sessions. The Material presented here is culled form the vast archives and databases of both Referee Magazine and the National Association of Sports Officials.

Those archives and databases represent nearly 50 years worth of officiating-specific content, analysis and articles. All the material has been previously published in one form or another but all of it has application to our current challenges with finding, mentoring and retaining sports officials.

Some of the material is intended to provide positivity and highlight the celebratory aspects of officiating, such as the articles, “Why I love Officiating,” and “40 Reasons Why We Officiate.” Other sections provide vital information about where we are in the officiating industry and where we’ve been in terms of numbers and demographics.

Examples of those are “Key Data Points You Need to Know” and “Not Enough Refs.” Finally, you will find three complete Guides to three crucial recruitment and retention areas: “Mentoring in Officiating: A Practical Guide,” “How to Keep Good Officials: Retention Strategies in Officiating,” and “Get the Word Out: A Recruiting Guide for Local Officials Assoications.”

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Why I Love Officiating O riginally appearing in a 2012 issue of Referee, this article asks officials from a variety of levels, sports and experiences one simple question: “Why do you love officiating?” Draw from these passionate and inspirational stories the next time anytime you’re recruiting prospects into our mavaocation.

It Takes Dedication

By Brad Allen, Atlantic Coast Conference football referee from Lumberton, N.C. There is no other avocation that I can think of that requires the level of physical and mental preparation that officiating mandates, and you have to dedicate yourself in order to be successful.

You have to be in excellent physical condition in order to be in the correct position to rule on plays. Add to that the extreme climate conditions that officials encounter and you quickly understand the importance of physical conditioning for officials.

You also have to ensure that your mental preparation is exceptional in order to be effective. Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. Managing a game and ensuring equity in your rulings between two talented, highly motivated teams is a great challenge. Knowing how to communicate with players, coaches and

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officials when the game is “on the line” requires great skill and finesse. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. Being able to handle situations that arise separates the average official from the capable arbiter. The challenges of officiating are a great motivation and fun … you gotta love it!

The Field Feels Like Home

By Mandy Love, youth, amateur, high school, college, and former professional soccer official from Bowling Green, Ky. I have known that I wanted to referee long before I owned my first whistle. My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying enough. When I became old enough to referee, in my opinion, at the ripe age of nine I told my father my intentions and he explained that I was still too young to take an entry-level class.

That was one of the few times I remember getting in trouble with my father for kicking his car door as hard as my little legs could out of anger. Another year passed and my father finally allowed me to become a certified referee. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world!

My feelings about my whistle are still the same. Every offseason lasts too long and a week off of the field makes me feel rusty. People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. I just cannot erase the pleasure from my face.

Refereeing soccer is more than a hobby or a job; it is my passion and it is ingrained in me so deeply that it is a part of me. The confidence I feel on the field has spilled over into almost every aspect of my life, and it has propelled me to believe that any dream is within my grasp. And without any rhyme or reason, the place where I feel the most at home, pacified and comfortable is on that soccer field.

My Dad Was an Official

By Clete Blakeman, NFL referee from Omaha, Neb. My love of officiating started when I was very young … five to six years old.

I literally grew up watching my dad, Glen, work a seemingly endless number of football and basketball games. Each week, I’d tag along with dad and his crew to whatever game they had scheduled.

I realized, even back then, how fun and rewarding each officiating experience was for the crew. As a child, I know that I enjoyed every minute of it. After college, I had the great privilege of joining his football crew and kick-starting my own football officiating career. We enjoyed working four football seasons together before his retirement.

It is a Huge Challenge

By Brad Watson, NHL referee from Denver The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. Officiating at the professional level requires commitment to conditioning. Today’s game is so fast and the players have such a high skill set that it’s very important to be in the best possible position to judge a play and make a call. Gaining the best sight line on the ice requires officials to be strong skaters, agile and physically fit.

Being mentally ready for the game is most important. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. You know the rules, have studied the pregame intel and use your experience to go read and react to the actions. When a situation occurs that brings the temperature of the game up, you have to control your emotions and read the emotions of the players and coaches to restore calm. Having good presence, working with pride, acting professional and enjoying the challenge of the job is what I love most about officiating hockey. I always say, you can question my judgment but don’t question my effort.

It is My Release

By Ralph Davino, longtime high school baseball, football and basketball official from Watertown, Conn.

It puts me in the zone! I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose

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myself in my game that day. Usually I will leave the venue with a different outlook. It is my release.

It is the Best Seat in the House

By Kevin Yochum, Big League World Series softball umpire and baseball umpire from Fort Myers, Fla. There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. Being part of the game is a big reason. It’s the best seat in the house. You can’t get any closer to the ballgame. It’s a wonderful place to be.

I hear (other officials) say, “I do it for the kids.” I’m not disagreeing with them when they say that and I enjoy being around the kids too, but there’s a hundred other things I could do if I was doing it for the kids. I could be involved with 4-H. I could be involved with Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America.

I do it because I love the ballgame. …

The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun I’ve had on a ball field. I came off the field and I was so pumped up.

It Gave Me Brothers

By Steve Thorne, 19-year high school football official from Escondido, Calif.

Before I started officiating I had a sister who lived in another county. Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country.

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You Meet All Types

By Rick Eberhardt, Buffalo, N.Y., a 36-year official who works volleyball, softball and basketball You meet just about every type of person there is that exists and you have to learn to deal with all of them in a manner that shows that you deserve to be called an “official.” You meet cheaters, schemers, geniuses and idiots. You meet people persons, individual persons, team players and egomaniacs. You meet talented, mediocre and middle-of-the-road people.

Some are destined for greatness, some for failure. No matter who you meet, you have to deal with them as people who deserve the best from you. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. You are expected to be perfect and improve after that.

It’s Like Playing

By Lee Dyer, NFL back judge from Trenton, Ga. I love the smell of the grass when you first walk out on the field when you get to the stadium. Your heart begins to race, the adrenaline begins to run rampant throughout your body, the excitement takes over as you look around the stadium; you take a couple of deep breaths and then everything becomes so clear. Officiating is similar to playing the game — full of emotion, both highs and lows. I love the challenge of being in complete control of your emotions, maintaining the calmness and the challenge to make a split-second

decision in front of 60,000-100,000 screaming fans and knowing you have six crewmates that have your back in the heat of the battle.

It is a Tradition

By Joanne Aldrich, NCAA D-I women’s basketball official from Tewksbury, Mass.

My father was a basketball official and one of the founding members of the local IAABO board in Lowell, Mass. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship.

My dad always said, “You do not always win, but you can always be a good sport” and, “You should conduct yourself on the court, the way you would conduct yourself in life.” In addition, I have two brothers and a sister who were also officials … we were known as the “Aldrich Hoop Family.”

So when I went off to college I had to work and was asked what I might enjoy doing, I said, “Sports.” I was hired on the intramural staff and was paid $3 an hour to officiate co-ed flag football, women’s basketball and co-ed softball. It was fun and stress-free officiating, and I was able to help pay for college. That was the start of my passion for officiating basketball.

For the following few years, I officiated some while pursuing my master’s in nursing and then my doctorate. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. Presently I officiate in nine D-I conferences. I am also in my first year as the coordinator of officials for the

NE-10 Conference, the largest Division II conference in the country.

I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. I am blessed that I have been able to enjoy two passions and carry on the “Aldrich Hoop Family” tradition.

It Makes Me Feel Alive

By Brian Alexander, 15-year high school basketball official from Aleknagik, Alaska It is equivalent to flying an airplane, skydiving, skiing a black diamond, anything that heightens all your senses. If you’ve ever experienced a buzzer beater, that’s what I’m talking about.

It Has Made Me a Better Person

By Robert Nelson, basketball and football official from Gainesville, Fla. I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. It and she have made me a better person. I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. It has helped me to handle stressful situations and taught me how to remain calm in the midst of the storms of life. It has put me in the middle of so many exciting situations where my skills and knowledge have been tested and given me and my crewmates the afterglow of satisfaction when you know you nailed it in a championship atmosphere.

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I Get to Be a Part of a Great Game

By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men’s basketball official from Florence, Ky. I love being part of the game. The arrival at the arena, the pregame, being with various partners, the competition, the players, coaches, ambience, the focus and concentration needed on each possession.

It allows me the privilege to do something I love, being part of the greatest game, men’s college basketball. I also love the fact that no game is ever the same and allows us the ability to make constant improvement.

field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. This was evident five years ago when my mother died in September and my father died in October during the football season. I didn’t miss a game that season, because working the games was my therapy.

It is the Toughest Thing I’ve Ever Done

By Ed Malloy, NBA referee from Aston, Pa.

I Can Be a Role Model

By Glenn Bushouse, soccer and volleyball official from Richland, Mich.

It offers a chance to lead by example.

Even after coaches/fans express their disappointment in my calls, I still have the eyes and hearts of the players on the field looking to me for leadership and how to show good character and convictions.

I love officiating because of the challenge.

It is by far the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. Unfortunately we miss plays every night, but the challenge of trying to be perfect and get every play right is why I love it so much. There is no better feeling then walking back into the locker room with your partners and knowing that we worked together as a team and that we gave everything we had for those 48 minutes.

It Gives Me Goose Bumps It is the Ultimate Escape

By Glen Thompson, high school official from Tremont, Ill., who has worked football, baseball, softball and cycling.

Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. When I am out on the

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By Jeff Adler, Foster City Calif., who officiates high school football, youth soccer and Little League Baseball Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. When I enter the

field, there’s more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. I can’t find that feeling anywhere else.

I have watched winners lose and losers win. Each year I learn something that makes me a better official and a better person. Each year I meet people that inspire me and people who serve my life no purpose, but I learn from all of it.

It Requires Total Focus

By Harold Buck, New Hope, Minn., a longtime men’s lacrosse official who has also worked lifeguard tournaments and fencing I love officiating because it has a Zen aspect to it: for those two hours, you are completely focused on the task at hand.

There’s no room in your head for thinking about cutting the grass, what you need from the store or how you have to finish your taxes. It’s energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. Add to that the fact that we actually get paid to exercise, and I can’t think of a better way to spend a spring afternoon than on a lacrosse field!

It Has Toughened Me Up

It Takes Me Back to a Good Time

By Joseph Makowski, five-year football high school official from River Forest, Ill. On Friday night as I arrive at the field I pass the grandparents with their folding chairs and blankets. I pass the moms and dads, proudly wearing shirts, emblazoned with their child’s school logo. I pass the giddy cheerleaders and pom-pom girls.

I can smell the foods at the concession stands. I can hear the band warming up in the distance. I hear the announcer blaring out announcements. I see the players doing the same pregame since the beginning of time. And for those couple of hours, everything is good. And I feel proud to be a part of the game.

By Bertha Moore, high school basketball and lacrosse official from Baltimore, Md. Because of officiating I see clearly that life moments often are not about winning or even losing. It’s about being the best you can be in that moment and accepting the outcome. Sometimes I may not like the outcome but I accept it knowing I did my best and move forward. I’ve learned how to deal with difficult crowds; I have been called things my mother did not name me.

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KEY DATA POINTS YOU NEED TO KNOW 17,487. That is the number of officials whose investment in this avocation motivated them to respond to the recent National Association of Sports Officials survey. In the spring of 2017, the largest survey ever conducted in the officiating industry was carried out by NASO and sponsored by Peopletrail.

The project began as an effort by NASO to explore how data might be used to improve the officiating industry. It was intended to be a project that cracked the door open to data collection and hinted at what information might be discovered.

However, as fate would have it, the officiating world did not want the door to be subtly cracked open. Officials are ready to have their voices heard, not just in the future, but now.

NASO has revealed collected data to the officiating community with meaningful visuals. As might be imagined, the door that has been swung open through this survey will provide the opportunity to explore many officiating topics for a long time to come.

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WHO ARE WE? 17,487

53.29

WHO ARE WE?

6.43%

AVERAGE AGE

FEMALE RESPONDENTS

69.96%

WHITE RESPONDENTS

Age Distribution by Sport 80

Median Age Average Age

TRACK & FIELD

TENNIS

SWIMMING

FIELD HOCKEY

SOFTBALL

VOLLEYBALL

WRESTLING

BASEBALL

RUGBY

FOOTBALL

BASKETBALL

NULL & OTHER

LACROSSE

SOCCER

20

HOCKEY

40

COMBAT SPORTS

Age

60

51 54 55 55 56 56 57 57 57 57 58 58 59 60 60 60 48.41 50.96 52.60 52.97 54.04 54.26 54.77 54.78 54.83 54.91 55.99 56.33 56.08 57.87 58.04 58.74

The charts above show the average ages of officials in each sport. The line across the inside of each box shows the median age of officials in that sport. The box represents the range of ages of the middle 50% of the officials in each sport with the upper and lower hinges showing the upper and lower age limits of that middle 50%. The fact that some officials are significantly younger than most of the officials in a sport, or outliers, explains why the mean age is lower than the median age.

Note: The mean age is the sum of all of the participants’ ages divided by the number of respondents that answered this question. The median age is the middle value of all of the ages when the ages are put in order from youngest to oldest.

pro vs. women officials In 2015, 59% of Americans had completed some college or more, 33% had a bachelor’s degree or more, and 12% had advanced degrees including master’s, professional, or doctorate degrees.* In comparison, the level of education of professional officials and female officials is impressive. *Footnote: According to the United States Census Bureau’s “Educational Attainment in the United States: 2015”

female officials:

professional officials:

Some college or more:

75.18%

Some college or more:

78.23%

Bachelor’s degree or more:

59.61%

Bachelor’s degree or more:

62.40%

Advanced degree:

28.74%

Advanced degree:

28.11%

Declined to answer:

19.05%

Declined to answer:

19.31%

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Sport Level

Educational Level

High School Varsity

Declined to Answer

72.76%

Youth

Bachelor’s Degree

69.51%

19.27%

Master’s Degree

High School Sub Varsity

68.81%

Associate Degree High School Diploma or ...

19.85%

Declined to Answer

Professional Degree 15.42%

Major College

9.54%

Post-graduate Study

39.78%

Small College

15.78%

Some College

52.19%

Adult Amateur

Professional

34.88%

Doctorate

6.75%

No Diploma

The chart shows all levels at which respondents have ever officiated.

6.44% 6.08% 3.54% 2.41% 1.58% 0.62%

The bar graph shows the highest level of education respondents have attained.

ETHNICITY, GENDER AND PERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY* 11.33%

A

OF MALE RESPONDENTS HAVE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE OR THREATENED

BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE OFFICIATING COMMUNITY.

B

47.94%

C

12,889 MALES

1,113

FEMALES

47 MALES

2 FEMALES

A 17.02% B 57.45% C N/A

D 50.00%

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN 539 MALES

65 FEMALES

A 12.99% B 44.53% C 23.08% D 53.85%

D

44.74%

OF FEMALE RESPONDENTS HAVE FELT UNSAFE OR FEARED FOR THEIR SAFETY BECAUSE OF ADMINISTRATOR, COACH, PLAYER OR SPECTATOR BEHAVIOR.

OF MALE RESPONDENTS HAVE FELT UNSAFE OR FEARED FOR THEIR SAFETY BECAUSE OF ADMINISTRATOR, COACH, PLAYER OR SPECTATOR BEHAVIOR.

MIDDLE EASTERN OR NORTH AFRICAN

20.58%

OF FEMALE RESPONDENTS HAVE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE OR THREATENED

BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE OFFICIATING COMMUNITY.

HISPANIC, LATINO OR SPANISH ORIGIN 427 MALES

37 FEMALES

A 16.16% B 52.69% C 29.73% D 51.35%

WHITE 11,174 MALES

945 FEMALES

A 10.74% B 47.91%

C 19.58% D 43.81%

ASIAN 117 MALES

17 FEMALES

A 13.68% B 49.57% C 23.53% D 41.18%

OTHER RACES 203 MALES

22 FEMALES

A 18.72% B 52.71% C 36.36% D 59.09%

*Numbers and percentages shown are based on the respondents that chose to answer the relevant questions.

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RESPONDENTS BY SPORT AND LOCATION BASEBALL

SOFTBALL

BASKETBALL

VOLLEYBALL

SOCCER

FOOTBALL

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what should be done to recruit and retain officials from underrepresented groups?

AGREE

DISAGREE OR NOT SURE

MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED

74.20% SPECIAL RECRUITMENT EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO FIND NEW OFFICIALS THAT FIT INTO THESE CATEGORIES

63.34% SHOULD NEVER BE A DIFFERENCE IN TREATMENT AND THINGS SHOULD CONTINUE AS THEY ARE

52.56% ADDITIONAL TRAINING SHOULD BE OFFERED THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO THESE GROUPS

40.59% EFFORT MADE TO PUT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THESE GROUPS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS FOR MEMBERS OF THESE GROUPS

37.18% EFFORT MADE TO PUT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THESE GROUPS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS FOR ENTIRE OFFICIATING COMMUNITY

36.36% OFFICIALS IN THESE GROUPS SHOULD BE ASSIGNED TO WORK WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THAT GROUP AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE

28.84% WHEN AN OFFICIAL FROM THESE GROUPS HAS EQUIVALENT SKILLS TO OTHERS, THEY SHOULD BE PROMOTED FIRST

23.69% AGREE THAT SPORTS DOMINATED BY ONE GENDER SHOULD BE OFFICIATED BY THAT GENDER

13.63% AGREE OFFICIALS FROM THESE GROUPS SHOULD BE PROMOTED FASTER EVEN IF THEY HAVEN’T MET THE SAME REQUIREMENTS

2.44%

Important note: When officials are filtered by gender, ethnicity or age, the trends in responses remain very similar. This means that officials as a whole, no matter what group they might be categorized into, have similar views on what types of action should be taken to incorporate more officials from underrepresented groups into the officiating ranks.

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WHAT ABOUT SPORTSMANSHIP? Sports officials say sportsmanship is getting...

Of sports officials that believe sportsmanship is getting worse...

As a fan, do you ever heckle officials?

57.02%

YES

Do you ever publicly criticize other officials?

YES

11.13%

14.61%

NO

NO

85.39%

Of sports officials that believe sportsmanship is getting better...

27.09%

As a fan, do you ever heckle officials?

15.89%

WORSE

NO CHANGE

88.87%

BETTER

Do you ever publicly criticize other officials?

YES

YES

11.52%

19.24%

NO

80.76%

NO

88.48%

With 57.02% of respondents feeling sportsmanship is getting worse, we have a clear indication that action must be taken to improve sportsmanship. Unfortunately, even among the 57.02% that feel sportsmanship is getting worse, a substantial percentage heckle (14.61%) and publicly criticize (11.13%) other officials.

Rugby and swimming are the sports in which the highest and lowest percentages of respondents (respectively) feel sportsmanship is getting worse. In rugby, more than 7 out of 10 feel sportsmanship is getting worse, while in swimming nearly 1 out of 2 respondents feel it is getting worse.

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at what level is sportsmanship worst?

who causes the most problems with sportsmanship?

Youth Recreational

Not Sure

13.89%

Youth Competitive

36.02%

High School

39.54% 10.11%

Players 21.31%

29.57%

Coaches

Amateur Leagues

Professional

18.25%

Fans Parents

14.73%

Adult Recreational

College

1.45%

7.57% 2.15% 4.33%

Schools

0.38%

Governing Bodies

0.46%

Officials

0.24%

WHEN/HOW DID YOU START? 65 60

Count of Respondents 1.00

61.00

55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 1950 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

At what age did you start officiating?

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The chart shows the ages and years at which officials began officiating. The shades indicate how many officials joined the ranks at each age and year intersection. The darker shades shows the lowest concentration of officials, with other shades each incrementally showing higher concentrations. This chart line tells a story with the clear pattern of higher concentrations of officials starting the avocation at older ages with the advancing years.

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how did you first get into officiating?

Asked by an official at the time

19.00%

Approached a coach or official

15.49%

Other reasons

11.26%

Asked by the sporting organization/ others in the organization

10.06%

Saw an ad on a sports association/ website

4.16%

Asked by their coach at the time

3.14%

Saw a job posting

1.02%

9.35%

why did you start? why do you continue to officiate?

For The Love of the Game

42.50% 16.72%

To Stay Fit

14.84%

To Challenge Myself To Be Part of a Competitive Sport

Friendships Within Officiating Involvement at Elite Level To Meet New People Ability to Work With Elite Players Reward and Recognition

13.10%

16.60% 13.67%

To Have a Hobby To Mentor Newer Officials

13.16%

1.45%

3.33%

8.83% 14.94%

4.28%

10.51% 7.55% 1.32%/2.51% 0.50%/2.33%

0.70%/1.70%

Family/Friends Already Officiating

1.51%/0.63%

My Child Was Playing the Sport

1.27%/0.82%

10.31%

This chart shows the percentage of respondents who first became officials for each of the listed reasons (shown first) in comparison with the percentage of respondents that are continuing to officiate for those reasons (in light grey). It is clear that some of the motivations for officiating change as officials gain experience in the industry.

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NOT ENOUGH REFS I n groundbreaking surveys done in the year 2000, both the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) and the NFHS reached out to sports officials and state athletic associations in attempts to understand what at that time was considered a crisis in officiating. Now that shortages are again becoming more prevalent, what can we glean from those numbers? This article originally appeared in a 2001 issue of Referee magazine.

There’s a national crisis in officiating What was long suspected is now true: There are not enough officials to cover the ever-increasing number of high school games played in this country.

NASO devoted its entire national conference in Norfolk, Va., earlier this year to the subject of recruitment and retention in officiating. The news of a national shortage was presented at a session titled “Why Aren’t There Enough Refs?” during which NASO unveiled the results of a nationwide survey of state high school association officiating leaders, the men and women largely responsible for registering and accrediting officials in every sport each state governs.

They know the numbers better than anyone.

The NFHS also presented findings from a separate survey it conducted to find out the reasons officials have for leaving the avocation.

There was a 100 percent response to the NASO survey; all 60 state association offices answered the survey. (There are 51 state associations, including the District of Columbia, as well as some larger states like

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California that are broken up into several state association sections). The news was grim.

In the first question on the NASO survey, “In general, does your state have an officials’ shortage?” an astounding 90 percent responded yes (54 out of the 60; only Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Wisconsin responded no).

Need by sport. The NASO survey then broke the question down among individual sports (see fig. 1-1). Of course, not every state governs every possible high school sport. That means a state association cannot comment on an officials’ shortage in a sport not offered in that state. All 60 govern basketball and football; 59 govern volleyball; 58 govern soccer, softball, and wrestling; and 57 govern baseball.

Of those seven sports, the survey revealed the sport in most need of officials is soccer, with 86 percent of the state associations that govern soccer indicating a need. Baseball was next at 79 percent, followed in order by wrestling (76 percent), volleyball (75 percent), softball (72 percent), football (68 percent) and basketball (63 percent).

Why don’t officials reregister? The NASO survey then endeavored to determine which was the bigger problem a lack of new recruits or a lack of retention for the reason why a shortage exists. Seventy-one percent responded that the bigger problem was a lack of recruits, while 22 percent indicated it was a lack of retention. Seven percent said both were an equal challenge (see fig. 1-2).

Poor sportsmanship was the number-

one reason cited by state administrators for why officials do not re-register. Poor sportsmanship by spectators was cited by 76 percent of the respondents, while poor sportsmanship by participants (players and coaches) had the second-highest response with 68 percent. Career demands and family were next, tied at 65 percent, and difficulty in advancing was cited by 53 percent.

When asked what the single biggest reason is for officials not re-registering, sportsmanship again was number one.

Sixteen percent said the number-one reason was poor sportsmanship by spectators, 14 percent said it was career demands, 13 percent cited difficulty in advancing, 11 percent attributed it to family demands and another seven percent said it was poor sportsmanship by participants (see fig. 1-3).

No other response scored higher than four percent.

The numbers breakdown. State administrators may have a grasp of why their officials don’t re-register, but they have an even better understanding of the numbers not just the numbers of officials, but also the number of games played needing officials and how those numbers have increased or decreased in the past 10 years.

In many cases, respondents had to make estimates because hard numbers are often unknown for various reasons. Some states leave registration up to local associations, other states don’t make a distinction between the total number of individual officials and the total number of registrations per sport (for example, a single official might be registered in two or three different sports), and many states don’t have any numbers at all for 10 years ago.

The majority of respondents to the NASO survey acknowledged that the total number

of games played in all sports has gone up in the last 10 years (60 responses 80 percent yes, 20 percent no). Most said the amount of total games played had increased by 1020 percent in that time. Meanwhile, some states reported an overall increase of officials while other states saw a decrease in the total number of officials during the same time span.

Pennsylvania, while still acknowledging a statewide officials shortage, had the largest increase in number of officials since the 1990-91 school year a whopping 107 percent increase. Illinois had the most significant decline 21 percent in that same time period.

Most other states either saw a modest increase, a modest decrease or simply did not have enough information from 10 years ago to say one way or the other.

Some of the most remarkable numbers came from the question, “How much does the availability of officials affect the rescheduling/canceling of games?” All 60 respondents answered that question. While only five percent responded that it never happens, 58 percent indicated it happens “occasionally;” 27 percent cited it as “rare” and 10 percent said it was “common” (see fig.

1-4).

The NFHS goes to the source. At the same time NASO was gathering its information, the NFHS was conducting its own survey.

Culling information for five to six months leading up to the Norfolk conference, the NFHS presented those survey results at the same session.

While the NASO survey endeavored to determine once and for all whether the popular notion that there is a nationwide shortage of officials was correct as well as try to determine its extent the NFHS survey struck a more personal chord. It wanted to

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find out from individual officials why they chose to walk away from a sport they had previously officiated.

The genesis of the survey came from the 2000 Midwest Officials Summit, which is an annual meeting of Midwestern state association officiating leaders usually held in September. “We thought it was important to answer the query, Why aren’t there enough refs?’” said NFHS assistant director Mary Struckhoff. “So we at the national office decided we would conduct that survey online and get some feedback on why officials leave the high school ranks.”

After consulting with other officiating leaders, Struckhoff put together a list of 17 potential reasons why officials didn’t reregister in a particular sport plus a write-in “other” section.

At the time of the Norfolk presentation, the NFHS had completed surveys from 465 respondents. Those logging on were asked to provide information on which sport they chose not to re-register in, how long they had been officiating in that sport and their gender. Of the 17 choices on the survey (18, including the “other” selection), respondents were encouraged to indicate “the most important reason(s) for no longer officiating at the high school level” and directed to check all that apply.

Breaking up the information by gender first, Struckhoff noted some of the differences between the male and female respondents. “The market is great for women now in the business world so it’s no surprise career demands was the number one reason.

But, time away from family and friends was also high.” Struckhoff then broke the information up by sport. She noted the slightly different trends in the responses from sport to sport and the need to deal with

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different issues when trying to retain those officials. Finally, the information was divided by experience level (see sidebar, “Why Do Officials Leave?”).

Struckhoff noted how the reasons for leaving officiating evolve the longer an official stays in the avocation. For example, a one- or two-year official is more concerned about how much he or she is spending on licensing and equipment than on advancement. And a 26-year veteran gets out more often because of voluntary retirement than for a strained relationship with his or her local association. Struckhoff noted that at the top of nearly every demographic response was career/job demands, but she acknowledged that to solve the retention problem, we have to attack the problems where we can make a difference. “We can’t do a whole lot about job demands,” she said.

“People have to have a livelihood. But we can do something about sportsmanship; we can do something about costs; we can do something about relationships with assigners and local associations.” Not just high school.

While the two surveys presented at the NASO conference were specifically aimed at high school officials, it’s safe to say that the nationwide shortage doesn’t begin and end there. After the success of the state association survey, NASO sent a similar survey to officiating leaders at colleges and universities in charge of intramural and recreational sports. Out of 55 total respondents, 90 percent answered yes to the question, “In general do intramural and recreational sports have an officials’ shortage?” That percentage mirrors the state association response to the same question regarding high school sports. Basketball, flag football and soccer were the intramural or recreational sports most in need of officials.

Responses deviated most significantly from the state association survey when respondents were asked their opinion for why officials do not continue to work intramural and recreational sports. The number one reason listed was low pay, cited by 84 percent of the respondents. By way of comparison, low pay was only the ninth highest reason listed on the state association survey with 30 percent of those respondents listing it. After low pay, the reasons cited fell more in line with the state association survey.

Poor sportsmanship by participants was the second most-listed reason (77 percent), followed by job/school demands (74 percent). Poor sportsmanship by spectators – one of the most-cited reasons by state association leaders – was only listed by 34 percent of intramural respondents. That deviation is likely because of the relatively small spectator crowds at college rec and intramural contests compared to many high school sports.

Additionally, while low pay was listed most often, it was not listed as the single biggest reason why officials get out of college rec and intramural sports. That (dis) honor belongs to poor sportsmanship by participants, listed as the single biggest reason by 40 percent of the respondents.

Low pay was second at 34 percent while job and school demands placed a distant third at 16 percent.

Why Do Officials Leave?

The NFHS broke its survey information down in two ways: by sport and by years of experience. It’s interesting to note that there was very little deviation between the top reasons listed for officials regardless of what sport they had officiated.

Career and job demands placed as the number-one reason listed regardless of which sport the respondent had previously worked. There was a slight deviation with baseball umpires, who listed low game fees as their number-two reason for getting out of umpiring. Respondents in no other sport listed it any higher than fourth. Volleyball officials, too, deviated slightly from the norm, listing amount of travel involved as the thirdhighest reason for getting out.

There was much more deviation based on years of experience. Respondents were divided by the number of years they had previously officiated in a sport, ranging from less than a single year of experience to 26 or more years of experience. Again, the reasons varied only slightly from year to year, but those differences slowly built up the longer the respondent had officiated. Finally, when you look at the top reasons officials with less than a year’s worth of experience leave versus veteran officials who worked more than 26 years, you can see some startling differences. In the accompanying graphs, the top four reasons in each case are listed.

Career and job demands still placed high for both groups (number one for those with less than year in, number three for the 26-year veterans). But money was a key factor for the new officials. Costs associated with obtaining and maintaining a license and with purchasing necessary equipment (listed as the number two and three reasons) apparently drove many first-year officials out of the avocation. Meanwhile, it’s no surprise that voluntary retirement and personal health reasons were first- and second-most listed reasons among the 26-year plus officials.

Reasons involving poor sportsmanship didn’t start creeping into the top five until

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you look at respondents with one to two years of experience, and it remained a mainstay in the top five for every experience level after that.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS The NFHS survey endeavored to find out the most important reasons officials have for leaving a particular sport. As part of that exit survey, respondents were given 17 potential reasons to choose from and asked to “indicate the most important reason(s) for no longer officiating at the high school level (check any that apply).�

THE 17 CHOICES ON THF NFHS SURVEY 1. Advancement to upper levels 2. Amount of travel involved 3. Career/job demands 4. Costs associated with obtaining/ maintaining a license 5. Costs associated with purchasing necessary equipment

6. Desire to work only other rule codes 7. Desire to work only lower levels 8. Difficulty in advancing 9. Low game fees 10. Not what I thought it would be 11. Outside time needed for continuing education 12. Personal health 13. Poor sportsmanship by participants 14. Poor sportsmanship by spectators 15. Relationship with assignor or local association 16. Time away from family and friends 17. Voluntary retirement

THE TOP FIVE AMONG ALL RESPONDENTS 1. Career/job demands 2. Poor sportsmanship by participants 3. Poor sportsmanship by spectators 4. Time away from family and friends 5. Low game fees

HOW WE ANNOY ASSIGNERS AND HOW THEY ANNOY US T his article originally appeared in its entirety a 2005 issue of Referee magazine. The relationship between officials and assigners is sometimes contentious, but the ways that we can work together contain the keys to understanding how assigners can positively impact the

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problem of officials shortages.

Since a world where all start times are convenient, all officials are infinitely flexible, and all assigners are relentlessly proactive is not the world in which we live, tensions between officials and those who assign them are inevitable. Think

of it as a sort of cold war in which the relationship between officials and assigners isn’t necessarily always friendly, but at least it doesn’t get outright hostile. It does, however, get passionate when officials feel they are being denied quality games because they’re not drinking buddies with the assigner and his inner circle, or when the assigner can’t get any prima donna officials off their pedestals long enough to call a Saturday morning mini-mite game.

But let’s face it. We need each other.

Many officials would have a tough go of it if they had to go directly to the schools for game assignments, and assigners, well, they wouldn’t have much to do at all without the officials. Consider it a marriage of convenience. And since we wouldn’t want to live without each other, Referee offers a nine-point marriage counseling session in which both sides consider the other side’s point of view.

1. NON-COMMUNICATION Among the blessings and curses of modern living are the pagers, cell phones, instant messaging devices, Blackberries, multiple e-mail addresses and even those weird old telephones plugged into the wall that allow us to contact virtually anyone at any time. Despite all the tools, some officials are non-responsive to the point that assigners have no choice but to conclude that those officials must live and work on the dark side of the moon. Games offered but not responded to force the assigner to schedule someone else or risk an uncovered game. Inevitably, at some point the dark-side-of-the-moon dweller will, in fact, show up unannounced and then be shocked – Shocked! – to find the game staffed by other officials.

At the same time, how enthused should an official be about responding to the assigner who only calls weeks or even days before the season starts, offering meager scraps and expecting a feast of gratitude?

Those officials know they’re not in that assigner’s “inner circle” and no matter how many lousy games in far-flung locales they cover for that guy, they never will be. Games and assignments don’t come down from the mountain chiseled on stone tablets. The conversation between an official and an assigner should be a negotiation rather than a dictation. Bottom line: Assigners shouldn’t treat officials as doormats who ought to happy with any game, and officials should at least have the courtesy and professionalism to respond to an offer of an assignment whether they plan to take the game or not.

2. CHOOSINESS “Grey Poupon refs” are those officials who haughtily roll up their window and drive away when offered plain mustard assignments. But those officials are always first in line for any glamorous, upscale assignments you might have. Experience at higher levels may lead an official to believe that he or she is “above” certain games for which an assigner seeks help.

They render themselves “unavailable” for games thought to be beneath their skill level. Doing that not only brands them as prima donnas, they also miss out on the opportunity to pass along some of their knowledge and skill to newer, up-andcoming officials.

At the same time, not all “Grey Poupon” officials are motivated by snobbery. When assigners put officials only on what are perceived as the worst games, without

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at least sprinkling in a few of the better match-ups in a given season, who’s going to fault those officials for passing up that assigner’s games for a better challenge somewhere else? Most officials are actually very receptive to working lower level games as long as they’re paired with something a bit more challenging that maybe pays better and allows for some growth.

3. COURTESY CALLS Two teams could conclude a contest with a brawl of Hatfield-McCoy intensity and some officials might feel no need to inform the assigner. Thus, when the two combatant teams have their rematch 10 days later, the assigner never adjusted his or her schedule pulling off the previously penciled in novice official and replacing the spot with his or her best “game manager” (read: “take-no-crap” official). Instead everyone finds themselves completely unprepared for and unaware of the chaos that awaits. Not providing timely reports on fights, suspensions or other misadventures puts the scheduler in a bad spot, especially when the two schools’ athletic directors phone the next morning looking for answers.

That’s not to say officials need to be on the horn to their assigners minutes after every game, reporting every conflict. But what about the poor official who dutifully and earnestly reports an incident to the assigner at the earliest opportunity only to be told, “Thanks. You’re not in trouble, but you won’t be working at that school again until March … of 2022”? Assigners have every right to expect to be updated in a timely manner when something hits the fan at a game, and officials have every right to expect to be supported and to get the benefit

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of the doubt when they present unpleasant information to the assigner.

4. NO SHOW No-show officials are hands down the absolute worst thing that can befall an assigner. Much worse than the official who calls to cancel mere hours before a game (because those games at least have a chance at being covered), no-shows are pretty rare, but that’s mostly because no-show officials don’t get many chances to make the same mistake twice. In many cases an absent official won’t result in measurable harm to a sporting event. However, the fact that an official’s absence didn’t result in a disaster doesn’t obscure an important element: Assigners are formally contracted to provide officiating services to leagues, conferences or school districts. Those services are usually described in terms of number of officials per event at a given level, so the absence of an official constitutes a breach of contract. That may not seem significant at the time an official chooses to ignore a game, but when the time again comes to negotiate rates with the customers, it certainly will be. Assigners will make allowances for bona fide emergencies or other unforeseen events (hospitalization is acceptable – but even then you better be in a coma).

Conversely, assigners who don’t get in touch with officials in time to tell them a game was cancelled are no referee favorites either. Officials understand that things happen and games are scrapped periodically.

The team bus breaks down or the A.D. suddenly realizes he has a football game, a soccer game and a field hockey match all scheduled on the same day, same time and same field. Oops! Even though the assigner may not find out about the cancellation

until the 1 1th hour, it’s an assigner’s duty to get the word to the officials immediately.

Maybe they can still pick up an alternate assignment or at least the call saves them an unnecessary drive. Of course, if assigners are unable to get in touch with the officials in time and the officials arrive to an empty field or darkened gymnasium, the assigner should use whatever powers he or she possesses to make sure those officials still receive a full game fee.

5. BAIT AND SWITCH While it may sound like a good idea to officials – finding their own substitutes and saving the assigner the hassle – many assigners would rather make sure officials of their choosing staff the game. That’s not to say you shouldn’t have a name or two to offer the assigner when you phone to turn back a game. It’s the officials who arrange their own sub and then never tell the assigner about the switch who are the most problematic. Believe it or not there is a definite rhyme and reason to filling out schedules. Assigners aren’t responsible to plug a body into a slot.

They’re responsible to plug the correct body into the slot. In addition to maintaining an accurate calendar, assigners must also evaluate and be aware of the abilities of the various officials upon whom they call.

Self-substitution by officials, while usually done with the best of intentions, can result in an official assigned to a game for which he or she is not qualified. Assigners don’t like taking heat for a decision they did not make. Who does? Suppose, for example, you can’t work the upcoming game between North and South high schools so you call a friend who tells you he’s not available, but he knows a guy whose former partner

probably is. Great. You make the call and fill the slot. Too bad that sub didn’t mention to you that your assigner stopped giving him games several years back after the sub got into a completely unprofessional shouting match with a coach … who just happens to be North’s head coach.

Assigners, on the other hand, don’t endear themselves to any officials when they pull the previously assigned crew off a game that looked like a routine midseason match-up eight months ago when assignments were being made and now promises to be a preview of the conference championship. When a game’s marquee value goes up unexpectedly, taking the contracted officials off the game is akin to winning the lottery and dumping your wife of 20 years for a 20-year-old. And assigners, if you want to add insult to injury, go ahead and put yourself on that game to boot!

6. TURNBACKS Officials dumping a previously accepted game is not uncommon, but a big-time problem – especially if it comes with little time to find a replacement. Often, it’s the assigners themselves who cover those lastminute turnbacks, providing the absolute last line of defense against an uncovered game in their domain. One of the enduring myths surrounding assigners is that they have the ability to “cherry pick” the most convenient, prestigious or otherwise desirable games. The truth is that a lot of assigners find their own schedules quite full of turnbacks, short notice doubleheaders, a Friday night single at the gym 90 miles down the road and other undesirable or problematic games.

Officials shouldn’t dump games for frivolous reasons. Double-booking a date

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and then settling on the better match-up is just plain wrong. But when a legitimate shot at moving up a level presents itself, assigners who don’t at least try to help the officials on their staffs can become despised. Suppose there is a longtime high school official who for years has dutifully accepted and fulfilled every contract an assigner offers him. He’s been trying to break into college ball for a few seasons and one day gets the opportunity to sub in a college game. The only problem is the high school game he’s scheduled to work that day. Why wouldn’t any assigner make an adjustment if possible to help out that official? It’s a little extra work, but it’ll pay off in spades in terms of public relations with the rest of the officials in the area.

7. SUCKING UP Little is more distasteful for assigners than dealing with the officials who blatantly brown-nose them, looking for any disingenuous excuse to flatter in the hopes of getting more and better games. It doesn’t even have to be blatant for assigners to recognize what’s going on. It could be the official who is constantly phoning the assigner “just checking in to see if you need any help covering cancellations” or the referee who makes a beeline to the assigning secretary at association meetings.

The effect of all that sucking up is more annoyance than anything else.

Of course, not all assigners see through the insincerity and some even amass a posse of sycophantic officials who become the go-to officials in a particular conference, not because of their skill on the field or court, but more because of their skill in toadying.

When that happens, other officials in the area become cynical, and negative attitudes

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abound. There is nothing wrong with doing a little networking and making sure you know the right people, but all assignments should be made based on skill level, not schmoozability.

8. PROFESSIONALISM Who can fault assigners for taking some things for granted, like expecting officials to show up on time to assignments, or expecting officials to be properly dressed or expecting officials to return their contracts in a timely manner? It sounds like basic stuff, but those plain nuts and bolts of officiating too often fall back behind the workbench. A few isolated incidents of showing up late or forgetting to return a contract aren’t going to put an official out of an assigner’s good graces, but when it becomes a pattern of behavior, little things like that will grate on any assigner.

On the flip side, the assigner who just takes it for granted that a football crew he’s known for a long time “won’t mind being switched to a venue 40 miles farther away” or to a Saturday morning game instead of Friday night, risks alienating his or her officials. Your credibility is on the line when professionalism breaks down, whether on the assigner’s side or on the officials’ side. Ultimately all the issues at stake between assigners and officials are matters of professionalism. Forget the marriage analogy earlier. Officiating and assigning are businesses. Like any other business relationship, if we treat each other with respect and professionalism, everyone is satisfied.

40 REASONS WHY WE OFFICIATE

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The fellowship and humor officials share with one another are incomparable.

Reverence for 3 the Rules Play by the rules regardless of what others are saying.

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2 Boos

Camaraderie

Addiction

What official is not ready for his or her next game after the last? More games?

We’ll take them.

It’s an addiction that only officials understand.

8 Never the Same Every game is unique and takes its own form. For the work of an official, no two days are the same.

10 Adrenaline It’s a rush to be in the moment and have to make the big decision.

There’s nothing like fans booing when you have the silent satisfaction of knowing that you got it right.

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4 Escape Once an official steps onto the court, field, ice or pitch, everyday problems seem to fade away.

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Fitness

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Passion

The amount of passion officials have is off the charts. Passion to get plays right is what drives us.

Who doesn’t like getting paid to exercise? There is little motivation needed to get you to work out through officiating.

Personalities Interactions with the players, coaches and other officials are great. Officiating allows you to channel your inner psychologist with all the personalities involved.

11 Community

Like Harley Davidson riders, there is no community like officials. When it comes down to it, during a game, officials’ only true friends are fellow officials. Many of them become your closest friends — lifelong friends.

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12 Love of Sports

13 Discomfort

14 Movin’ On Up

16 Impartiality

Most officials start out as sports fans. We truly enjoy the intricacies of the sports we work.

15 We’re Crazy

Others Thinking

Everyone starts at the amateur levels and some ascend to the top of the profession. There’s nothing wrong with staying at a particular level. But if you want to climb, opportunity is there.

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Money Talks There is no better part-time job or hobby for people to make a little extra money.

Five of 19 All the Senses

After a long work day, venting with the familiar sounds, smells and feels of the sport is a joy. Whether it’s the swish of a net, the smack of a ball, the smell of the dirt or the squeak of sneakers, we all have something that perks us up.

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Dedication!

To truly be a good official, at any level, requires dedication.

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Ever talk to someone and they look at you like you’re crazy?

Officials have the unique ability to enjoy doing a job the average person thinks is impossible. When everyone runs away, we thrive on doing what no one else could imagine putting up with.

20 The amount of mental energy and physical demands is unmatched.

Laser-sharp focus is required for the entire game.

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Teamwork

Make a Decision

You have to make quick and accurate judgments. Your training, experience and powers of observation will be challenged constantly.

You are out of your comfort zone like in no other job, hobby or activity.

It is important for officials to think with a clear mind. Officiating teaches independent thinking and the ability to see the big picture — a skill that translates outside of officiating.

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In the Game

Officials stay engaged and a part of the game they once played. The connection lasts well beyond their playing careers.

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Sort Out

What Matters

With a lot of action going on and a lot of noise, you have to sort out what exactly matters. There can be no fear or favor — just deciding on matters based on rule.

No one official can carry a crew. The best officiating events require the dedication, togetherness and ability of all officials to be a team of one.

25 Give Back Most get something out of the sport prior to becoming an official. Many officials like to pay it forward to the sport for what it has given them.

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26 Perfect

Officials enjoy the drive toward excellence. While knowing that perfection cannot be achieved, there is still great satisfaction in trying to achieve perfection.

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Gut Check

30 Challenge

Every game — no matter the venue, player abilities or teams — is a challenge. Nothing is mundane or an easy task.

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Travel

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Get Over It In life, there are always setbacks. Officials have tremendous pressure on them to make correct decisions.

Toughness is taught when we get a decision wrong and immediately drop it to get the next one right.

Officials learn how to have inner strength and self-confidence. To truly excel in officiating, one must deliver in both categories.

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Life Skills

Management

35 Door Opener Officials are identified and associated with the sport(s) they work. People know who the good officials are. They recognize you outside of officiating.

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It’s Not Coaching

Many officials have coached or considered coaching. With officiating there is only a given time parents can complain. Coaches on the other hand have parents always complaining — with no filter.

Being congratulated on accomplishments by peers, whether it’s a playoff game or a state tournament game, is rewarding.

Officiating teaches great life skills — helping you beyond officiating. For example, time is of the essence — no game can start when officials are late.

Officials travel to many different places — interesting or historic venues and towns or places people likely would never visit. It’s a great way to take in some amazing sites while you work a game.

34 Stress

29 Peer Praise

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High Standard

You are expected to have high character, on and off the court or field. Many enjoy living up to the demands of being an official.

No official would say the job is stress-free. Officiating — though stressful at times — also provides stress relief from our daily lives. Officials learn to balance stress through direct involvement in stressful situations.

36 Vantage Point It’s the game within the game — not just watching the teams or the game.

Beam With 39 Pride

It’s great seeing the growth of fellow officials or your own growth. We all start out with different abilities and grow at different rates, but any improvement is special.

37 Goosebumps Officiating provides goosebumps in spades. The hair-raising moments are memories that make up who we are.

40 Memories The longer you work, the more memories you will build. Some will be the great games; others the talented players. Most importantly, you’ll remember your great partners and mentors.

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MENTORING IN OFFICIATING A PRACTICAL GUIDE

M

entoring centers on a one-on-one relationship: the experienced official and the rookie. That relationship is crucial to retaining newer members and also for engaging veterans – ultimately, mentoring provides positive outcomes for to both ends of the officiating spectrum.

Helping train and orient a new official is perhaps the single most important task an experienced official can undertake.

Mentoring can be a formal process, perhaps operated through an official program at your local association, or it can be a more informal relationship between an experienced and inexperienced official.

Person-to-person Mentoring centers on a one-on-one relationship: the experienced official and the rookie. The most important characteristic a mentor can have, therefore, is an approachable, patient personality.

The veteran will be asked many questions that cover the most fundamental parts of officiating. Not every official has the patience for that. Before you agree to serve as a mentor, be sure you can handle such exchanges. Signs of impatience, exasperation

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or annoyance may only serve to relay to the rookie that you think he is stupid or illprepared. Foster an environment in which questions are encouraged and you’ll be helping that new official develop.

Field experience. Rulebook discussions on officiating theory and mechanics are fine, but there’s no substitute for onfield or oncourt experience. Too many groups leave new officials to “fend for themselves” while they cut their teeth on JV, freshman or middle school contests. Rookie officials need to get game experience with gameexperienced officials. That is where many mentoring programs fail. If experienced officials are unwilling to “step down” and take a few lower-level games to help out their mentees during game situations, the learning curve is made longer and less effective. Veterans should help rookies get some entry-level games, and then work those games with them. You’ll see much quicker results.

Talk it out Experienced officials know the benefit of a good pregame and postgame conference. For the new official with just a

few games under the belt, there is nothing more valuable. Sitting down after a game to go over plays, calls and rule interpretations that he or she just experienced is a fast-track learning method. Those discussions should contain instruction and reinforcement as well as the areas in need of improvement. Tact is the key. “You’ll find that making that call is easier if you are in this location,” works better than, “You were out of position. No wonder the coach ate you alive.”

The payoff Let’s face it: Officials aren’t beating down the door to become mentors. That’s too bad. Officials who have become mentors discover that working with new officials has advantages. First, you can find diamonds in the rough. Properly mentored rookies have gone on to fulfilling officiating careers. Second, you can rediscover your love of officiating. Work with a younger person who is excited to be working a freshman game, and you just might rekindle that spark that got you started. Third, you can improve your game. Diving into rulebooks and mechanics manuals with a young official might open your eyes to something you had forgotten or overlooked.

How to Establish a Mentoring Program Mentoring is the buzzword for business, youth organizations, officials associations and just about every other organization or corporation. Officials associations see it as a way to develop new and inexperienced officials quickly, maintain the second- and third-year officials that have struggled and satisfy the more experienced officials when their physical abilities begin to fade.

Many associations that decide to start a mentoring program find out that it is not easy. But it can work with the right steps.

Here are recommendations to start down the right path to developing a solid program.

Step 1— Plan for the future Before you go diving directly in announcing the mentoring program at your next association meeting, think about what issues you are trying to resolve and how the program will resolve them. Speak with potential mentees and mentors and bounce the idea off them and get their impressions and ideas. Spend time considering your association’s future state. Where do you want the association to be in five, 10 or more years? Convince yourself and others that an effective mentoring program is the path to that future state.

Step 2 — Collect data Contact the people that handle your officiating needs at a state or national level and obtain some data about average officials’ retention, reasons why officials quit officiating and other key facts. That data is critical to tailoring your program to meet those important needs.

Step 3 — Do your homework Find out who has successful programs.

Find out how they did it and what they learned along the way. Reapplication of successes and avoidance of known mistakes can speed the process and increase the likelihood of success.

Step 4— Take a chance Mentoring is a big effort that requires strong leadership. If you have the skills,

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the passion and the energy to drive your association toward a successful program, volunteer to lead the program. Be the force that makes the program happen and propel the association toward its future state. At a minimum, find a way that you can help the program. Maybe you are a potential mentor or perhaps you are a skilled administrator that can help organize the program. Get involved.

Step 5 — Get members on board A successful mentoring program will require considerable support from the association. Make sure your association board members are aligned with your thoughts and ideas. Seek their support. That support could be financial, commitment of association resources or just an official backing of the program.

Step 6 — Draft a team While you may be a strong leader and have considerable passion for the program, get some help. Develop a team that will focus on the key issues and spread the burden of meeting the many issues out to the entire team. Capitalize on the team’s diversity and personalities and you have a better chance to succeed.

Step 7— Create a game plan Get your team together and brainstorm ideas, draft some options, consider the success stories and ultimately create your plan for implementing the program with your officials. That should include how to identify mentors and mentees, what criteria to use to match the right mentor with the right mentee, how the interaction will occur (on the field or court or off) and a backup plan for those unfortunate mentoring pairs.

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Step 8 — Try it on for size Execute your plan. Many businesses and associations are excellent at creating plans, developing ideas, but many also fail in deployment. Even the well-thought-out plan has problems, so don’t be afraid to be flexible with its implementation, but never vary from the program’s core values and purpose. Stick with the initial plan for a pre-determined period of time to see if the bumps smooth out before you start making major revisions. You must realize that it is a human process. Humans are slow to change and slow to accept other human’s opinions.

Therefore, the development of a successful mentoring program will be slow. Take small steps. Don’t try to get to your future state in three months.

Step 9 — Check for a pulse After the first season or first year of the program, check and see how effective the program was at meeting your success criteria established during the initial planning. Use conventional tools for getting that information. Send out questionnaires, do one-on-one interviews, check statistics and retention numbers. Mentors and mentees will tell you what they think worked, what did not work and what they think would improve the program. Generate a list of options and observations and improve your program from ther

CASE STUDY: Why Our Referee Mentor Program Works

By Grace Schwanda, soccer referee trainer for the Wheaton (Ill.) Park District The Referee Mentoring Program is a training program for soccer referees at the

Park District in Wheaton, Ill. The idea for the program began with a camp for new referees. When the turnout exceeded our expectations in the spring of 2011, we began a referee camp before each season in the fall and spring of 2012.

Typically our referees are players from our program who notice that their friends are becoming referees when they turn 14 years old. We also have adults who love the game and want to try refereeing instead of playing the sport. Each season we have about 20 new referees join our roster of trained referees.

Our camps have an outside component on the fields and classroom time on the Laws of the Game. We discuss the philosophy and psychology of being a referee. We examine what it will take to do our first game on the field as a referee. It always amazes me how much information and experience a referee needs to know to do an outstanding job.

Our goal is that no referee has to go out to their first game by themselves without first having practice on a field.

Some of our referees have passed the USSF test and two-day training in the winter and feel unprepared to referee but don’t have options of how to practice.

Studying from a book is not the same as running on a field with a whistle and having coaches, parents and players counting on you to make the call. It’s important to devise a way for officials to have onfield training.

New officials need practice for a season with mentors assessing and assisting them.

We don’t send players out without a coach, so why would we do that to referees?

We do a disservice to the spirit of the game by sending out under-prepared officials.

The following is what we do to train new

officials for our mentor program. Your association or league can adapt the ideas to fit your sport and needs.

Referee Camp Our plan is for all referees to attend the soccer referee camp for three evenings before the start of the season. The last night is outdoors at a scrimmage being assistant referees and learning what it means to hold the flag. They call throw-ins, goalkicks, corner kicks and offside with a mentor standing with them. Mechanics of where to stand and how to get to the goalline are demonstrated and discussed. The immediate feedback is what makes the time so valuable.

Onfield Mentors During the Season Mentors are assigned fields with the new referees. They are by the touchline, watching and critiquing the mechanics of referees. They are ready to give feedback at every call or at the end of every period.

Beginning as assistant referees (AR) helps to take some of the pressure off of the early experience. When they have had a few weeks of AR experience, we encourage them to try a center. We let them shadow a referee who has center experience. They have a whistle and may use it but if they don’t, the other referee is there to make the call. I have had new referees shadow me and it is so important that they know where to be to blow the whistle (loudly). One new referee said, “I can’t believe you used to just send new referees out alone.” The old “sink or swim” method is not acceptable.

Who Are the Mentors?

I have chosen four of our outstanding

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referees who have trained with me for over three years to be our first team of mentors.

They wear bright green shirts so they are visible on the fields. They not only assess new referees but they give pointers to our experienced referees who have become very interested in improving their skills.

When our referees are ready we encourage them to get certified by USSF if they haven’t already and to do travel games in addition to the park district games. We encourage the next steps in upgrading after our referees have become old enough and recorded enough games.

Referee Meetings The referee meeting is held between one of our Saturday afternoon games. There are approximately 20-25 referees who attend the weekly gatherings. The mentors and I discuss the good, bad and the ugly that we saw that day. We try to pick a word of the day to think about: courage, anticipation, mechanics, participation or work effort.

We sometimes acknowledge the loudest whistle we heard on one of the fields since that seems to be the thing coaches always mention. Each week we focus on an aspect of refereeing.

Future Planning No program is ever finished. We will keep assessing our referees and we will keep searching for the best way to teach them to become successful referees. We will need to choose a few new mentors every year as some graduate and are replaced with our other outstanding referees. We need to study retention and see if having mentors increases the likelihood of referees continuing through high school and beyond.

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We will examine customer satisfaction — players, coaches, spectators and, of course referee, satisfaction. Experience and striving for excellence is a good beginning.

What Mentors Gain From Mentoring Giving back to the association – Sports officiating is a select fraternity. Not everyone can do it, and it’s not easy. When we started off in our career, most of us had a mentor or “big brother” who took interest in us (or pity on us) and took the big step to become involved in our development.

Without that insight and experience to guide us, it would have taken much longer to advance in our chosen avocation. If left to our own devices, there’s no telling how misguided we’d have become. All officials can gain from the mentoring process. Not all can mentor successfully. If you’re a good teacher or communicator, give back.

Relationships -- The process of being a mentor brings you into the life of a new official, and over time you’ll develop a close relationship. There are quite a few officials who I’ve mentored over the past 20-plus years that still stay in touch, even though they’re no longer in the same location. You become a friend, not just a mentor. That’s a necessary part of nurturing your protégé.

Those can become lifelong friendships, and that type of friendship is well worth the effort.

Influence -- Building and expanding relationships with new officials during the mentoring process will bring a bunch of new acolytes to your “sphere of influence.”

If you’re interested in becoming involved in the governing of your association, that

is a good way to become known to the officials. They’ll see your hard work on their behalf, and be there to back you if you’re running for an elected board position, or want to become more involved in a specific aspect of your association. That is not the main reason to get into mentoring. It is a returnable benefit.

Advancement in your own career -- Again, that isn’t the main reason to be a mentor. However, it is a natural by-product.

When association leaders see mentors helping new officials, and doing it with the right attitude, they’ll naturally be looking at that official when it comes to “big” games or postseason assignments.

Quiet pride of ownership -- Mentoring is a lot like parenting. There can be struggles, depending on how stubborn your “mentee” is. As they continue to improve and advance in their assignments, you are an integral part of that advancement. When they get that “cream puff” assignment and succeed, inside you can say, “That’s my boy” or “That’s my girl.” You’ve empowered them to be all they can be. You’ve given them the necessary tools to be successful in the avocation that you also love.

How to Select the Right People to Be Mentors A great mentoring program is only possible with quality mentors. Just as great officials have superior skills and instincts, great mentors have certain attributes that make them right for the job. Here are recommendations to help you identify the right people.

Step 1 — Do your homework Check out other mentoring programs that have been successful. Find out the types of individuals that are a part of those programs. You obviously won’t be able to use the same people, but you will be able to find out from other association leaders what makes their mentors successful. Find out about their experience, their commitment, their personality — whatever will help you to find similar mentors in your group.

Step 2 — Eliminate the wrong people There are some officials who are clearly wrong for the job of mentoring. Some groups open up the opportunity to serve as a mentor to the entire association. That can put association leaders in a tough spot if individuals who aren’t qualified volunteer.

You don’t want first- or second-year officials mentoring other newbies, for example. You also don’t what individuals who don’t have the skills (officiating or personality) to be successful. You want new officials to stay with your association. Picking the wrong people to serve as mentors can chase them out the door faster than they came in.

Step 3 — Find individuals who have time for the job There are some great potential mentors in your association who aren’t right for serving as a mentor simply because they don’t have the time for it. You need individuals who have the time (possibly newly retired association members) or those who will make the time (officials who have a full schedule, but don’t mind attending JV games prior to their own or who will make time on the weekend to work some youth games with new officials).

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Step 4 — Look for leaders The mentors you identify should be respected in your association. They should be individuals who carry themselves the right way at meetings and games. They should be individuals who have maintained current, up-to-date knowledge and skills (even after retirement, for some). And they should be people who are interested in and willing to help others.

Step 5 — Find those who can teach An official might have everything going for him or her out on the field or court, but if the individual can’t communicate to someone else how to be successful, the official likely isn’t cut out for mentoring.

Good mentors demonstrate effective coaching, counseling and facilitating skills.

They are receptive to new ways of learning and able to offer feedback in a constructive manner.

Step 6 — Get feedback from mentees After the season, send out questionnaires and/or do one-on-one interviews with mentees to see what they thought worked, what did not work and what they think would improve the program. Find out what they liked about their mentor and what he or she needs to do to improve. Share the feedback with the mentors so they can be even more successful in the future.

REAL TALK: Mentoring Programs in Officials Associations Mentoring can make a huge difference for someone new to officiating. As a result, many associations have some type

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of mentoring program. Three leaders took time to answer questions about the role of mentoring in their associations.

They include: Bob Angeli, president of the Northern Virginia Softball Umpires Association; Mike Wint, one of five administrators for the Grand Valley (Mich.)

Soccer Officials Association; and Ken Franklin, Metroplex (Dallas-Forth Worth) Hockey Officials Association mentor trainer.

1. Why is it important to have a mentor program?

Angeli: The majority of the members are “experienced” and in order to preserve the vocation of umpiring, we must bring along younger members that will ultimately take our place. Using those experienced umpires will enable those tools or tricks of the trade to be passed along. Umpires can attend all the clinics, training sessions, etc., but there is so much value in that one-on-one swapping of “war stories” — this or that happened and how you dealt with it. That is where true learning takes place and younger umpires grow listening to others — both good and bad.

Wint: A majority of our referees are youth. We turn out new Grade 9 referees (primarily youth players) who have a conflict between a “player’s knowledge” of the laws and a “referee’s knowledge.” The mentor program allows them to properly gain experience with positive reinforcement and gentle correction when they make a mistake.

Mostly, they need to learn positioning, concentration on the details of watching for an offside violation that may never occur, and self-confidence. Those things are hard to teach in the classroom, but on field with a mentor makes all the difference in the world.

Franklin: Our association is built on a foundation of young or new (not all are young) officials and giving them an excellent start is the key to keeping our association at the forefront. Allowing the new officials to our organization to have the training, evaluation, input and experience provides them with the confidence to reach their full potential on and off the ice. A good mentoring program allows for the new officials to learn the game, but to have fun doing it. While learning any new job is stressful, putting the new officials with a good mentor lets them understand the game while still having an experienced official to make certain the game runs smoothly.

2. What are the Main Expectations of Mentors?

Angeli: For those senior members in terms of level or years of experience to embrace those coming behind and teach them how to survive within the game.

Some things simply cannot be taught at a clinic, training or by reading a rulebook.

You need to be able to talk about it and peel it back and examine what happened and recognize sometimes there are gray areas and being able to get those being mentored to understand it’s OK to deviate sometimes when necessary.

Wint: Teach the right things (approved signals and the rules of competition); remember your training (dealing with feedback issues, communicating with the “new generation”); letting the association know what is happening (how are your mentees doing, are you overloaded and need help, is there a schedule/personality mismatch). Oh, and have fun.

Franklin: We base the selection of our mentors on several criteria. Most mentor officials have several years of experience in officiating ice hockey and they must have proven themselves to be very competent.

In addition, they need to demonstrate that they have patience with training and dealing with the challenges of teaching a new official. Many of our new officials are young adults or teenagers, and with the wrong type of attitude or feedback from a mentor, they could choose to walk away from officiating before they have given themselves a chance.

3. Who is eligible to serve as a mentor and who is eligible to be a mentee in your program?

Angeli: We presently don’t have a formal mentor program but it is widely known who the more “trusted” umpires are and, of course, we all know those new or junior members. The board encourages senior members to get involved with those junior umpires. We often will team up senior umpires (those that would be official mentors) with less experienced umpires (those that would be mentees).

Wint: We screen the mentors (they have to have a reasonable soccer ability as demonstrated by onfield action — and we look at their youth work to mentor youth), and we review overall personality. We start at the certification courses, follow up at local meetings and work with assigners to identify officials who need and want assistance, have a strong desire to get ahead and who can be self-critical without fear of trying something and not being successful.

Franklin: Any official who has demonstrated their proficiency officiating

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the game at higher levels and who has the desire to help out the new officials to the game is eligible to be asked to be a mentor. We currently have in place an in-depth selection and training program for all our potential mentees. Once they complete the sessions, their USA Hockey

registration, USA Hockey seminar, testing and other requirements, they are eligible to be scheduled for mentor games. The goal is to train the new official and have them released from the mentor program in 35-40 games.

Are You Made to Be a Mentor?

Just as great officials are born with superior skills and instincts, great mentors have certain qualities that make them perfect for the job. Do you have what it takes to be a mentor and don’t even know it? Is someone in your association a mentor in member’s clothing?

Consult this list to see if the characteristics fit someone you know.

• Officials who are committed to expanding their capabilities.

Good mentors are:

• Officials open and receptive to new ways of learning and trying new ideas.

• Officials who are interested in and are willing to help others.

• Officials who have had positive formal or informal experiences with a mentor tend to be good mentors themselves.

• Experienced officials who have a good reputation for helping others develop their skills.

• Officials who demonstrate a willingness to apply what they’ve learned on the field or court.

• Officials who are focused on achieving desired results.

• Officials who have the time and mental energy to devote to the relationship.

• Officials able to communicate and work cooperatively with others.

• Officials who have maintained current, up-to-date knowledge and skills.

• Officials who know when to ask for help.

• Officials who are still willing and able to learn and who see the potential benefits of such a relationship.

• Officials who have demonstrated effective coaching, counseling, facilitating and networking skills.

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• Officials able to accept feedback and act upon it.

• Officials with a sense of personal responsibility and commitment.

• Officials who are willing to meet on a regular basis.

HOW TO KEEP GOOD OFFICIALS “I

RETENTION STRATEGIES IN OFFICIATING

quit!” As an association leader, those are two words you usually never want to hear from a member.

It may be fair to say that quitting is almost always a failure on someone’s part. OK, sometimes people leave because they’re moving or have had a life event dictating that they pull back. But for the most part Officials quit because something wasn’t turning out the way they wanted or wasn’t what they thought it would be like.

You can often trace the issue to some lack of understanding or undue expectation, which might have been avoided through better communication or more practicable polices and programs.

So what are the factors causing officials to leave? The first thing to realize is that there are some factors that are realistically “uncontrollable,” in that there’s not much anyone can do to mitigate the cause.

The first is age, followed by physical limitation or health. That is a simple part of your association’s natural life cycle.

Another uncontrollable causal factor is work. Associations lose several officials

to the demands of their full-time jobs — including relocation. Hopefully, in the case of relocation, a new association can benefit from the loss experienced by the old association.

Some causal factors may not be “uncontrollable,” but they also can’t be fixed easily. One such factor is disillusionment, a loss of the initial enjoyment that accompanied officiating.

That could result from poor relationships with other members, poor behavior by other game/contest participants or unmet expectations — regardless of the reasonableness of those expectations.

Often, the issues come down to things well in control of local officials associations or even state associations. Far too often, officials get launched into the officiating world and they’re largely on their own — a sink-or-swim environment.

Let’s consider some of the things that are needed to address retention issues: • Better training after the initial round. One and done won’t cut it.

Officiating isn’t an avocation where you

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can learn everything you need to know in one round of training. And even if you try to give officials everything you think they’ll need to know, it’s not realistic that they’ll absorb everything in one phase of training. It takes time and continual effort to master the rules and skills needed to be successful on the field or court. Some associations recognize that by creating tiered levels of training. Many local associations, for example, has a level one class and a level two class, bringing back the second-year students to refine their umpiring. But there also needs to be opportunities for continuing education for officials at all levels at association meetings and camps and clinics.

• Better feedback. Especially when we’re first starting out, good feedback — other than inane comments from coaches, players and fans — can often be hard to get. Sure, you can self-evaluate. But when you’re new, you don’t know what you don’t know. It’s helpful to have a system in place where new officials will get solid feedback that will help them improve — which can make the overall experience of officiating better, which will logically lead to more officials sticking around longer.

The challenge is getting experienced officials, who have their own busy schedule full of games, to give their time.

Some states have found creative ways to make this work, such as varsity officials taking some time before their game to watch the JV officials and offer input.

• Better mentoring. Make sure your new officials have channels to get important feedback. And make sure someone is there to give new officials the

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needed encouragement when the road gets a little rough. That does require some time on the part of veteran officials, but in every association there are people willing to give back to fellow officials if they’re only asked.

• Better sportsmanship. This one is largely out of the hands of local associations. But at the state and league levels, efforts need to be made to ensure environments where sports officials aren’t being run out by bad behavior. Taking criticism comes with the territory of being a sports official, but at a certain point a line is crossed and it’s understandable that some people will have had enough. Local officials and associations can, through appropriate channels, encourage state associations and youth sports leagues to stay on top of encouraging good sportsmanship. After all, it’s in their best interest, too, to make sure there’s an adequate supply of officials. When officials quit for sportsmanship reasons, officiating leaders have to ask themselves whether we’ve invested enough time in the politics of officiating -- do we do enough to make the officiating avocation safe and compelling? Is your state or the leagues you serve really doing enough to curb the antics of belligerent parents, fans, players and coaches? Leaders have a huge responsibility to preserve the ethos of sportsmanship by sticking together and pushing back unacceptable behavior.

Other reasons are numerous (see sidebar), but among the more popular have to do with local association culture, and training (or the lack thereof). Unlike sportsmanship and outsized expectations,

both of those reasons can be dealt with directly by officiating leaders since officiating leaders and associations are fully responsible. Read on for strategies and concepts to address all aspects of the retention puzzle.

How to Keep Frustrated Officials from Quitting If your association is like most, you can’t afford to lose even a single active official.

When you sense or are told that a member is fed up and ready to walk away, it’s time to spring into action. Here are some tips for changing that member from disgruntled to satisfied.

1. Find out what’s wrong An obvious first step, but a necessary one. The member’s complaint could run the gamut from the meetings are too long to he or she is not getting enough games. If you have the power to fix whatever is wrong without upsetting other apple carts, do it. Give the member your assurance that the concern will be addressed in the quickest time possible. If it’s something deeper — a disagreement with another member, a feeling of abandonment — get others involved.

2. Slow ‘em down Some officials think they should be rising up the ladder more quickly when that is not the case. As gently as you can, let them know they need just a bit more seasoning before moving up. “I know you think you’re ready for bigger games, but I’d hate to see you get in a bad situation.

That might hinder the rest of your career.

It’s not easy to be patient, but I think you’d be better off in the long run.” You may get an argument. Don’t let things degenerate into a shouting match, which will only make matters worse.

3. Empathize Officials have shared experiences. We’ve all been verbally abused by coaches and fans and we’ve been disrespected, underpaid and treated like serfs. That frustrated official on the brink of hanging it up might just need to vent to someone who understands what he or she is going through. Don’t hijack the conversation with, “Yeah, I know the feeling. There was this one game …” It’s their stage; don’t make them share it.

4. Talk up the avocation While there are many frustrations in our industry, there are also plenty of joys. Ask the upset official to relate some of his or her favorite experiences. The time the crew got a flat tire and played Rock Paper Scissors to decide who had to put on the spare. Working the rivalry game before the sellout crowd. The first time he or she worked a televised game. Accentuate the positive.

Embrace New Faces at Association Meetings First Impressions are Key to Keeping Officials Remember what it felt like to be the new kid on the block?

It can be awkward and uncomfortable.

The same is true for a new official to

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an association. One of the marks of any strong officials association is the favorable impression that its leaders project on their environment. A leader, in that context, is not necessarily any member of the executive board, but rather anyone who, through his or her actions and behavior, compels others to cooperate and lend support. Without leadership, any organization stands to become ineffective or irrelevant and risks going the way of the dodo.

Imagine you are a new member and you have just walked into the meeting room and everyone is in their little clichés of friends laughing and carrying on. The awkwardness of the event is already making you uncomfortable. Most new members come to the organization with more or less the same list of concerns: Am I cut out to be an official? Will I fit in with these people? Will this association help me become a better official? Remembering your own experiences as a new official and understanding their potential discomfort is the first step toward making a great first impression – and eventually keeping that prospect around for many years to come.

Be the first friendly face the newbie encounters.

Before meeting time, assume that there will be new faces in the meeting room and keep an eye out for them. Often enough, they might come along with another member whom they know, but that should never stop you from making a beeline for them, introducing yourself, telling them what you do and welcoming

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them. You never get a second chance to make a first impression and a good one to make on someone is that they mattered from the very first day.

Have a mechanism in place to orientate new members.

New members are typically full of questions, some of which they are hesitant to ask at the risk of seeming stupid and creating the wrong first impression themselves. Depending on the size of your group, plan a way of giving them some orientation and teaming them up with someone who is knowledgeable of how to get a uniform, who to contact for games, what is required for registration and so on. If you don’t put the effort into that, without coming on so strongly that they feel like they’re being swept up by a press band, two bad things might happen. First, they might feel alienated and then drift away and quit.

Welcome the new members in on your activities.

One veteran official and association leader offered this remembrance: “I remember when one of the officers of my football officials association gave me a ride to the banquet at the end of my first year as a member. That was 24 years ago.

They didn’t have to do that, but I sure remember.” Think about what memories you want your new people to have of your group and demonstrate to them that it’s as much about them as it is about you.

Remember context during your meetings.

When new people attend your

meetings, take a little time to give them some background on issues as you discuss them. The issue still might have no meaning to them for a year, but at least they’ll agree that you gave them a chance to participate.

Adjust your training efforts to the experience of your audience.

The best way to blow away a new member is to bury him or her in the dreariest, most esoteric part of the rulebook in their first meeting. First of all, most new officials are surprised, if not thoroughly intimidated, by the thickness of the rulebook, let alone the wording it contains. If you then throw them in at the deep end of a training session about some fine points of the rules, you can succeed in polishing off whatever enthusiasm they still have.

The best way to handle new people in your organization is to initially do their thinking for them.

The important thing is to take the lead in drawing in new members rather than leaving them to figure out things for themselves. You want their first impression of you and your association to be the one that compels them to stay around and then start giving back to your organization.

Manage Expectations Early Many state associations have found that the best way to retain officials is to give them a better introduction to what they face. When they do it that way, the people who might be getting into it for the

11 common reasons officials leave officiating 1. Orientation was either ineffective or lacking altogether.

2. They received the cold shoulder at meetings.

3. They couldn’t get games.

4. When they did get games, they were stuck with another newcomer, and it was like the blind leading the blind.

5. They encountered a closed society that wasn’t really receptive to “new blood.”

6. They didn’t get adequate support when they made key (and disputed) decisions in games.

7. The compensation was inadequate.

8. They discovered they just weren’t cut out for the pressure.

9. Family or job obligations pulled them away.

10. They are worn out and can’t cut it anymore.

11. Poor sportsmanship drove them out.

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wrong reasons think better of it and back off. Meanwhile, more of the rest persevere and get to reach their full potential, which helps everyone. That’s great for associations and assigners because the gene pool gets deeper and they get more long-term payoff for their investment in training and development. So, let’s cover some of the things we want new officials to know.

“You’ll probably never make six figures at this.”

Everyone knows that experienced pro officials now make hundreds of thousands per year in return for being abused in 30 different cities. Even a good college basketball official can pull down that much. That sounds like pretty good cash for someone who doesn’t want to work at the foundry for the rest of his or her life. These people shouldn’t have to have their ambitions crushed, but it helps to remind them that the guy gazing out from beneath a white hat on Sunday afternoon is a rarity. He (or she) is perhaps one in 10,000 of all those people who first decided to try their hand at Pop Warner for $25. Tell them to set reasonable expectations and treat anything beyond that as a bonus, born of equal parts uncommon ability and serendipity.

“Somewhere, there will be sacrifices to make.”

As an official, it would be nice to pick and choose where you work and then turn back assignments with impunity if you have something better to do some nights. It would be great if they could

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schedule the games for 8:30 pm in a town nearby so you don’t have to cut work early or miss dinner (again) with your spouse and kids. It would be special if you could ignore your assigner’s pleas to help with last-minute changes and if you could work the game without having to think about that aching hamstring you have.

Becoming a successful official with a full schedule requires commitment and being prepared to work outside what might be your comfort zone. Assigners, spouses, bosses and children will contribute to your failure if you’re not prepared to think of them, too, every time you click another “Accept” button. To whom more is given, more is expected.

“It takes more time than you think.”

We’ve already talked about the obligations connected with just getting to the game. It’s important to add that you can’t really become a busy official unless you put a lot of “personal” time into it, too.

Keeping yourself in condition is rapidly becoming a qualifier for climbing the ladder. Where you could once pack a few extra pounds under your buckle or start getting in shape three weeks before the season, those days are really gone, now.

Even at a high school or club level, coaches and ADs want to see physical evidence that officials take it as seriously as they do; seeing you puffing when you should be on the exact blade of grass where should be, is becoming more of a no-go for future assignments. Further, assigners and governing bodies want to see people putting some of their offseason time into keeping up with their avocation. You

should be working at your rules regularly and attending a camp when requested instead of finding reasons not to.

“Not everyone will have your ethics.”

Many newer officials aren’t quite prepared for the treatment they get from what should be responsible people, like teachers, parents, and even friends. They are wired to try to rationalize the hysteria that has taken over wide swaths of sport instead of dealing with it and moving on. The biggest thing that drives officials away from officiating is the ongoing cacophony of poor sportsmanship in all its facets, combined with their inability to not take it personally. If you don’t think you’d make a good cop, bouncer or army medic, you’ll have trouble being a good official. The best officials are often the ones who are best at protecting their souls.

Association leaders have to invest time in supporting the rest, until they get used to the environment.

“The system will be tough on individualists.”

There are many walks of life where a person who makes him- or herself stand out benefits; individuality and having a noticeable persona can sometime be a benefit: It isn’t in officiating. New officials have to understand that the sooner they learn to fit in and embrace the crew-first culture, the more successful they stand to be. Almost paradoxically, they will draw more favorable attention to themselves by blending in to crew chemistry and sharing in its success. That’s hard for some new, ambitious officials to swallow.

How to Integrate New Officials It isn’t easy these days to find new officials. So when you get rookies in your group, the last thing you want to do is alienate them or make them feel adrift by themselves. Here are some tips to ensure you keep newcomers coming back for more.

Step 1 — Welcome them to the group If a new member is attending his or her first meeting, make sure you greet that individual as soon as possible at arrival.

Introduce the new member to other members as well. Make sure the individual feels as included as possible. Related to that, make sure the newbie is given a copy of the association’s constitution and bylaws, as well as a directory of the association. New officials should also be informed about registering with the state and taking required exams. New members should be provided a list of assigning authorities and be told the necessary steps for being assigned to games.

Step 2 — Keep the material simple.

Many groups have separate training sessions for first- or second-year officials.

As a result, the material isn’t over their heads and they become more comfortable with the basics of officiating. It also give them an atmosphere in which they feel comfortable asking questions. If your association isn’t big enough to provide a completely separate training session, give new members time following the normal session to get together and ask questions to a designated veteran.

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Step 3 — Offer mentoring.

A formal mentoring program is a great benefit associations can provide to new officials. Even if your association doesn’t have a formal program in place, veterans in your group can take newcomers under their wings in their first year. Assign a veteran to a new official on day one.

It should be someone who is willing to watch the official work and possibly even work a game or two with the newer officials. The veteran should be available to the new official any time for guidance and support.

Step 4 — Give them opportunities.

Depending on your assigning procedures, you may have an opportunity to get the rookie onto the court or field for a scrimmage or two. Whenever possible, find opportunities for the newcomers to apply what they have learned. It is important, however, to have veterans on hand either working with the rookies or observing so they aren’t flying without a safety net. Mentors or observers must provide feedback to the new officials.

Keep it as positive as possible but don’t fail to point out what areas need attention.

Seven Ways to Make Recruits Feel Welcome 1. Make your meetings exciting and informative.

That is especially important for the first meeting of the year. Capture their attention to keep them coming back.

Create an agenda and stick to it. Avoid “war stories” at your meetings. Save them for the pub afterward.

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2. Specific applicant training.

Hold separate sessions for the new members in addition to your regular meetings. Start discussing the “momentum exception” with new members and they’ll start stampeding for the nearest exit.

Likewise, start talking to veterans about keeping their flag as unobtrusive as possible and their eyes will glaze over.

3. Develop a mentor program.

That will have a two-fold effect on your organization. First, your new members will have someone to turn to for advice and counseling. Secondly, it will give some of your veteran officials a newfound sense of responsibility and may serve to revitalize their careers. It helps to keep them on their toes when a rookie starts asking rules questions. When asked what could have been done better when they started, veterans often suggest having a mentor program.

4. Break new members in gently.

Schedule them with easygoing veteran officials who like to teach. Your best officials are not necessarily the best to pair up with rookies. Sometimes they’ve forgotten what it’s like to work their first game or have their first confrontation with a coach.

5. Follow through on your promises.

Give realistic expectations so as not to discourage new members or to disparage your credibility.

6. Provide feedback.

Let new members know where they

stand and give them realistic expectations.

If it is your policy that first-year officials don’t get varsity or playoff assignments, make them aware so that no one is unduly disappointed. If they are excelling in a particular area but not in another, let them know. Also, give them the necessary information and training to correct any and all deficiencies.

7. Keep the lines of communication open.

Many officials work more than one sport, but some don’t. Keep them all involved. An association newsletter is a great way to accomplish that. Solicit some of your members to write articles for the newsletter. Keep them informed to whet their appetite for the next season. Don’t let them become complacent and too comfortable with those Friday nights off.

INTERVIEW: Apprentice Program Offers Mentoring For the last 30 years, the Vermont Football Officials Association has helped prepare new officials through its apprentice program. The program offers fee waivers for recruits, one-onone mentorship and hands-on officiating experience in high school football games.

Jon Reed, the Southern Commissioner for the association, has worked as a mentor in the program during his officiating career.

NASO: How did the apprentice program first come about?

REED: Our efforts to recruit have been around in some form since 1986.

We started to formalize the apprentice program when we realized that we were

getting fewer recruits. Our program began waiving member fees, providing guidance from mentors and connecting recruits with game assigners.

NASO: What kind of issues have your association had with recruiting, and how does this program address them?

REED: A lot of people think they can easily be officials until they are actually on the field. Other guys go through our rulebooks and manuals and think, “I’m not going to be able to do that. That’s too complicated.” I understand that those books can be a real burden, but I try to show our recruits that it is not as complicated as it seems.

NASO: What is the role of the mentor in the program?

REED: As a mentor, I provide my apprentices with film and other visual aids to study, as well as providing guidance while we are on the field. If an apprentice lives in an area near a game that I’m working, I’ll try to get them on the field with me. Mentors will put in reports about their apprentices that will be reviewed to track their progress.

NASO: How are the apprentices incorporated into officiating games?

REED: When the apprentices first start working games, we try to teach them to manage the game, not to try and find penalties. It’s like hunting for deer; you’re only going to see it if you’re observant of everything around it. Occasionally guys don’t make it because they just don’t catch on. For the most part, guys enjoy the

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experience of working games and learn a lot.

NASO: What steps can other associations take to set up similar programs?

REED: The key is getting the word out about the program. We’ve tried different forms of advertising to promote the apprentice program to mixed results.

Usually, people sign up either because their kids were involved in our leagues or because they’ve watched our work firsthand. Going forward, I think that we could incorporate more social media.

How to Run a Clinic for New Officials A great way to keep new recruits in officiating is to tailor training directly to them. Hosting a clinic can provide that training for a large number of rookie officials at the same time. Not all clinics have to be formal, high-tech affairs. You can run your own one-day camp packed with good training and information that is low-cost and even fun for all concerned.

The easiest version is an all-classroom camp. You can use any combination of video, PowerPoint, guest speakers and handouts for education. In between those varieties is an oncourt or onfield camp using clinicians to act as players and officials. Attendees can observe officiating techniques in a more relaxed atmosphere than one involving live play.

Step 1 — Choose Your Clinicians Carefully Be sure the people you choose to serve as clinicians understand what you’re trying to accomplish. A local official who

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works in the pro or college ranks adds star power to your event, but if he or she tries to teach advanced techniques to novice officials, the campers will quickly feel lost.

Also, avoid instructors who offer only war stories as a means of instruction. Reallife experience is valuable, but is not a substitute for actual instruction.

Step 2 — Get Necessary Approvals If your state association, conference or other governing body requires officials to attend a camp, or if camp attendance improves an official’s chances of receiving assignments, be sure to obtain the proper certification from that group. Send them a copy of your agenda so they can see exactly what subjects are being covered in the camp. If the governing body has paperwork that you need to fill out to certify a camper’s attendance, be sure you get it and return it as soon as possible after the event.

Step 3 — Don’t Forget Insurance Even if you don’t plan on setting foot outside a classroom, you should spend the few dollars it takes to insure yourself and your association. If an official were to be injured participating in a drill, liability would be a concern. Associations can purchase insurance coverage for a day or for an entire year’s worth of meetings. For rates and information, check the American Specialty Insurance website, amerspec.com, and click on the Applications link.

Step 4 — Get the Word Out Use email lists and local media to

announce your event. If you aren’t restricting your camp to members of your own association, let other area associations know about your camp. Don’t forget to let area schools know of the camp. Former players often make great officials. Your camp may prove to be your association’s most successful recruitment tool.

Step 5 — Size Matters Bigger isn’t always better. You may have to put a limit on how many attendees you can serve. Know how many people will fit comfortably in whatever meeting room you’ll be using. If possible, aim for a one-clinician-to-five-student ratio.

REAL TALK: Retention Strategies in Associations Three association members took time to answer questions about how their association retains officials. They include: William Webb, president of the Northeast Nevada Officials Association, Elko, Nev.; Bruce Hook, secretary of the St. Louis Officials Association; and Mike Nissenbaum, secretary-treasurer of the Delaware County Basketball Officials Association. All three are active or former longtime sports officials.

1. How does your association try to retain officials?

WEBB: That’s a major problem we have. If we can keep new officials for a year, they’ll usually stay. We don’t have any special gimmicks to try to retain them.

But something we have worked on is to

try to make sure that newer officials in the association get games and don’t sit idle on any given weekend during the season. We try to assign them to at least one or two ballgames on the weekend. We’re trying to keep them working and hopefully that will help us keep them.

HOOK: We’ve created what we call the Officials Development Program (ODP).

It is geared to the newer official. The training curriculum is designed for the first- through third-year official and we set up mentors for each. We are working with the local assigners to have both the mentee and mentors at the same basketball game site and we are looking for a way to film new officials and have the mentors critique their onfield/oncourt mechanics.

We also purchased HUDL (game film exchange with local high school) this past year for football and we are in the process of expanding it to basketball. That will give us the capability for film review of onfield/court mechanics for each newer official.

Additionally, we are using Survey Monkey to get feedback from our new officials on our programs. We want to understand what they like or don’t like about our program, meeting times and any other information. Attendance last year for the ODP was outstanding and we are looking forward to reviewing the numbers this year.

NISSENBAUM: Many associations in Ohio, ours included, are setting up mentoring programs. When I came onboard as an official 30 years ago, you took a class and kind of got thrown

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out there to the wolves in a sink or swim situation where you didn’t know how to navigate through the assigner process, or didn’t have a seasoned official to not only help you with game assignments but to improve your presence on the court and working knowledge of the rulebooks. Over the years we’ve tried to find ways to take that sink or swim situation out of the picture more and more these days, so people don’t get frustrated and leave because nobody is supporting them.

2. Has your association tried unique methods or does it currently use a unique method to retain officials?

WEBB: A few years ago we helped football and basketball officials purchase their first uniform, but that didn’t work well.

If there was a certain football or basketball official that needed help, we would help them purchase the uniform. But we had guys who would get the uniforms, then disappear.

HOOK: We use real game video to aid in mechanics and rules with film review.

We have football administer whose responsibility is to make sure game film is emailed to St. Louis Officials Association crews for their critique. We ask each crew chief to send us good and bad mechanics and interesting rule situations. Those are shared with all 180 football officials. We are looking to expand next year to the mentee/mentor relationship.

We will add basketball next year and members who are basketball officials will have the capability to review/critique their games.

NISSENBAUM: Several of the associations throughout central Ohio

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have talked to the assigners and league commissioners about setting up mentoring programs. What we’ll try to do under those programs is have a seasoned varsity crew of three officials. We have convinced many assigners and leagues to used three-person crews at the freshman and JV levels. We then reach out and look for varsity officials to work with those crews. The senior officials often ride to the game with the junior officials and sit in and participate not only in their pregame but have the junior officials sit in on the varsity pregame.

They’ll join them at the end of the varsity game to talk about what was done well and what could have been improved. It starts a dialogue and teaches them through the eyes of a senior official, which helps them get a better grasp of what to do and how to do it.

3. Why is it such a challenge to retain officials?

WEBB: We’re not finding younger officials who will commit. The economy is one thing. We have several of the largest gold mines in the U.S. They work those guys 12 hours a day, six days straight, then give them four days off. It’s a challenge to get them to training meetings and to assign them, because they are only available after 5 p.m. It takes them out of a lot of non-varsity games. Plus, we travel long distances, more than 100-150 miles one way to get to many games, so it’s difficult to get off of work to get there. It’s tough to maintain and keep them.

HOOK: Retention is an issue, especially with the newer officials. Our first- to second-year loss ratio was nearly 50

percent. We needed a way for newer officials to see a way to advancement from grade school to high school. St. Louis is a training-only association and we don’t assign games, so developing and training officials is what we do. We have to keep improving our meetings. No one is required to belong and training is what we have to offer. Our programs have to be top notch with the latest technology and finding the best speakers in our organization.

NISSENBAUM: I think over the years, particularly in certain sports, we’ve put so many requirements on the officials. It’s getting to the point these days that to be available and do all the things that you have to do to move up through the ranks, you need the type of lifestyle that allows you to do that. For most of us who hold full-time jobs, we can’t easily take time off during the day to attend clinics and things like that. It becomes tougher and tougher to get involved. The assigners are expecting more of the officials in preparing and being more available. We’ve sort of put up some roadblocks. We’ve got to find ways to get the everyday Joe or everyday Jane, who lives a normal life, and isn’t someone who can get off of work at 3:30 in the afternoon, and get them into that participation.

How to Conduct Simple and Effective Exit Interviews When all efforts at retention fail, you can still glean valuable insight from officials who quit. As an officiating leader, it’s in your best interest to reach out to the departed and find out what happened: Is it something you’ve done? Is it something you haven’t done? The idea is to dig down and see if there’s a pattern to the departures

that might shed some light on some needed changes.

Don’t get hung up on formalities.

There’s no need to have a face-to-face meeting or invite them to sit down with the entire board. Simply find a convenient way to contact the member, ask for a minute or two of their time and pick their brain.

Accept the outcome. f you ask the individual what’s on his or her mind, be prepared for the result. Some will vent. Others will clam up (or worse), but many will have some sort of story to tell if you give them the opportunity. Keep the discussion professional and gently ask some questions to get down to a root cause for their departure.

It’s not about you.

Give them the opportunity to put into their own words what’s caused them to leave. Avoid, “I bet you’re leaving because …” or, “What was it I did?” because then you’ve put them on the defensive. A better alternative is, “We’ve noticed you didn’t join up again and were wondering if there’s something we need to know?” or, “We’ve been missing you at the meetings.

Anything going on we should know about?” Be prepared for the occasional proverbial flip-off, but take a whole lot of flip-offs or the same sort of response as what it is: a message.

Take corrective action.

If everyone’s telling you they’re going to a new association, take a long look at what might be wrong with yours. If they

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don’t see enough value in the training sessions you offer, see what you can improve, and so on. But don’t discount out of hand a recurring point of view that you don’t happen to agree with. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Part on good terms.

Sometimes, an exit interview can become an “un-exit” interview. More often, however, the case is closed. In those cases, let their parting memory be of you still welcoming them rather than reaffirming their point of view. You’ve still got a roomful of people who want to be proud to be associated with you.

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GET THE WORD OUT A RECRUITING GUIDE FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATIONS

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uccessful recruiting has a lot in common with marketing. Companies advertise by pursuing the demographic with an interest in their product.

Companies expand that demographic by generating goodwill and trying to make new demographics feel a need or a desire for items, which quite frankly, they never felt a need for before.

Recruiting has to be done by all members of the association. The association should pick the best salespersons from within and let the rest of the association know who they are. Admittedly, some people have recruiting skills and some don’t. Even the members who aren’t good at recruiting need to talk to perspective members. When it comes time for the heavy recruiting, turn them over to the salespeople that the association has selected and they can give the heavy sales pitch.

A successful recruiting program must do two things. First, it must identify and reach people who have a propensity to officiate. Second, it must increase the public’s propensity to officiate. In other

words, it must make more people want to officiate.

Information is the key. Associations must determine which groups of people have a propensity to officiate.

Associations could poll their new recruits and determine their age, their profession, how they found out about the association’s training program and whether they were recruited through an organized association recruiting program, through contacts with an individual official, through an advertisement, through playing or coaching in a league the association serviced or through some combination of those factors.

Current members can provide vital information, too. Associations should poll current members to find out how old they were when they first joined the association, how they got started officiating and what led them to join their current association.

Associations can use that information to determine what types of people have a propensity to become officials. Associations also can find out what types of people in underrepresented groups have a

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propensity to officiate. Then associations can create plans to target those types of people with a propensity to officiate, leading to more efficient recruiting.

Maybe you’ll find you should target parents and people in mid-life. Indeed, many recruiting programs focus on players, former players and intramural programs. However, an association facing a shortage of officials may do well to consider pursuing older people by reaching out to parents, by recruiting business people who have some flexibility in their schedule — such as insurance agents, real estate agents and investment professionals — and even by recruiting experienced doctors and dentists (who often have some control over their schedule).

5 Avenues to Finding Recruits 1. Campuses Be it high schools or colleges, the classrooms and athletic facilities are teeming with potential officials. Contact guidance counselors to find out if their school hosts a career day. If so, ask to be included. Set up a table or booth with registration information, educational materials and officiating equipment.

During the games you officiate, you’ve likely come in contact with athletes who seem to have a good grasp of the rules and understand the nuances of the game. While some of those types go on to play at the next level, far more do not.

During a timeout or other break in the action, casually ask them if they’ve ever considered officiating when their playing days are over. Don’t make a production out of it, but a brief conversation is not out of line. You might consider asking coaches

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for recommendations as well. Intramural programs are another possibility. Contact the director of intramurals and reach out to the students playing in and officiating those games.

2. Sporting events If your area has a major or minor league team, or a college that hosts sporting events, contact the public relations department for permission to set up a table or host an officiating night. As a public service, many teams will have the public address announcer read a recruitment statement you provide. Direct interested fans to the table you have stationed in the lobby or near one of the exits. An information table can also be planned in conjunction with major sporting events in cities that host bowls, playoff or tournament games. Again, be sure to check with those in charge for approval and cooperation.

3. The internet and media One association was pleasantly surprised by the number of responses it received after a placing an ad on Craigslist.

Other social media sites, if used properly and carefully monitored, can be used to make web surfers aware of officiating.

The sports editor of the local newspaper and the sports directors of radio and TV stations may publicize your recruitment efforts free of charge as a public service.

4. Workout facilities Health clubs, YMCAs and YWCAs are frequented by sports-minded people.

And most of those who use health clubs are already or are interested in getting

into good physical condition. Managers of those facilities may be persuaded to place a recruitment announcement on a bulletin board and in the locker rooms.

5. State associations It is mutually beneficial for the state association to build the corps of officials.

Work with the person in the state office who oversees officials to work cooperatively with your association to recruit young officials. The state association can place ads in tournament programs and play public service announcements on video boards at tourney games.

Make Sure You’ve Looked Everywhere Your association needs to create a program that reaches out to the traditional pool of applicants as well as those who have recently begun to officiate and those who may have an interest in officiating once presented with information about the opportunity. Your association has a legal duty to not discriminate in the recruitment of officials. Your recruitment process should be open to all segments of our population. It should go further and make an affirmative effort to create opportunities for all segments of our population, including young people, women and minorities to become officials and members of your association.

1. Consider all possible candidates.

Look beyond those persons who have traditionally been officials for a particular sport. There may be many young women who would be interested in officiating boys’ basketball and football. There is no reason they should not officiate those sports.

2. Get some information.

Your association might consider convening a series of focus groups, including those segments of our population, which have been underrepresented in officiating, to determine the most appropriate methods by which to reach those segments of the population to make them aware of opportunities in officiating.

It may well be that the traditional methods used by your association do not foster the flow of information to those people so that they can become aware of the opportunities that exist.

3. Expand your search.

Your association needs to expand the places where you traditionally look for officials. Your horizons should be unrestricted and all types of community and school-based groups should be contacted, especially those that focus upon the needs and concerns of women and minorities.

4. Learn how they look for information.

A study should be conducted to determine which media sources are the best to reach those segments of the population. It may well be that local newsletters, organization’s bulletins and school publications that may better reach these traditionally underrepresented groups.

5. Tailor your pitch to fit the audience.

The content of the advertisement and solicitations should be directed to the needs of, and specific benefits available to, those under-represented groups if they become sports officials. The traditional content

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may no longer be applicable. A fresh new approach should be considered.

How To Sell Officiating to Prospects Recruiting and retaining officials is a classic Catch-22 situation. Before we can keep them, we’ve got to find them. Veteran officials can use any or all of the following inducements to convince prospects to give our avocation a try.

Camaraderie The shared experiences and teamwork result in a kinship that can be found in few other spheres of life. Officiating creates and sustains friendships that last a lifetime.

Staying fit While some people have no trouble maintaining a personal fitness program, others need motivation. Officiating is hard work and those whose bodies can withstand the physical demands will benefit in multiple ways.

Opportunities for all There is an officiating shortage in virtually every area of the country. Even in the rare spots where officials are in good supply, reinforcements are needed to replace injured or retiring officials.

Moreover, officiating is open to people regardless of their gender, race, creed or national origin.

Supplemental income Officiating allows us to get paid for something we enjoy doing. Because you can work as much or as little as you want, you control how much extra money you take in.

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Life skills Officiating requires a unique skill set — a plethora of attributes such as communication skills, time management, dedication and teamwork — that can be called upon not only on the field or court but on the job, in school or at home as well.

Stay connected Some officials were capable players in their day. Others rode the bench but still love the game. Officials stay engaged and a part of the game they once played. The connection lasts well beyond their playing careers.

REAL TALK: Recruiting Incentivizes The Oregon Lacrosse Officials Association (OLOA) for the first time this year implemented a Recruitment Reward Program for its members. Members who successfully recruit new members for the association are rewarded financially.

Craig Poole, L2S committee chair for the OLOA, explained the new program.

How did your Recruitment Reward Program come about?

Poole: It was a discussion we had at the board level. There had been a recruitment reward program for football officials that someone had mentioned and somebody said, “Wonder if we should try that?” That is where it came from. We didn’t take exactly what they did. We molded it to our own needs. We are giving $50 to any member who brings in a new official. But there also some guidelines that the new officials have to follow. They have to put in an application to the league secretary

and area assigners. Then the new officials pay $30 in training materials and they are required to attend and complete the new officials training, which is a 10-week training program. They must join US Lacrosse. We have to do that to officiate.

They must pass the preseason background check. They have to officiate a minimum of 10 games a season, and not just officiate 10 games, they have to be someone we want to invite back.

Where does the reward money come from?

Poole: It’s coming out of our budget, which comes from a couple different places. It comes out of association officials’ dues and dues from the teams that are playing in the league. There is a budget line item that we put there.

Have you received any new officials as a result of the program?

Poole: We got about a total of 100 officials the first year and 18 of them are new. We usually have about half that. We were a little more aggressive in what we’ve done with recruiting this year. We’ve tried to encourage people to get recruits that have officiated other sports or they’ve been prior players or coaches. The toughest thing is when you get someone in who has never played a sport, never seen it and never had a whistle in their mouth. We’ve been pretty proactive in saying what we’re looking for in new officials.

Would you recommend a similar program to other associations?

Poole: Absolutely. You’ve got to have a plan in place and criteria. Don’t just throw

it out there and see if it sticks. We talked about it at the board level for a couple different months before we decided to give it a try. Based on the success the first year, I would recommend it.

Plan for the Future How to Create Long-Term Officiating Prospects Associations must constantly work to increase the number of people who have a propensity to officiate. That work involves building goodwill and exposing people to officials and the officiating avocation. The benefits are long-term as the work will gradually increase the number of future prospects, but isn’t likely to have immediate results.

The public is more likely to emphasize with a profession when it is exposed to people in that profession. Clearly, associations must expose people to officials.

Associations also must take steps to humanize officials.

Associations should expose parents, coaches and players to officials away from the game. Preseason and midseason question-and-answer sessions with parents, and access to high school and even middle school gym classes are easy starters.

However, officials can do more.

Associations can inform the media that the police officer who does exceptional work is also a sports official. Similarly, the lawyer on a big case, the teacher in a classroom and the local insurance agent can be promoted. People should know that there’s a real, valuable contributing member of society behind the umpire’s mask or encased in the referee’s stripes.

Finally, associations can use local

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newspapers or television programs to visibly demonstrate a local official’s day, starting with her regular job and moving to her commute to the gym, her pregame session with her partner and finally to the game itself. The key to increasing the public’s propensity to officiate is to expose the public to officials by marketing the special people who make up the avocation.

How to Prepare Your Association to Recruit Officials associations need to take some preliminary steps to prepare for the new recruits they hope to attract. Of course, officials associations have always done the most important work — training their new officials on sports rules, mechanics and the association’s policies and procedures.

That training will be more effective if associations take some steps to clean house in preparation for their new recruits.

Update rosters before the season starts.

Your new members need accurate information as soon as possible. They should never encounter difficulty reaching a veteran simply because the association waited until the season was under way to update the rosters. Don’t put rosters off until your first meeting, and don’t wait for your veteran officials to call you. Remember that your current members are in offseason mode. It’s up to the association’s executive board to do the preliminary work.

Prepare business training.

New officials need to understand the business environment they’re working in. An association must give new officials training on liability and limited liability

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issues in case they’re ever sued. Particular emphasis should be placed on having officials write game and incident reports.

Officials should also be informed of association insurance as well as their own individual insurance options. At the very least, an association should tell its new members about NASO insurance or other liability protections.

Finally, new officials should be given information on tax issues and independent contractor issues. An association should at least tell officials a few basics: They are free to work when they see fit — they are not obligated to take all games offered to them; they are free to exercise their judgment as they see fit — although the association will attempt to help them improve their judgment over time; and nobody has the right to control them when they officiate a game — although they certainly will be observed and evaluated. Associations should also let new officials know that taxes will not be deducted from their pay by the association or any other entity paying them.

The association should tell new officials that that generally meets the legal definition of an independent contractor and they will be treated as such.

Associations should tell their new members that their treatment as independent contractors means they will not be covered for workers’ compensation or unemployment insurance. That’s why they need to buy insurance through groups like NASO. Finally, new officials should be told that they have special tax obligations.

All new officials should be instructed on paying self-employment taxes; an accountant should be brought in to show the new officials how to fill out Schedule C,

explain what can and cannot be deducted, and give special emphasis to frequently occurring deductions such as the mileage deduction.

Improve that website.

Recruits often have a difficult time learning who everybody is in the association; it’s an intimidating process.

Now, associations can scan photos of members into a website. That lets the recruits link names to faces and it lets the veterans get to know who are the recruits.

Associations can also use the website to post the e-mail addresses of officers.

In addition to providing a personal connection, websites can also be used for business purposes. An association can post its constitution and bylaws online. That can be extremely helpful to new officials, as well as to veterans who seldom refer to their constitution or bylaws, and may no longer know where to find their hard copies.

schedules. But understandably, they don’t have their roots in a community yet, making them very transient. They go wherever they can find work.

Unfortunately, our pool of referees spends one to three years training new officials while they are in college, then sends them off into the work world in another community, ready for Master status. That leaves our pool aging very quickly. We need young legs, but not so young that they will run away after we’ve trained them!

Maria Kappes served as the official recruiter for the Gallatin Valley Officials Association in Bozeman, Mont. During a recruitment campaign, the association started to target individuals who were older and more grounded in the community, rather than college students.

2. How did the shift in recruiting strategy come about?

Kappes: I am a marketing professional.

I joined the pool about five years ago and began helping with recruitment efforts.

The pool focused on getting younger adults to join and begin refereeing, which is a missing age demographic right now.

Our pool is aging. They needed younger referees. It seems logical to start looking at a college with plenty of “retired” high school basketball players. My goal was to start looking at the 25-35 age bracket; that target demographic is employed here, probably has family here, and likely isn’t going to leave to find their first job. They’ve also had time, work experiences and life experiences that build interpersonal skills, add to their communication abilities and give them better perspective on professionalism.

1. Why are you focusing your recruitment efforts on a different demographic?

Kappes: In our pool, you must have a minimum of five years of experience to be considered for Master (highest) status.

College kids are incredibly enthusiastic, great volunteers and have accommodating

3. Would you recommend the strategy of going after “older” officials to other officials associations as well?

Kappes: I think each pool needs to determine what its five- to 10-year outlook is, and target their marketing efforts for a type of person that will add value to the

REAL TALK: Revamp Your Recruiting to Fit Needs

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game. Where our pool began spinning our wheels was by constantly putting officials on the floor with one to three years of experience. That doesn’t advance the game in our community. Our veteran referees are excellent mentors, but we also can’t ask them to feed a cycle of incessant training with little measurable progress.

4. What are some of the methods you are using to recruit officials?

Kappes: During the recruiting season we leverage Facebook and Facebook ads.

Digital advertising allows for much more specific demographic targeting. The local newspaper has been very good and sees the value in letting our community know about opportunities to get involved. We’ve placed PSAs on radio stations. We also network through existing referees. We’ve done posters at high-traffic collaborating businesses like Rosauers grocery, athletic clubs and Ace hardware stores.

We used to host a welcome freshmen booth that I cancelled … too much time for too much turnover. We still post to the college careers page — a free service — but our focus and the majority of the volunteer effort goes elsewhere.

5. What advice would you give to other associations in the process of starting a recruitment program?

Kappes: Identify your needs first. … The people who get involved in refereeing want to make a difference. It is important that they know their specific skill set is valued.

If we approach it as an “everybody can do it!” type of activity, we aren’t being true to the craft. Identify what age/gender/skill/ cultural background/geography/athletic

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ability is lacking in your pool — then show up where that person spends time, and tell that person how much they could change a young person’s life as a referee.

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