What We Have Accomplished
Now in its 40th year, the Sports Officiating Summit has focused on a hot button theme since 2000, recording, publishing and distributing the insights, analysis and solutions for the betterment of the entire officiating industry.
The Sports Officiating Summit is the only event of its kind, designed exclusively for officiating leaders and those who administer officiating programs.
The Summit attracts representatives from all major professional leagues, collegiate, high school and youth levels. This premier event is the meeting place to discuss the critical issues impacting officiating today and the innovations of tomorrow – to continuously improve the overall game experience.
Officials and officiating leaders have attended NASO Summits for over 40 years. The first Summit was held in Chicago in June 1981, and NASO has held a Summit every year since with the exception of 1996 and 1999.
- 1981 Chicago, Illinois
- 1982 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 1983 Dallas, Texas
- 1984 Las Vegas, Nevada
- 1985 Orlando, Florida
- 1986 St. Louis, Missouri
- 1987 San Francisco, California
- 1988 Boston, Massachusetts
- 1989 San Antonio, Texas
- 1990 Washington, D.C.
- 1991 Las Vegas, Nevada
- 1992 New Orleans, Louisiana
- 1993 Orlando, Florida
- 1994 San Diego, California
- 1995 Washington, D.C.
- 1996 No Summit
- 1997 Keystone, Colorado
- 1998 Indianapolis, Indiana
- 1999 No Summit
- 2000 Colorado Springs, Colorado
- 2001 Norfolk, Virginia
- 2002 Albuquerque, New Mexico
- 2003 Portland, Oregon
- 2004 Washington D.C.
- 2005 Salt Lake City, Utah
- 2006 Memphis, Tennessee
- 2007 Denver, Colorado
- 2008 Cleveland, Ohio
- 2009 Tucson, Arizona
- 2010 Minneapolis, Minnesota
- 2011 Atlanta, Georgia
- 2012 Portland, Oregon
- 2013 Grand Rapids, Michigan
- 2014 Albuquerque, New Mexico
- 2015 St. Louis, Missouri
- 2016 San Antonio, Texas
- 2017 Louisville, Kentucky
- 2018 New Orleans, Louisiana
- 2019 Spokane, Washington
- 2020 Summit @ Home (Virtual)
- 2021 Summit @ Home (Virtual)
2021: Summit @ home
The 2021 Sports Officiating Summit took the officiating industry to new heights. With state-of-the-art technical capabilities and a record number of officiating experts, NASO was able to train, celebrate and inspire officials and officiating leaders like never before. This introductory video featured a montage of the best opening ceremony welcomes from past Sports Officiating Summits.
2020: Summit @ home
The 2020 Summit went virtual, providing a new way to teach and inspire sports officials across the country and around the world. Greg Sankey, Southeastern Conference Commissioner, has a great appreciation for sports officials and their importance to the integrity of the games. His welcome message motivated and challenged officials from all sports and all levels.
2019: Training In Transition
The 2019 Summit in Spokane, Wash., explored training challenges for today’s officials who work in an increasingly difficult environment. The welcome message was delivered by someone who also knows how to work in tough places — Spokane native and former U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.
2018: Say Yes To Officiating
We said yes to officiating and concentrated on all aspects of recruiting, retaining, supporting and celebrating officials and officiating. With the officiating shortages around the nation many are facing, this year’s theme was timely and necessary. Mike Breen, a play-by-play sports commentator for the NBA on ABC, and the lead announcer for the New York Knicks games, was featured in a welcome video for the event.
2017: Driven by Data – Analytics Demographics Sports Officials
The 2017 Summit explored who we are and what we do from a statistical perspective, providing vital information to use directionally to help officials and administrators make informed decisions on the topics important to our industry. U.S. Army General Ann Dunwoody (Ret.), the first female four-star general in the history of the American Army, was featured in a welcome video for the event.
2016: Officiating in the Future Sense: Change Mindsets, Build Intelligence
What does the future hold? Do we need to change our mindsets and build our intelligence to become better officials? The 2016 Summit covered the future of officiating from various angles. Paul Ryan was featured in a welcome video for the event.
2015: The Right Call: Evaluations and Officiating Performance
Calls, no-calls and officiating movements are regularly recorded today. The data and metrics generated feed into an evaluation system designed to measure officiating performance. The 2015 Summit covered evaluating officials from various angles. Condoleezza Rice was featured in a welcome video for the event.
2014: Whole New Ballgame – Safe, Secure, By the Rules
Like it or not, the role of the sports official is changing. Officials are being instructed to strongly enforce the rules that attempt to keep athletes safer. Officials need to “buy in” to that philosophy to be successful. The 2014 Summit covered safety from various angles. David Hill was feature in a welcome video for the event.
2013: Game Assignments— Right People, Right Place, Right Time
Grand Rapids, Michigan! The 2013 Summit has become the “Industry Event of The Year.” It marks the sole time in a year when the best and brightest in officiating come together to learn, share and develop the skills we need to make officiating better.
2012: Taking Care of Business — Reliability & Results in Officiating
The kick-off for the 30th Sports Officiating Summit begins in the main ballroom of the Marriott Portland Downtown Waterfront Hotel. Retired four-star General and 65th United States Secretary of State Colin Powell will provide a pre-recorded welcome. Industry-leading keynote speakers will set the tone for Taking Care of Business: Reliability & Results in Officiating.
2011: Image in Officiating — The Perception • The Reality • The Focus
Designed specifically for officiating leaders, the 2011 Sports Officiating Summit will deliver fresh perspective and proven techniques to help you and your officials be more effective. This year’s theme is Image in Officiating: The Perception. The Reality. The Focus. The program specifically addresses each of those main topic areas and also includes hot-topic sessions covering the “burning” issues we face today.
2010: Rights • Requirements • Risks — The Shared Responsibility of Officiating
Learn about the shared responsibility of officiating. What are the responsibilities of not only officials and officiating leaders, but also the people who manage the conferences, leagues and individual games as they relate to officiating?
2009: Judgment and Decision Making — How Officiating Leaders Make Great Calls
Good judgment and sound decision making skills are important characteristics of every successful and respected sports official. That statement is every bit as true for those who administer sports officiating programs – assigners, trainers, observers, evaluators, state association leaders and conference commissioners. As leaders, you face more decisions about your officials than ever before and your judgments get called into question more than ever before. How do you make the right decisions?
2008: Officiating to a Standard — Define It • Develop It • Deliver It
Today, more than ever before, officials are held responsible for their actions – whether it is during a game or not. It is important that all officials enforce rules, manage games and build relationships through consistent and appropriate behavior. What is right? Are there standards to follow? What are the standards? Who sets the standards?
2007: The Power of Persuasive Officiating: Resolve Conflicts • Manage Games • Build Relationships
An official’s ability to “handle” the game is one of the most important skills he or she can possess. Effective communication and people skills are as crucial to successful officiating today as are rules knowledge and mental toughness.
2006: Officiating and Technology — What Works
The dynamics of the officiating industry are constantly evolving. Developing your programs with technology allows change to happen faster and more effectively, with stability for growth. Officiating and Technology delivers the resources and experts to help define needs, map processes and develop solutions
2005: Leadership Officiating — A Bold New Vision
2004: The Official’s Role in Improving Sportsmanship
2003: Accountability in Officiating
2002: Evaluating Officiating Performance
2001: Recruiting and Retention
2000: Training and Technology