Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 NASO Summit scheduled for Grand Rapids, Mich., is going virtual. This year’s event, which is now scheduled for Aug. 3-5, promises to build on last year’s Summit@Home success and give attendees a Summit experience in a virtual world.
“While we wish we could be in-person for this year’s Summit, we feel this year’s edition of the Summit@Home will be something the industry can be proud of,” said Bill Topp, chief operating officer and executive editor at Referee.
This year’s Summit will feature dozens of sessions and speakers and is being presented by more than 50 Summit Support Organizations. One new element to this year’s Summit will feature mini clinics for the six sports featured in Referee magazine. Each mini clinic will feature roughly two hours of content and explore hot topics in each sport, video breakdowns, motivational speakers and panels discussing a variety of topics. Each mini clinic will feature some of the brightest minds in their particular sport and across all levels to give wide appeal to Summit attendees.
Some other highlights to this year’s Summit will be the always popular Law and Liability session, discussing the hot topic items in that realm. There will also be sessions dealing with the impact of the pandemic on the industry and where we go from here. It will also feature a look at the 2022 Summit that will take place in Denver.
The sessions themselves will feature a blend of single speakers and panels, and this year’s Summit will expand on last year’s “Summit@Home.” This year’s edition will feature more interaction with attendees and allow for more networking. It will also give more opportunities for vendors to showcase their businesses, giving it more of an in-person feel, even though it will all be done virtually. No matter your sport or level, whether you’re an official or an administrator, this year’s Summit will have something for you.
“The Summit will bring together some of the biggest names in our industry and we are proud of the program we have put together,” Topp said.
The event is free to everyone who registers and will be held at sportsofficiatingsummit.com. Attendees can go to that website to see updated speakers, sessions and virtual exhibitor booths.