Day 1 – Sunday, July 28th, 2019
Registration Open
Time: 1:00 PM – 6:15 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
Time: 1:00 PM – 6:15 PM
2019 Sports Officiating Summit Grand Opening
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
The kickoff to the 37th Sports Officiating Summit begins at the The Davenport Grand in Spokane, Washington featuring a welcome from distinguished presenters while keynote speakers will set the tone for the event to come.
Welcome Reception
Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
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.
Day 2 – Monday, July 29th, 2019
Registration Open
Time: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
Time: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Training in Transition
Time: M1 – 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM
Knowledge, belief, behavior. You train sports officials to enable them to carry out their responsibilities. The landscape of those responsibilities has changed. Questions have to be asked. Is officiating training keeping pace? How relevant is it? Does the training actually put officials in a position to succeed? Take three steps: First: nail down your knowledge base. Second: review the beliefs you export. Third: focus on the behaviors that matter most. This session delivers a vivid picture of officiating training as we know it today. Think of this session as the “known-knowns” of training officials.
Speakers:
David Coleman
David Coleman was named the vice president of officiating for the PAC-12 Conference in 2015. David is a former Division 1A and 1AA college football official. Previously, David was the director of officiating at the National Football League Headquarters in New York City. He was a line judge in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and a referee in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). He was an instant replay official (video operator) for the National Football League and was a member of the crew that worked Super Bowl XL in Detroit.
Jason Nickleby
Minnesota State High School League coordinator of officials; responsible for the overall development and implementation of registration, training and mentorship 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.
Pati Rolf
Pati Rolf serves as USA Volleyball’s director of officials. She was a women’s referee for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games gold-medal match as well the 2016 NCAA Division I Women’s National Championship. Pati has been a FIVB international official since 2003 and a PAVO/NCAA National Official. She referees at every level of the game from FIVB World Championship events to the youngest of ages. Pati also served as the chair of the USA Rules Commission. She is 31 years married with two grown children, both English teachers — in Milwaukee and South Korea.
Get Them to Believe
Time: M2 – 9:10 AM – 9:40 AM
Professional training techniques will change the face of officiating. What percent of officials understand the full significance of the roles they play? Often it takes an “outsider” to help insiders come to grips with such a fundamental question. The key to having a quality training program is the desire within everyone concerned that the program succeed. That transition must take place in how sports officials are nurtured and nourished. Training for accuracy, efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction.
Speakers:
Rachelle Strawther
In her position, Strawther designs and leads programs for individuals and organizations, provides guidance to teams on leadership challenges, and coaches individuals. As a speaker, she has presented to organizations such as the Boeing Company, the U.S. Army, the International Leadership Association, and numerous companies in the Pacific Northwest. Working closely with the Royal Dutch Football Association, she oversaw training and certifications for KYFA’s (Kisumu, Kenya Youth Football Association) 50+ referees and 150+ coaches.
Training on Track Workshops
Time: M3 – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
These workshops will put you to “work.” A dozen breakouts, each one with a special task. Each with a workshop leader. Best thinking will then be on display during Tuesday’s big “reveal” session (T5). Here’s the rundown:
• Then vs. Now
What does officiating training and education look like now versus 20 years ago? How did we orient new officials back then versus today? What have we lost? What have we gained?
Speakers:
Rocky Bettar
A 48-year high school football and basketball official, Bettar served two 3-year terms as president of the California Basketball Officials Association and two 3-year terms as their Southern California representative. He has worked two CIFSS (California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section) finals in basketball and two in football.
Bob Delaney
NBA Referee Operations vice president and director of officials; prior to becoming vice president, Delaney 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 and the 1998 and 2011 NBA All-Star games. 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; NASO board member.
• Continuing Education
What sort of training opportunities are we offering our veteran officials? How do we get past the idea that someone is “fully-trained”? Do we have too many complacent veterans? How do we keep them engaged?
Speakers:
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.
• Camps & Clinics
What is the role of camps & clinics in the overall training experience? Who are they targeted toward? Do those camps help or hurt training goals?
Speakers:
Brent Rice
Rice’s duties include supervision and coordination of the 10,000 registered athletic officials in Michigan, along with sport responsibilities for baseball. Prior to joining the MHSAA staff, Brent served on the staff of the Wendelstedt Umpire School for 18 years, where he held positions as the administrative director and chief of instruction. His responsibilities included staff management, coordination of curriculum, and daily classroom lectures. He umpired professionally for 13 years following his graduation from The Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires in 2000.
Debbie Williamson
Chair of the NASO Board, and 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.
• Consistency In Training
What messages are officials hearing? Are they consistent between the local associations, the state associations, camps & clinics? Are the educational goals consist between training in the same organization?
Speakers:
Bill Carollo
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. Winner of the 2018 Gold Whistle Award.
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 & 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 (NASO) in 2017. She also continues to serve within the Duke University Medical Center’s Department of Neurosurgery as an Adjunct Assistant Professor.
• Diversity In Training
Are current training techniques inclusive? Do traditional educational and orientation approaches work with everyone regardless of generation, race or gender? Do our approaches need to change?
Speakers:
Cindy C-WIlson
Cindy has been officiating youth 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. Cindy 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.
• Using technology
There is no doubt that technological tools have provided many new avenues for training and educating officials? Are we using those tools wisely? Are we over-dependent on distance learning and self-study?
Speakers:
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.
Jason Nickleby
Minnesota State High School League coordinator of officials; responsible for the overall development and implementation of registration, training and mentorship 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.
• Mentoring Programs
What is the role of mentors in the onboarding process? How critical is a formal mentoring program to early success and orientation into officiating? How can mentors continue to provide education and education?
Speakers:
Paul LaRosa
Louisiana High School Officials Association 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.
Joan Powell
Pac-12 and Mountain West 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 (2001-05 and 2011-15); Officiating Development Alliance member.
• Successful Meetings
What do good officiating meetings look like? What is the balance between training and other meeting business? What form do they take? Breakouts? Video? What’s the right recipe?
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); nine 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.
• Training Curicula
How much thought do we give to developing courses of study in officiating? Are we simply reactive or do we plan out full programs? How engaging are those programs? What is the impact of delivering them online vs. in -person?
Speakers:
Julie Voeck
Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) president; USA Volleyball and PAVO national referee; NASO board member.
Sandra Walter
Sandra Walter joined the Indiana High School Athletic Association in June 2012 as an assistant commissioner, and administers the sports of boys and girls soccer, girls basketball and gymnastics. She also serves as the director of officials for the state office. Sandra spent 12 years at Lawrence Central High School in athletic administration. She is an active member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (IIAAA; President 2006-07).
• Beyond Year One
Much of our focus involves preparing newer officials during their first year or two, but are we doing enough to provide continuing learning options? Do we have too many under-prepared third-, fourth-, and fifth- year officials?
Speakers:
Dean Corcoran
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.
• What Are We Doing Wrong?
When considering officials’ training, education and orientation efforts, what’s not working? Why isn’t it working? How can we make meaningful changes to those problems? What are some topics and aspects of officiating that we rarely, if ever, train on? When does most “training” occur – in season or offseason?
Speakers:
Dave Dodge
David Dodge, Carlsbad, California, served as a NCAAM D-1 basketball official for 30 years, officiated in 18 NCAA Basketball Tournaments and numerous international tournaments, serves on the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) board, and received NASO’s Mel Narol Medallion Award in 2010 for his leadership and contributions to NASO and the officiating industry. Mr. Dodge currently serves as CEO of Sports Officiating Consulting, LLC.
Ron Foxcroft
Fox 40 International chief executive officer and founder; chief executive officer and owner of one of North America’s largest trucking logistics companies; current Honorary Colonel of Argyll and Sutherland Army Regiment, appointed by the Prime Minister of Canada; Canadian Entrepreneur of the Decade by Profit magazine; 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 three-decade sponsor; 2016 NASO Gold Whistle Award recipient; NASO board special adviser. Ron was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2018, by the Governor General of Canada.
• What Does Success Look Like?
When training, education and orientation efforts work well, what are the common reasons? What approaches prove successful? What factors determine that success and who exactly makes that determination?
Speakers:
Craig Anderson
Illinois High School Association (IHSA) executive director; prior to becoming executive director was an assistant director who oversaw the official’s department, including officials education; former Illinois Athletic Directors Association board of director’s member; National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association member; former IHSA’s Athletic Administrator Committee and Legislative Commission member; former high school athletic director.
Tom Robinson
Robinson is a longtime high school math teacher, basketball coach, college football official and referee, and college replay official. He is currently a replay official in the Replay Operations Center (ROC) of Big 12 Football Operations after 13 years as stadium replay official in the Mountain West and Big 12 Conferences. He served as the replay official for the 2017 National Championship, Alabama/Clemson.
Officiating Products & Services Showcase
Time: M4 – 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
What’s new? What works? What will make your officiating program more effective? 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 Officiating Industry Luncheon
Time: M5 – 11:40 AM – 1:00 PM
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 Executive Director Karissa Niehoff of the NFHS and 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:
Mike Colbrese
Mike Colbrese is the executive director of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association. He was named as the WIAA’s fourth executive director in the fall of 1993, after serving six years as the Commissioner of the Wyoming High School Activities Association, preceded by five years as Assistant Director of the Montana High School Association. Over the course of his 37 years in state association work, Mike has been involved with various National Federation of State High School Associations committees.
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.
Karissa Niehoff
In August, 2018 Dr. Karissa Niehoff assumed the position of executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). In 2010 she was named executive director of the Connecticut Association of Schools-Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference. Previously, Niehoff served on the NFHS board, committees and task forces. She is actively involved in advocacy and policy development for education-based programs and athletics alongside colleagues from multiple stakeholder groups.
Sport-By-Sport Training Forums
Time: M6 – 1:20 PM – 2:30 PM
Watch, listen, express yourself, network. Sport-by-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. The plays, the mechanics, the rules, the enforcements, the philosophies: 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. Let’s talk shop!
Speakers:
Felix Addeo
Felix “Phil” Addeo assumed the position of executive director for the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (IAABO) July 1. Addeo has been an IAABO member since 1973 (and involved at the international level since 1985), and served his local New Jersey board and IAABO’s Executive Committee in multiple capacities over the years. He was honored with IAABO Life Membership in 2009 and as the NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association) Basketball Official of Year.
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 off seasons in the Puerto Rico Winter League and umpired the inaugural World Baseball Classic (2006).
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); nine 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.
Steve Strimling
A football official in the Pac-12 since 2011, Strimling also serves as the AAF coordinator of football officials. He began officiating in 1978, worked in the WAC 2006-2010, and Arena Football from 2001-2012.
Julie Voeck
Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO) president; USA Volleyball and PAVO national referee; NASO board member.
Call ‘Em the Way You See ‘Em!
Time: M7 – 2:50 PM – 3:30 PM
Powered by: 
Never met a call we didn’t like! These “great” calls were always TOUGH calls – made by great officials. An array of plays, on huge screens – presented by the supervisors/coordinators 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.
This year, Call ‘Em The Way You See ‘Em will be powered by Zooom, purveyors of the advanced video editing and sharing solution created just for officials. Their advanced video technology will be used to upload and deliver every great play in striking HD, just like your officials can do easily themselves when they use Zooom for individual and group training. Learn More About Zooom
Speakers:
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.
Suzanne Dodd
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. 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.
Mark Jones
A high school football, basketball, baseball and softball official for over 28 years, Jones currently serves as director of officials for the Alabama High School Athletic Association. He taught an officiating course for 28 years at Jacksonville State University and officiated NCAA women’s college basketball for 8 years (D-I and D-II).
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 & 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 (NASO) in 2017. She also continues to serve within the Duke University Medical Center’s Department of Neurosurgery as an Adjunct Assistant Professor.
Todd Stordahl
Washington Officials Association (WOA) executive director; Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) production coordinator (1999 -2000); became officials’ coordinator in 2000; commissioner of WOA when it became independent of the WIAA in 2002; former high school basketball coach and basketball official (2001-08); certified athletic administrator; NASO board member.
Kurt Weaver
Weaver was named to the USA Rugby National Panel in 2011, the Elite Panel in 2014, and the Pro Panel in 2016. He became a World Rugby referee in 2015, receiving multiple appointments to the Africa Cup, Americas Rugby Championship, World Rugby Under 20 Trophy, and World Rugby Nations Cup 2017, in addition to assistant referee appointments. He was one of the first contracted referees for the inaugural Pro Rugby season – the first professional rugby union competition in the United States. Kurt is currently the vice president for Rugby Operations with USA Rugby, leading the rugby development and community rugby programs for the national governing body.
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.
After Further Review with Mike Pereira
Time: M8– 3:50 PM – 4:50 PM
One of the Summit’s highest rated sessions! Fox Sports’ celebrated football officiating analyst Mike Pereira will have his mojo working. First, his stand-up monologue about the trends in officiating and the impact of media on that. Then Mike, using a late-night talk show format, 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 – one guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Speakers:
Crystal Hogan
From Compton, Calif., Crystal attended and played basketball at Dominguez High School, Compton Community College , and Long Beach State. She has been officiating basketball for 17 years, having completed her first year officiating men’s DI college basketball this past season. She is a proud mother of a beautiful daughter who is a freshman in college and is currently employed as a Peace Officer.
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 vice-chair.
Russell Yurk
Russell is the vice president of instant replay for the National Football League. Before joining the league office in 2017, he worked seven seasons as an NFL replay official and replay assistant, and eleven years as a high school and college football official.
Day 3 – Tuesday, July 30th, 2019
Registration Open
Time: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
Time: 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM
The First Three Years
Time: T1 – 8:00 AM – 8:40 AM
70% do not return to officiating after 3 years! Based on recent surveys, that is fact. And fact is, we need to change that to increase the number of officials. The turn-ons and the turn-offs will be on full view. Say Yes to Officiating enables us to light a fire in others – stoking their interest this undertaking. So many barriers stand in the way and we need to begin knocking those down. Expensive uniforms, onerous meeting requirements, old-school delivery mechanisms, dated instructors, out-of-touch materials for a mobile world…the list goes on. Let’s get after it!
Speakers:
Zach Altman
Zach Altman is a 19-year-old sophomore majoring in Kinesiology and minoring in Spanish at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Zach has been refereeing youth basketball for the past 3 years, but after joining the San Antonio Basketball Officials Association this past season, he started officiating junior varsity and varsity high school matchups across the city. His TEDx Talk on poor sportsmanship has over 20,000 views on YouTube. One day, he wants to officiate DI college basketball and eventually the NBA.
Ryan Blevins
Ryan was first certified as a soccer official in late February of 2016 and started working rec games at the field five minutes from his house. He was initially reluctant to center games because of doubt and concerns about parents, but was assured he had what it takes to do it. Soon, Ryan was centering U16-U19 select games and running the lines for the men’s league and even college club games at Easter Washington University. Refereeing has opened doors to many opportunities in his life and put him in contact with people that he would not have otherwise met.
Mark Uyl
MHSAA (Michigan) Executive Director; former MHSAA Assistant Director responsible for officials program (2004-2018); NCAA D-I baseball umpire; umpired the 2014 and 2017 NCAA College World Series and the 2007 Pan American Games in Brazil; former NASO chair (2015) and board member (2011-15). Current ODA member.
Game Changers
Time: T2 – 9:00 AM – 10:10 AM
One of the Summit’s most practical bank of sessions. These shorter concurrently running presentations are fast-paced and each focused on a topic of unique importance. Each Game Changer has been carefully selected by NASO to provide unique insights, showcase cutting-edge tools, and shine a light on innovative areas of the officiating industry. You will be able to attend more than one of these sessions because of the way they are timed. Each speaker has a concept, service, tool, product or study that can be a true Game Changer for you and your officiating program. Every year, this session gets rave reviews for its practical and timely presentations.
Leading the Way
Time: T3 – 10:20 AM – 11:30 AM
Time to get going! Who is doing officiating training the right way? Each panelist is tasked with showing an innovative, out-of-the-box program or initiative that actually trains officials into a position to be successful. See the videos, and the websites. You will hear about the unique clinics and see in-person demonstrations to use back in your own shop. 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. Works for them, and tailored to work for you.
Speakers:
Omar Ahmad
Omar serves as Director of Sports Partnerships at STRIVR, where he oversees day-to-day operations and leads strategy for the sports training division. He completed his masters degree at Northwestern University, and also served as a football graduate assistant where he helped the Wildcats to back-to-back bowl games in 2008 and 2009. After Northwestern, he worked at the Big Ten Conference, playing a key role in day-to-day operations of the conference’s officiating development programs and video review process for football and basketball.
Bill Carollo
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. Winner of the 2018 Gold Whistle Award.
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.
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); nine 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.
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.
Working Lunch Breakouts
Time: T4 – 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
It’s grab-and-go lunchtime. Pick up your complimentary boxed lunch in the main hallway and head back to work. Choose from one the following lunch workshops. For quick reference, “NFL White Hats” is a leadership workshop perfect for any Summit attendee, “Legal & Insurance Q&A” is geared toward local officials association leaders, the “State High School Association Leadership” forum is by invitation only for state association staff members, and the “National Governing Body Officiating Forum” is specifically for attendees involved with NGBs.
• NFL White Hats
In the main ballroom, this session led by NFL Referees Carl Cheffers and Craig Wrolstad, features the latest leadership lessons from the best in the pros to help you run your own show. Expect key messages from Cheffers and Wrolstad, followed by breakouts for participants to discuss how apply them, before returning to present breakout findings to session attendees.
Speakers:
Carl Cheffers
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. Carl has worked many NFL post-season assignments including Super Bowl LI (Atlanta vs. New England) in 2017.
Craig Wrolstad
Craig Wrolstad is entering his 17th season as a member of the National Football League. He worked for the local high school associations for 18 years, working a number of Washington State Championships in the 1990’s before moving to the small college level in both basketball and football. In 1999, Craig was hired by the Pac-10 as a Side Judge. He also worked in the Arena Football League and NFL-Europe before getting the call to work in the NFL. Craig worked as a Field Judge in Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans. Craig was chosen as a Referee at the beginning of the 2013 season.
• Legal and Insurance Q & A
Yes, you’ve got questions. Summit attendees 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 legal risks. These areas are the bedrocks of smart, savvy and sensible officiating practice in today’s litigious world. This workshop is perfect for local association leaders. Bring something to take good notes!
Speakers:
Don Collins
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), 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.
Jina Doyle
American Specialty Insurance and Risk Services, Inc. (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Vice President, Client Services. American Specialty has served as NASO’s insurance provider since 2004. Jina joined American Specialty in October of 2001 and has served in many roles. Jina is actively involved in working with NASO to determine the best strategies to protect the interests of its members and is one of many resources available to NASO’s membership via the Member Information and Consultation Program. American Specialty was NASO’s 2017 Mel Narol Medallion award recipient.
Alan Goldberger
Sports law attorney and recognized legal authority for game officials; author of Sports Officiating: A Legal Guide; Member Information and Consultation Program (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.
• State High School Association Leadership Forum
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 regularly 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.
• National Governing Body Officiating Forum
New this year and strictly for NGB officiating representatives and other staff to get together, discuss common challengers, share stories and solutions and find common ground concerning officials and officiating programs. If you’re at the Summit and work for a National Governing Body, this lunch workshop is for you!
Training on Track
Time: T5 – 1:15 PM – 1:45 PM
Revealing and reported! Summit attendees have worked hard. Especially in Monday’s Training on Track Workshop session (M3). That session discussed, argued over and evaluated 12 essential topics – all with a training bent to them. Now, that work is finished and the results have been assembled. This session is the reveal of those results and some are stunning. This session is a gift – takeaways you will quickly put to use in your teaching and training efforts. Guaranteed to be one of the most revealing and riveting sessions in Summit history.
Landscape Change: Independent Contractor v. Employee
Time: T6 – 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
Status check. An historic case with the potential of remaking the officiating landscape. It erupted in Eastern Pennsylvania, its tremors felt from coast to coast, and beyond. Why did it start? What was the path that took it first to the NLRB, through an appeal to the NLRB and then to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals? What’s at stake? If amateur officials are deemed to be employees, what changes? If they continue to be independent contractors, what stays the same? The ground continues to shift under our feet.
Speakers:
John Black
John S. Black is General Counsel of the National Federation of State High School Associations. He joined staff in 1998 after serving for some years as outside counsel. He has extensive experience in the areas of sports law, business law and alternative dispute resolution. In addition to his work at the NFHS, he is an adjunct professor at the UMKC (University of Missouri-Kansas City) Law School, where he teaches Amateur Sports Law, and he periodically conducts commercial arbitrations for the American Arbitration Association.
Don Collins
California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), 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.
Mario Seneca
Mario Seneca has extensive experience with the labor-law issues, related to employee vs. independent-contractor status of sports officials. A former Minor League Umpire for nine seasons, with four years as vice president of the Association of Minor League Umpires (AMLU), he currently officiates D-I NCAA Football in the Mountain West Conference and for the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) in four sports (baseball, basketball, football, and boys’ lacrosse). Through his former position with the OPEIU (Office and Professional Employees International Union, AFL-CIO), Mario was directly involved in the legal dispute between the PIAA and the National Labor Relations Board, as OPEIU’s organizer and representative. He is also a named-plaintiff in a minimum-wage case against the PIAA. He is currently a deputy law clerk for the Hon. Debrah A. Kunselman, Judge of Pennsylvania’s statewide, appellate court.
RefereeVoices
Time: T7 – 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM
How about we talk about us? The concept is simple: speakers under the lights, each telling a story, giving an insight, sharing a moment – each that will help you reflect, think deeply and reconnect to what is important in officiating. RefereeVoices will put words in your mouth. Not to be missed.
Speakers:
Walt Coleman
Walt Coleman began officiating high school football in 1974, joined the NFL in 1989, and became a referee in the league in 1995. He worked multiple playoff games, two NFL conference championship games during his 30-year NFL career, and was the alternative referee for three Super Bowls. He was an NCAA DI football official in the Southwest Conference. Coleman retired as an official from the NFL after working the pro bowl in 2019.
Gordon Corsetti
Gordon Corsetti is a lacrosse official who played for ten years before realizing he’d much rather ref than play the game. Originally from Atlanta, GA, he now resides in Baltimore, MD and officiates high school and collegiate lacrosse in the Mid-Atlantic region. He works intently at US Lacrosse creating resources for the development of youth and scholastic officials across the country, as well as writing about rules and officiating.
Joe Crawford
Currently Director of Referee Performance for the NBA, Crawford entered the NBA in 1977 at the age of 26; prior to joining the NBA, he officiated In the Eastern League (CBA) from1974-76; has officiated more than 2,500 regular season and 300-plus playoff and 50 NBA Finals games; assigned to the 1986, 1992 and 2000 NBA All-Star Games as well as the 1993 McDonald’s Championship in Munich, his playoff and NBA Finals totals are the most among active NBA officials. 2014 Gold Whistle recipient.
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.
Lisa Jones
Lisa has officiated women’s Division I college basketball for 18 years, including 9 Final Fours. She officiated in what was then the D League for three years, and the WNBA for five years.
Cocktail Hour
Time: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Mix and mingle with all the attendees, speakers and luminaries of the officiating world before the big gala.
Celebrate Officiating Gala
Time: 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Join us as we celebrate the best that officiating has to offer during an elegant evening banquet to close the 2019 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.