Conference for athletic officials draws 1,000+
July 20, 2010
This Saturday, July 24, 2010, the Minnesota State High School League
is hosting a one-day conference for Minnesota sports officials at the
Marriott City Center Hotel in Minneapolis. The event, Officiate
Minnesota, will be the largest officiating event ever conducted in the
state. More than 1,000 officials have already pre-registered to attend
this event.
This information-packed conference will offer sport-specific workshops,
panel discussions about general issues that apply to all officials, and
a keynote presentation by four-time NFL Super Bowl referee Jerry
Markbreit. At the event luncheon, the League will unveil a new awards
program that will recognize individual officials and official
associations for their contributions to the officiating profession.
Officiate Minnesota is free to League registered officials—6,500 in
all. This event fulfills the League’s long-standing goal to educate,
celebrate and recognize high school sports officials. This also happens
to be the event theme—Educating, Celebrating and Recognizing Minnesota
Sports officials.
The conference is a kickoff event for the annual summit conducted by
the National Association of Sports Officials being held in Minneapolis
this year. The NASO Summit is scheduled July 25-27, also at the
Marriott City Center.
“The Summit happens every year, but it may not be practical for an
official to go the Summit every year with the travel and expense
involved,” explained Kevin Merkle, League associate director and
coordinator of Officiate Minnesota. “I think the exposure is important
for our officials who may not have ever thought about how big the
officiating landscape is.”
Officiate Minnesota includes five different blocks of general and
sport-specific 45-minute sessions beginning at 9 a.m. The awards
luncheon is scheduled for an hour at 11:45. The day will conclude with
Markbreit’s keynote address at 3 p.m.
“This is likely a once-in-a-career opportunity,” Merkle added. “It will
make our officials better and that will in turn make our games better
and provide better experiences for our players, coaches and fans.”
To register or for more information visit: http://www.naso.org/summit2010/
