Sports Officials National Conference Opens Tomorrow

(PORTLAND, ORE.) — Leaders from various national and local officiating associations will gather in Portland beginning tomorrow for a three-day conference called "Sports Officiating 2003." The event will address important issues facing the officiating industry. Hosted by the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) in cooperation with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the focus of the 2003 event is on officiating accountability.

"On and off the field sports officials have a responsibility to the game and the game has a responsibility to its officials," says NASO President Barry Mano. "This conference is bringing together some of the best and brightest officiating leaders from all levels to discuss what are those obligations."

The conference officially opens Saturday evening at the Portland Marriott Downtown with a keynote address from Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Sandy Alderson.

Other prominent sports leaders including the directors of officiating from the NFL, MLB and the NBA will be in attendance as well as representatives from the collegiate, high school and recreational levels.

The 2003 conference is the 21^st such gathering on a national level of sports officiating leaders. The conference’s focus was spurred by the ever increasing amount of scrutiny sports officials are under in today’s sports conscious society.

"Sports is life with the volume turned up," says Mano. "There is so much attention on sports today and that means the intensity to meet expectations grows. Officials cannot be perfect, but the expectations are that we not only be perfect on the field, but off as well in our personal behavior. This, and much more, will be addressed in the coming days."

In addition to the various seminars discussing the accountability issue, NASO will take time to honor NBA referee Bob Delaney with the highly coveted NASO Gold Whistle Award, presented annually to one official who is involved in community service and who demonstrates on-and off-the-field integrity of the highest order.