Education for Youth Football Officials Expands

RACINE, Wis. — Officiating Youth Football, an educational newsletter produced as part of the partnership between USA Football (USAF) and the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), has expanded to 20 pages this year and will be distributed to 193,000 officials across the country. Distribution numbers have grown for the third straight year.

“The grant NASO receives from the NFL Youth Football Fund enables us to provide the guide to almost 200,000 youth officials at no cost,” said Barry Mano, NASO president. “The officiating program is part of a larger officiating initiative by USAF. NASO is helping out with that initiative.”

USAF is an independent non-profit organization whose mission is to galvanize, support, promote and expand amateur football at all levels. The development of an officiating arm of USAF spawned the additional pages to the preseason guide. The newsletter grew from 16 pages to 20 thanks to material provided by NFL official Tony Michalek and Big 10 and AFL official Bill Lemonnier, who head USA Football’s officiating department.

The guide also includes information produced by NASO regarding playing rules, philosophy and the specific challenges of working youth games. A special feature is a column by Jerry Seeman, former NFL senior director of officiating, explaining the importance of youth football to the continued growth of the game at higher levels. For the first time, additional free material will be available on the USAF and NASO websites as well.

“USAF is proud to partner with NASO on the guide,” Scott Hallenbeck, USAF executive director, said. “We’re happy to be working together to help in the continuing education and development of officials nationwide.”

  Hallenbeck said he hopes the guide promotes the “recruitment, training and retention of officials.”

NASO first introduced the concept of a youth officiating publication to the NFL in 1998. After two years of development, NFL Charities funded the initial 2000 publication. It was distributed to the Pop Warner and National Youth Sports Officials Association members. Since then, distribution and support have steadily increased. Since 2003, funding has come from the NFL’s Youth Football Fund.

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