NASO Announces "Successful Officiating 2000" Conference

(RACINE, Wis.) — The National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) announced today that it will host "Successful Officiating 2000," a national conference, on June 22-25, 2000, in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Antlers Adam’s Mark Hotel will be the host site.

The conference will draw officiating leaders from the major professional leagues, collegiate, high school and recreational levels to discuss training needs for the industry.

"It is apparent that training is the core issue that cuts across all levels of officiating," said NASO President Barry Mano. "This conference will focus on what is needed and what the future holds in order to improve the quality of officiating."

Two full days of educational sessions will be followed by the organization’s annual meeting on June 25. NASO has nearly 19,000 members worldwide.

Among the highlights will be a spirited presentation and panel discussion moderated by Michael Josephson, founder and president of the Josephson Institute of Ethics. Josephson’s program will address how character plays out in officiating and examine how it interfaces with ideals and realities in officiating.

Also expected to draw a "full house" will be a joint presentation on June 24 by the NBA’s Ed Rush and NFL’s Jerry Seeman, who will discuss the use of technology to train today’s professional officials. Their program will show attendees how the two professional programs use video and computer technology to evaluate and communicate with their officials in order to improve performance. They’ll also share ways that local officiating organizations can apply the same technology at their level.

In addition to educational sessions provided for association members, concurrent sessions will be conducted by the recently announced Officiating Training Alliance (OTA). The OTA is a blue-panel group of officiating leaders that is cooperatively dealing with training issues in order to improve recruitment techniques, core competencies, officiating evaluations, individual advancement and more.

Members of the OTA include representatives from the major professional sports including Major League Baseball, the NBA and the NFL. In addition, representatives from the NCAA (collegiate), National Federation (high school), United States Soccer Federation and youth sports are members of the alliance.

NASO will present its coveted Gold Whistle Award as part of the activities on the night of June 23 during a gala banquet that will also highlight the association’s 20th anniversary.

The educational program agenda is led by officiating "superstars" including: Rush, who is also NASO Chair; Seeman; Mano; Red Cashion, retired NFL referee and NASO board member; Dave Parry, National Coordinator of Collegiate Football Officiating; Mel Narol, noted sports law expert; Hank Zaborniak, Ohio High School Activities Assistant Commissioner; John Clougherty, veteran NCAA Final Four basketball official and NASO board member; Bob Ottewill, Colorado High School Activities Association Commissioner; Dr. Tom Crawford, Director of Coaching for the United States Olympic Committee; Sean Scott, representing the Australian National Officiating Program; Joan Powell of USA Volleyball; Mary Struckhoff, Associate Director at the National Federation of State High School Activities Association; Bill Topp, Referee magazine Editor; Bob Still, Public Relations Manager of NASO; Ron Erion, Wyoming High School Activities Association Associate Commissioner; Michael Pfahl, Executive Director of the National Youth Sports Officials Association; J.B. Caldwell, Director of Intramural Sports at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; Carl Schwartz, Referee associate editor; Jack Muscalus, longtime local association leader from Pennsylvania; Jeffrey Stern, Referee associate editor; Gary Gullett, President of the Rockford (Ill.) Officials Association and NASO board member; and Marcy Weston, NCAA National Coordinator of Women’s Basketball Officiating and NASO board member.

"Without doubt this is the greatest gathering of officiating leaders in one spot at one time ever," exclaimed Mano. "This event will definitely set the tone for the future of training sports officials."

Registration information is available by contacting NASO at 262/632-5448 or via its web site at www.naso.org/convention/home.html.

"Successful Officiating 2000"
FACT SHEET

WHO: The National Association of Sports Officials (NASO)
NASO is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational association that advocates the interests of sports officials at all levels through its educational products, membership benefits and public relations programs.

WHAT: "Successful Officiating 2000"

WHEN: June 22-25, 2000

WHERE: Antler’s Adam’s Mark Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colo.

REGISTRATION: $260 NASO Member; $335 Non-Member
$105 Member Spouse; $125 Non-Member Spouse
$35 Member Child; $35 Non-Member Child

DESCRIPTION: "Successful Officiating 2000" will gather sports officials from all corners of the country to discuss relevant and vital issues affecting the officiating industry. The event will specifically focus on training issues and the future technologies used to improve officiating.

The conference will have two distinct training tracks, one for the general membership of the association and another which involves members of the NASO Officiating Training Alliance (OTA). The OTA consists of approximately 20 officiating leaders from the professional leagues and governing bodies in the collegiate, prep and recreational levels.

On Friday, June 23, NASO will present its coveted Gold Whistle Award during an evening banquet hosted by Fox 40 International. As part of the evening, the association will officially celebrate its 20th anniversary.

SEMINARS: Speakers for the educational sessions include these renowned individuals:
Ed Rush, NBA and NASO Chair
Jerry Seeman, NFL
Barry Mano, President of NASO and Publisher of Referee Magazine
Michael Josephson, Josephson Institute of Ethics
Red Cashion, Retired NFL Referee and NASO Treasurer
Dave Parry, Big 10 Conference
Rainer Martens, Human Kinetics Publishing, Inc.
Bill Topp, Referee Editor
Mel Narol, NASO Special Advisor
Hank Zaborniak, Ohio High School Activities Association
Carl Schwartz, Referee Associate Editor
Bob Ottewill, Colorado High School Activities Association
Dr. Tom Crawford, United States Olympic Committee
Bob Still, NASO Public Relations Manager
Joan Powell, USA Volleyball
Mary Struckhoff, National Federation of State High School Associations
Sean Scott, Australian National Officiating Program
Jeffrey Stern, Referee Associate Editor
Ron Erion, Wyoming High School Activities Association
Jack Muscalus, NASO member and longtime local officiating association leader
Michael Pfahl, National Youth Sports Officials Association
J.B. Caldwell, Emory-Riddell Aeronautical University
John Clougherty, NCAA Division I basketball official and NASO board member
Gary Gullett, Rockford (Ill.) Officials Association and NASO board member
Marcy Weston, NCAA Commissioner and NASO board member

SPONSORS: The educational program is sponsored Avis, Fox 40 International, Inc., Hertz, MBNA, NFL Charities, Professional Football Officials Association (PRFA), Referee magazine, Robbins Awards and Special Markets Insurance Consultants, Inc.

REGISTER: Bonnie Schwartz, NASO Conference Coordinator at 262/632-5448 or website at www.naso.org/convention/registration.html.

MEDIA INFO: Bob Still, APR, Public Relations Manager at 262/632-5448; e-mail: bstill@naso.org.




Additional information is available on the NASO web site at: www.naso.org/convention/home.html.