RACINE, Wis. – NASO President Bill Topp participated in the 2025 NFHS Summer Meeting, held June 28–July 1 in Chicago. The annual gathering brings together state high school athletic and activity association leaders from across the country to collaborate on the future of interscholastic sports. This year’s meeting included a focused event-within-the-event: the NFHS Officiating Summit.
The Officiating Summit brought together officiating leaders from dozens of state associations, along with Dana Pappas, NFHS Director of Officiating Services, to explore strategies for improving recruitment, training, and retention of officials. Topp’s involvement in the Summit underscored the deepening collaboration between NASO and NFHS—a relationship founded on mutual support and a shared vision.
“NFHS and NASO are more aligned than ever in recognizing the challenges officials face—and more committed than ever to solving them together,” said Topp.
Topics tackled at the Officiating Summit ranged from state association onboarding practices and abuse-prevention strategies, to the evolution of training programs and technology integration. Attendees shared innovative ideas and heard updates on joint initiatives already underway.
Topp’s presence also served as a preview of the NASO Sports Officiating Summit, set for July 27-29 in Montgomery, Ala. That event—attended by leaders from all sports and levels, from youth to professional — is sponsored by NFHS and many of the same state associations in attendance in Chicago. The NASO Summit will build on the momentum of the NFHS meeting, diving deeper into the critical issues facing officials today and tomorrow.
“Our Summit brings the entire officiating industry together,” said Topp. “It’s where cross-sport collaboration really happens, and where ideas turn into action.”
The continued partnership between NASO and NFHS is more than symbolic. Through the Say Yes to Officiating initiative, NASO Association Advantage resources, shared production of official NFHS content, and aligned messaging on official recruitment, retention, support, and protection, the two organizations are shaping a national infrastructure to elevate officiating.
Topp and Pappas pledged to keep the dialogue and collaboration going through future joint appearances, educational efforts, and aligned advocacy.
As the officiating world gathers again in July, it does so with strengthened ties and renewed purpose—evidence that the partnership between NASO and NFHS is not only active but essential.
Contact: Joe Jarosz
Associate Editor
Referee Magazine/National Association of Sports Officials
jjarosz@referee.com
About the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO)
NASO, based in Racine, Wis., is a not-for-profit educational organization and is the world’s largest organization for sports officials at every level and all sports. 32,000 sports officials from around the world belong to NASO, enjoying member benefits and supporting an organization that advocates for sports officials and that helps them maintain the highest level of officiating skills. Founded in 1980, NASO is governed by a 12-member board of directors coming from numerous sports and organizations. For more information, visit the NASO website at NASO.org.
