The Battlefields2Ballfields (B2B) recent partnership with the Peach Belt Conference was saluted by NASO. The partnership is set up to help bring more military veterans into the college conference, help with recruiting and retention. Mike Pereira, former NASO Board Chair, as well as former NFL Officiating Vice President, and now Rules Analyst for FOX Sports NFL broadcasts, has spearheaded the B2B effort across the United States.
“’Battlefields2Ballfields’ is unique in utilizing sports officiating to help military veterans reconnect to civilian living. Officiating is a wonderful avocation to do just that,” Barry Mano, NASO President, said.
B2B, through its partnership with NASO, provides each scholarship recipient in this partnership with an NASO membership, vital insurance coverages, educational materials and Referee magazine each month.
“The B2B family of sports officials is growing and it will continue to do so because founder Mike Pereira correctly identified the natural connection to those in the military and those in officiating. We at NASO are very proud to be a part of the B2B/Peach Belt Conference undertaking,” Mano said.
“We appreciate Mike’s and Barry’s confidence in the Peach Belt to be the first conference to partner with ‘Battlefields2Ballfields’ and want to create a strategy that other leagues across all divisions can follow,” Peach Belt commissioner David Brunk said.
About Peach Belt Conference: Since its founding in 1991, the Peach Belt Conference has emerged as a leader in NCAA Division II. With 12 member institutions across four states, the PBC is home to 35 National Championships. The PBC’s commitment to innovation and leadership has resulted in the league being the first to partner with ‘Battlefields2Ballfields’, the first to start Esports as a conference championship and the first to begin mandatory bat testing for baseball and softball. 2018-19 members are Augusta University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, Flagler College, Francis Marion University, Georgia College, Georgia Southwestern State University, Lander University, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, University of North Georgia, University of South Carolina Aiken and Young Harris College. Visit Website
About ‘Battlefields2Ballfields: B2B is a non-profit corporation, funded in part by charitable contributions from businesses, organizations and individuals. Based in Sacramento, CA, B2B was founded in February 2017 by Mike Pereira, who has devoted his entire professional career to officiating. Pereira spent 14 years officiating college football before moving to the National Football League. He worked the 1996-97 seasons as an on-field official prior to serving as Supervisor/Director of Officiating from 1998-2004 and Vice President of Officiating from 2004 until his retirement after the 2009 season. He is currently a rules analyst for FOX Sports on its NFL broadcasts. Visit Website
CONTACTS:
Ken Gerlinger
Assistant Commissioner for Communications
PEACH BELT CONFERENCE
706-860-8499
KGerlinger@PeachBeltConference.org
Doug Kelly
Director of Communications
BATTLEFIELDS2BALLFIELDS
916-202-0552
DKelly1416@aol.com & DKelly3918@gmail.com
Contact: Dave Simon
Associate Editor
Referee Magazine/National Association of Sports Officials
dsimon@referee.com
The National Association of Sports Officials is the world’s largest organization for sports officials at every level and all sports. More than 29,000 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.