Summer is Here
July, the dog days of summer. While we as a country are still trying to figure out when we will get back on the fields and courts, Officially Human (OH) is continuing the conversation with constituents across the country (and world) on how to better the treatment of sport officials.
We have remained busy, participating in various podcasts discussing officiating, starting the Behind the Stripes podcast, and working with folks like the IUPUI Sports Innovation group, discussing potential tools and solutions that organizations could use in the officiating space.
Last month, I connected with RefLive out of Australia to collaborate on officiating issues they face “down under”, comparing notes and finding common ground, discussing needs and ideas. They featured OH in their monthly newsletter!
July 17-19 I will be participating in a youth sports virtual summit with For the Love of the Game, a Canadian organization; the 2-day conference will bring coaches, executive members and future leaders together to discuss a wide range of topics in the youth sports space.
BTS Podcast
As mentioned in June, OH has partnered with Indiana SRN to host a weekly podcast, Behind the Stripes, bringing various guests on to discuss the treatment, recruitment, and retainment of sport officials. We just completed week 5 of the podcast and have featured guests such as Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director with the NFHS, Scott Spillman with Mudsock out of Fishers, IN, and Sandra Walter with the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Upcoming guests include Dana Pappas with the New Mexico Activities Association and Dean Blandino, former VP of Officiating with the NFL.
Ongoing Mission
I share all of these items with you to convey the message I have been sharing all along. Addressing the shortage and treatment in the world of officiating is going to take all of us working together to fix the problem. I will continue connecting with people and companies all over the world to achieve the OH mission.
Stay safe and healthy!
