May 10, 2023 – OMAHA, NE – Nebraska State Soccer (NSS), member of the United States Youth Soccer Association (US YOUTH SOCCER), United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and the official representative of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) for the State of Nebraska, has partnered with Officially Human, it was announced today by Casey Mann, Executive Director of NSS, and Brenda Hilton, Founder & CEO of Officially Human.
“For too long, the respect for our sports officials has deteriorated among athletes, parents, and fans, and I knew we had to do something to help restore that,” said Brenda Hilton. “Officially Human is the right organization at the right time to help change the mindset and build strong relationships and admiration with our sports officials while growing the base of these brave individuals. I’m excited to partner with Nebraska State Soccer and look forward to achieving our common goals.”
Officially Human founder & CEO Brenda Hilton also currently works for a Division I collegiate athletic conference. She spent 11 years with the Summit League (formerly the Mid-Continent conference) and overall 22+ years working in major collegiate officiating.
“Over the past several years, along with most youth sports organizations, we have experienced a growing issue with the treatment and retention of officials at all levels of our game”, said Casey Mann. “When we learned of Officially Human and their mission, and then spoke with Brenda and her team, we knew our aligned ideals, goals and strategies were a winning combination. We look forward to working with Officially Human and further strengthening our already strong culture as well as improving the experience at the games we love to watch, as well as ensuring all interested athletes have a place to play.”
With this partnership, all NSS clubs and members have access to Officially Human’s ELEVATE RESPECT online course. Nebraska Youth Soccer League will also use this course as an educational tool when handling instances of referee mistreatment and abuse during sanctioned games.
About Officially Human
Based in Lombard, IL., Officially Human was founded to restore respect to, and positive treatment of, sport officials through increased education and communication to all stakeholders (administrators, coaches, athletes, and fans.) Founded in 2019, Officially Human is the leader in addressing the growing crisis in officiating that touches every sport, official, and level of competition. Officially Human offers tailored solutions to athletic host organizations of all sizes that improve the stakeholder experience at each of their sporting competitions. The comprehensive solutions package includes digital education, awareness building, event host communication strategies, and organizational support in addressing
poor fan behavior.
About Nebraska State Soccer
Nebraska State Soccer is the premier governing body for soccer in Nebraska, dedicated to promoting and developing the sport at all levels. As an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA), and United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA), Nebraska State Soccer oversees leagues, competitions, coaching education, and player development programs. With a mission to provide opportunities for all individuals to enjoy the game, Nebraska State Soccer strives to foster a positive soccer culture that inspires our over 22,000 players, coaches, referees, and administrators across the state. Nebraska State Soccer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation0
