INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Player to Ref program is actively encouraging student-athletes to transition into officiating roles, providing a seamless path for those interested in becoming officials.
Why it matters: With a declining pool of officials due to aging and lack of interest among the younger generation, the Player to Ref program addresses a critical need by connecting former athletes with officiating opportunities.
- After registering with the program, student-athletes who have never received any formal officiating training are provided access to RefReps at no charge to the student-athlete.
- For student-athletes who have completed officiating training, the national office will work to connect them with state high school associations or conference coordinators.
To sign up for the program, CLICK HERE.
Becoming an official is a great way to stay connected to sport and provides a tremendous service to young people eager for a chance to compete. Officials are the gate keepers of the game, protecting the integrity of the games young people love to play. Officials help in the development and shaping of the next generation by demonstrating qualities like honesty, objectivity, consistency, conflict resolution, empathy and respect.
To learn more about the NCAA’s Say Yes to Officiating drive, CLICK HERE.
