What Works

Here you will find a variety of video, posts, links and other digital resources showing you a wide variety of recruitment and retention-related efforts. Get ideas from those who have found success and avoid the pitfalls and mistakes already made. Add additional efforts and programs by Contacting Us.

Videos

Big 10/SEC Recruitment Video

The Big Ten and the SEC conferences partnered together in sponsoring a developmental clinic with an emphasis on diversity to provide opportunities for officials who are working their way up.

Texas Association of Sports Officials START Program

TASO’s “Students Today Are Referees Tomorrow” Program (START), is aimed at coaches identifying graduating seniors as potential sports officials.

NHL Exposure Combine

When players are done with their careers, what’ss next? This program paints a picture of the fun, opportunities and advantages involved in hockey officiating as players transition to their next stage of life.

BenGlassLaw Sportsmanship Challenge

This innovative program seeks to enhance sportsmanship at high school soccer matches in Northern Virginia by issuing a “Sportsmanship Challenge” to athletes and the schools.

Washington Officials Association “9 Rules You Thought You Knew”

The WOA’s statewide recruitment and retention program focuses producing and distributing specific officiating materials to engage prospective officials.

Minnesota Thank a Ref Campaign

The program promotes retention by showing officiating as a desired occupation, emphasizing one event per sport to recognize the officials and their hard work and dedication to their craft.

NFHS Online Nationwide Recruitment

Discover details and demonstrations of the National Federation’s online nationwide officials’ recruitment program.

Volleyball “Growing the Game” Initiative

Addresses the need to develop a pipeline to get younger individuals interested in continuing with officiating beyond junior programs.

Fox Valley Blues Retention program

FVB started a program to use donated equipment/apparel from current members to defray startup costs for new officials, and then built an attrition model to measure recruiting successes and ability to retain officials.

Links

MHSAA “Be the Referee”

“Be The Referee” is a series of one-minute podcasts designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.

IAHSAA “Add One”

Examining the shortage of officials in Iowa and across the country, and how the IHSAA intends to battle back.

US Lacrosse “Become an Official”

A very good landing page and inspiring video on why lacrosse players should become officials.

Battlefields to Ballfields

The foundation provides scholarships to veterans who return from defending our country with an opportunity to get integrated back into their community through officiating.

Thank A Ref

Most people have been a part of a team during their lives and proudly worn “the team” uniform. The KSHSM is looking for former team members to be part of a “new team” and join the officiating ranks. Trade in your old uniform for a new official uniform and give back to the game you enjoyed when you played. One of the best ways to maintain interest in participation is by becoming a registered official.