FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2003


FHSAA Student Officials Program reaches highest participation level; sponsoring associations commended

GAINESVILLE – During the 2002-03 school year, the FHSAA Student Officials Program amassed the highest number of participants in its four years of existence, the FHSAA office announced today. More importantly, the retention rate of student officials who remain active after graduation has risen to almost 50 percent.

"We are certainly aware of the importance of bringing new officials into the fold and exposing them to the opportunities involved in officiating," said Associate Commissioner Ron Allen. "Students are a vital part of that equation. We're excited about the trend and hope it continues."

Last year, 46 student officials – 36 male and 10 female – represented 25 local associations across the state in a wide range of sports.

The FHSAA commends the following associations for their efforts in recruiting contest officials by encouraging students to officiate in their association during the 2002-03 school year.

Associations sponsoring student officials
(Association name, then number of participating students in parentheses)
• A-1 Officials Association (1)
• Broward County Athletic Association (1)
• Big Eight Sports Officials Association (1)
• Central Florida Officials Association (1)
• Central Florida Ridge Soccer Officials (1)
• Collier Athletic Arbitors Association (3)
• Collier County Soccer Officials (1)
• East Coast Basketball Officials (1)
• East Coast Volleyball Officials Association (1)
• Escambia County Volleyball Officials Association (1)
• Gulf Coast Basketball Officials Association (1)
• Gulf Coast Volleyball Officials Association (1)
• Jacksonville Umpires Association (1)
• Mid-Coast Officials Association (3)
• Mid-Florida Officials Association (1)
• Pasco Hernando Referees Association (2)
• Pensacola Umpires Association (1)
• Quincy Officials Association (1)
• Southern Independent Conference of Officials Association (9 )
• Soccer Referees of Palm Beach (1)
• Tallahassee Volleyball Officials Association (1)
• Treasure Coast Officials Association (1)
• United Senior Association of Referees (3)
• West Central Officials Association (6)
• West Coast Officials Association (2)

Charting Student Officials Participation
The graph below indicates the progress of the FHSAA Student Officials Program since the 2000-01 school year.




Contact:
Denarvise Thornton
Associate Director of Athletics, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 240
dthornton@fhsaa.org