NWGFOA looking for recruits to earn their stripes

Teams all over Georgia have already begun preparation for the 2017 high school football season, but they aren’t the only ones getting ready for a new gridiron campaign.

The Northwest Georgia Football Officials Association (NWGFOA) is responsible each season for providing officials at 27 high schools in the northwest Georgia area. The association covers varsity, junior varsity and freshman games for all those schools, in addition to games at several middle schools in the area.

All total, the NWGFOA officiated 557 football games last season.

But in order to be able to provide the coverage needed, the NWGFOA needs manpower, and with a new season on the horizon, they are hoping to attract new recruits willing to don the familiar black and white stripes.

Todd Britton, the chairman of the NWGFOA, who is entering his 27th season as an official, says recruiting new officials and keeping existing officials are two of the biggest issues facing his organization and organizations like his all over the prep landscape.

“We have approximately 110 officials in our association and the average age is 53 (years old),” he explained. “Every year, we lose some officials due to age, changes in job circumstances and other factors. Nationwide, the number one reason officials leave the game is the culture of abuse in game environments. Only two of every 10 officials will return after two seasons.”

“Fortunately, we live in a good area. We work closely with our coaches and schools to ensure that we have a good relationship, so we don’t experience as many of the problems that the rest of the country does. We help schools with passing camps, we volunteer to educate booster clubs on rules changes, and anything else we can do to keep open lines of communication so that we can build trusting relationships.

Britton said his organization is putting out the call in hopes of bolstering its numbers.

“If an official is a fast learner and has a good sense for the game, as well as develops a good knowledge of the rules and mechanics, he or she might get on the field during their first or second season,” he said. “It’s not like sitting in the recliner and calling holding or interference. Rules are a big part of it, but mechanics are just as important and that involves knowing where to be and what to be looking at.

“We all do it for the love of the game. We like being around sports and this is a good way to stay involved. It’s fun and rewarding to build on-the-field relationships with other officials that you work with each week in the fall.”

The NWGFOA will begin meeting in July and Britton says that, as an incentive to gain new officials, the organization is waving dues for the first two seasons.

The NWGFOA board meets year-round. Officials work passing camps throughout the summer to train for the season, in addition to attending a state clinic for officials during the summer. During the fall, the organization meets weekly to study, learn and take tests on rules.

Those interested and wanting more information can contact Britton at 706-217-9690 or log on to www.nwgfoa.org.