LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference hosted an inaugural Officiating Summit on Tuesday, December 9, bringing together coaches, administrators, officials, and officiating coordinators to discuss three main topics: Recruitment, Education/Training, and Retention/Game Environment.
 
“We were thankfully able to bring together over 40 individuals with direct involvement in the officiating world to help us,” said Steve Murray, PSAC Commissioner. “Our goal is to develop an initial phase of an operating plan that we hope will help us enhance officiating at all levels in our footprint and particularly our conference.”
 
The summit was a direct result of the PSAC’s new 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, created in the spring of 2025.
 
An operating plan for the three goal areas for officiating and how best to focus resources will be created and approved through the governance process.
 
Specific topics discussed included:

• Ways to make officiating more visible and appealing
• Clearing up misconceptions about officiating
• How best to recruit and support potential officials
• Streamlining the training and evaluation of officials across sports and levels
• How best to use emerging technologies to make officiating more consistent and training more engaging
• How the PSAC can support officiating: clinics, mentorship, discussion groups, and peer-to-peer learning that reinforces officiating standards and community
• How institutions, coaches, student-athletes, and fans can contribute to a more respectful and supportive environment for officials
• Fostering a stronger sense of community among officials across all levels