VIENNA, VIRGINIA - - The Elmira Chapter of the New York State Association of Certified High School Football Officials gained nine new members for the fall season. For a chapter with around 35 members, that’s a significant increase. The boost to membership is the direct result of a recruitment campaign, in which the group used NASO’s “Be a Ref. Make the Call!” public service announcement (PSA), according to Scott Iddings, vice president of the Elmira Chapter.
“It’s a well-produced public service announcement,” said Iddings, who knew about the PSA because he had seen it in another market. “We tagged it with local information specific to our association.”
The association ran the PSA on two TV stations where Iddings works as well as the local cable system. Iddings and his association also produced two different radio PSAs to run on a variety of stations. In addition, they sent out several media release to newspaper sports editors, contact all the ADS in the area for newly graduated student-athletes and posted NASO recruitment posters at health clubs and grocery stores.
“One piece is not going to carry you, but several pieces get the message out further,” said Iddings. “I took that approach and applied it to the campaign to promote for new officials. We are very happy with the results.”
As a result of the multifaceted campaign, Iddings and Truman Ayers, president of the Elmira chapter who helped with recruitment efforts, had about 13 potential candidates express interest.
The sports director at the stations where Iddings works on the evening news programs at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. the night before the first organizational meeting. Ayers and Duke Carroll, an NFL official from Elmira who belongs to the group, were interviewed for the piece. Carroll also spoke at the informational meeting.
“Of course we put our best foot forward at the informational meeting. Duke talked for about 15 minutes about his experiences and what he has gotten out of officiating,” said Iddings. The process for moving up, the costs involved and the level of games recruits would be working initially were also covered.
While some of the prospects decided not to pursue officiating because of time reseason, Iddings and the whole association are excited about added nine people to the fold.
“The fact that no one in our association can remember having this many new recruits in one season speaks to the success (of the campaign),” said Iddings.
NASO Recruitment Kit Available
The NASO “Be a Ref. Make the Call!” recruitment kit is free. It provides tested and proven promotional material to aid in recruiting new officials. Included in the kit is:
• A PSA video for television.
• A CD for radio airplay.
• A poster.
• Support material including sample a press release, how to conduct a “Make the Call” Day and important “must knows” for such a day.
• NASO Special Reprint: How to Get & Keep Officials, which provides a variety of recruitment ideas and suggestions.
To obtain you free copy of the recruitment kit, contact NASO by phone, 262/632-5448, or e-mail, naso@naso.org and simply request NASO’s “Be a Ref. Make the Call!” recruitment kit. You can also download free print recruitment materials from the NASO website, www.naso.org.
NASO Public Service Announcement Helps to Recruit Officials
January 11, 2008, revised April 24, 2008
- Audio
- Video
- Image
The National Association of Sports Officials gives league and local officiating associations the opportunity to receive free resources by mail. Find out more about how you can take advantage of the recruitment kit.