The Eastern College Athletic Conference announced that officiating game/contest fees for 2009-10 will remain flat.

 “In light of the projected budget cuts that every athletics department is facing, coupled with the protracted economic downturn for the foreseeable future, this is the ECAC’s way of demonstrating our assistance and support to the institutions enrolled in our 12 officiating bureaus,” said Rudy Keeling, commissioner of the 319-member conference.

Keeling said the decision could not have been made without the cooperation and support of the sport officiating organizations with which the ECAC contracts annually.

“The ECAC is grateful to the Collegiate Basketball Officials Association, the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association, the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Officials Organization and the Eastern Association of Intercollegiate Football Officials Association for their approval and support of this fee freeze proposal,” he said.