A new program to encourage college students to become referees is off to a good “start” after producing newly registered officials to work five spring sports at the high school level.

The new Students of Today are Referees of Tomorrow (START) program – sponsored in part by three Division III conferences -- produced referees for baseball, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, softball, and track and field

The Capital Athletic Conference, Centennial Conference and Colonial States Athletic Conference, working in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), recently recruited 61 college students who participated in five February START classes held at schools in the conferences.

Planning has begun to offer a similar program during April, focusing on four sports.

The goals of the START program are to recruit new officials in all sports on the participating leagues’ campuses, and to increase opportunities for scholastic officials to advance to the intercollegiate level.

“The START program is an excellent recruitment vehicle for current and former student-athletes to stay in the game as officials in their favorite sports,” said Robert Lombardi, PIAA associate executive director. 

A Capital Athletic Conference-sponsored program at York (Pennsylvania) attracted 33 participants, including four Elizabethtown students interested in becoming track and field officials. York’s sports management department provided support for the program.

At Cabrini, a Colonial States Athletic Conference-sponsored program drew 18 participants, and a Centennial Conference-sponsored program at Franklin & Marshall attracted 10 officiating candidates.

“The students that participated in the program in February were energetic and eager to become active in officiating,” said Tom Byrnes, commissioner of the Capital Athletic Conference. “Institutions and conferences utilize many resources to provide a meaningful and enjoyable collegiate experience for the student-athletes. The START program is adding to that experience by extending the athletic careers of all interested college students, not just the student-athletes.”

The program at each location included three nights of orientation about officiating in general and rules instruction. On the third evening, the candidates were given the National Federation of High Schools test to become registered officials.

During April, START programs focusing on field hockey, football, soccer and volleyball will be offered at Cabrini (beginning April 15) and York (April 16), and two institutions in a fourth Division III conference, the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation, will also participate. The schools are King’s (Pennsylvania) (beginning April 7) and Albright (April 9).

The Centennial Conference and a Division II league, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, are planning to hold sessions featuring winter sports during the fall 2009 semester.

Program organizers hope the early success of the program will draw interest in expansion to other state associations and institutions throughout the Middle Atlantic region.

Although the program is primarily for students from any college or university, others interested in becoming scholastic – and potentially collegiate – officials are encourage to attend. Students with proper college identification will be offered the opportunity to take the PIAA officiating test in a sport free of charge. Nonstudents may take the PIAA test for the regular $30 fee. 

Those who pass the test will be assisted in contacting local officiating chapters so they can begin officiating PIAA-sanctioned events or other intramural, youth or recreation league events as soon as possible.