News

More than 50 high school students had a special opportunity to learn sports officiating skills from professional umpires, referees and sports officials during a Game On clinic at the Polaris Career Center in Cleveland. 

In addition to learning positioning, making calls and blowing a whistle correctly – yes, there is a skill to that – the teens had a chance to hear from the pros about their careers, stories from working big games and life lessons. Teens heard from the likes of Mike Elliott, a Big Ten back judge who has officiated at many prominent college football games including the 2019 College Football Championship Game, and Division I women’s college basketball referee Kristen Csontos, who worked the NCAA Division II Elite Eight this year. 

The instructor roster included: 

Football – Mike Elliott, Rocky Neale (worked 4 state high school championships), Mike Dame (named 25/26 NFHS/OHSAA Football Official of the Year) and special guest Fran Gallagher, an OHSAA Hall of Famer who has dedicated more than 40 years to Ohio high school sports. OHSAA Officials HOF thank you for your 40 years of commitment to OHIO HS sports.

Basketball – Kristen Csontos (certified Division I women’s basketball referee) and Brooke Preston, former assistant women’s basketball coach who now officiates Division II and Division III women’s basketball games.