SUNY Canton to Offer New York State High School Officiating Microcredential

Canton, NY (01/13/2025) — SUNY Canton's Sports Management bachelor's degree program has developed a high school officiating microcredential to help alleviate the statewide shortage of sports officials.

The non-credit, fully online microcredential is based on the best practices of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, the RefReps Officiating Education System, and the National Federation of State High School Associations. Learners will become familiar with the fundamental definitions, rules and mechanics of sports officiating needed to take the first step in becoming a New York State-certified sports official.

"This new offering fits nicely with our New York State Coaching Certification, but more importantly, it will hopefully help put new officials into the high school athletics pipeline," said Sports Management Program Director Diane J. Para, Ph.D.

Retired Executive Director of Section X Interscholastic Athletics Carl Normandin developed the 45-hour training and will be the lead instructor. He has more than 30 years of experience in high school athletic administration.

"To say there is a need for sports officials and the credentialing of sports officials within our communities would be an understatement," Normandin said. "The shortage of officials has reached a critical status, where on any given day there are contests being cancelled on a regular basis."

SUNY Canton is the first in SUNY to offer this training. Cost is $550 per person and participants select their sport preference(s) from the following options: baseball, basketball, field hockey, flag football, football, ice hockey, soccer, softball, swimming/diving, track, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. Participants can select additional sports for an additional $50 per sport.

Two upcoming online cohorts are being offered: a 15-week session from Jan. 20 to May 9 and a 4-week session from March 3 to March 30. Those interested can sign up at https://www.canton.edu/wcip/noncredit/officiating/.

SUNY Canton has more than 40 credit and non-credit microcredentials in a variety of topics. For a list of offerings, visit: https://www.canton.edu/academics/micro/.

For more information about the high school officiating microcredential, email microcredentials@canton.eduor call (315) 386-7504.

SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton to Offer New York State High School Officiating Microcredential

SUNY Canton

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