Issue 7
Greetings Diplomats –
This is the seventeenth installment of a monthly update where I will provide direct reflections and information on issues facing our student-athletes. The title is a line from the F&M alma mater.
The goal of this piece is not to review specific game results, but to present an insider’s view of current national trends, on-campus happenings and what we can look forward to next.
What's Trending
Game Officials
Celebrated one week each fall, winter and spring seasons, we recently completed Officials Appreciation Week April 3-9.
For at least three years before the pandemic, administrators and conference commissioners have been monitoring the shrinking pool of game officials attributed to the aging/retirement of current officials, lack of incentive to retain or attract new officials, the growth of youth/club sports also needing officials and treatment of officials by spectators/coaches/athletes.
In 2017, the Division II Conference Commissioners Association launched the Collegiate P2R program, or “Player to Ref”, to address the officiating crisis.
In 2021, the Division III Conference Commissioners Association launched its 5-year strategic plan for collegiate officiating.
We are starting to fully feel the effects of this shortage, and it's impacting how we schedule games across all our sports. Without officials, we cannot play our games, so we must work with the dates and times of available officials or risk the assignment of officials’ crews that may not have much experience.
Our officials' assignors - the individuals who oversee a specific sport and assign all officials to an institution’s games - do incredible work recruiting, educating, training and mentoring new officials but it remains a challenging puzzle to coordinate the needs of all conferences and high schools with a limited officials pool.
I encourage you to “Thank A Ref” the next time you attend any sporting event and contribute to a culture that recognizes our fellow community members for their time and effort supporting our students’ passion for the game they love.
On Campus
Division III Week
Our Student-Athlete Leadership Council has prepared great events, content and celebrations for the annual week acknowledging the philosophy and benefits of NCAA Division III participation.
4/11 - Presentation on Name, Image and Likeness
4/12 - White Out Wednesday - DipCup points for attending home games
4/13 - Scholar-Athlete Alumni panel
4/14 - Community Service with Ware Institute
4/15 - Wear Blue and Community Service with Ware Institute
4/16 - “Volley for a Cause” charity volleyball tournament
What's Next
Eppspys
SALC again is leading the charge with event preparation for the annual student-athlete awards ceremony on May 1 honoring Patricia S.W. Epps with the “Eppspys” nod.
We will announce department award winners, as well as special award winners as created and voted on by the student-athletes.
NCAA Championships
We’re full throttle with spring sports in April leading to the conference championships in early May, followed by NCAA championships for those who qualify.
Be sure to keep up to date with our postseason pursuits on godiplomats.com