Women and Men needed to officiate Football

Lakeshore Football Officials Association (LFOA)

MEDIA RELEASE – March 5, 2019 – The Lakeshore Football Officials’ Association, (LFOA) established in 1963, is responsible for officiating all tackle high school football in Halton, Peel, and Niagara regions and all minor football in Mississauga, Halton and Niagara.

It also offers Football Canada Certification Programs, rules and positioning clinics and a personal mentoring program to assist in the development of all officials.

Those who advance may have the opportunity to officiate in such leagues as the Ontario Provincial Football League, the Ontario Football Conference, the Northern Football Conference, Ontario University Athletics and the Canadian Football League.

The LFOA has a number of members who are current or former members of the CFL and the OUA football officiating staffs. These officials assist the LFOA in the development programs that are offered. A number of the officials have officiated Grey Cups, Vanier Cups and two of their members, Burlington’s Dave Foxcroft and Jason Maggio are members of the NFL Officials’ Development Program.

This year the association is reaching out to women who may be interested in officiating. “We currently have only two women in our organization and we would like to increase that. The game is no longer just a man’s game and opportunities do exist for women to advance in Canadian football officiating” said Kevin Baird, President of the LFOA.

The organization is also making a concerted effort to recruit individuals who have the availability to officiate high school football from September to November, the busiest time for the organization. High school football games are normally played Tuesday-Friday with most doubleheaders kicking off at noon, 1 p.m. or 2:30 pm.

Women and men, 16 years of age and older who wish to become an LFOA official may contact the recruiting co-ordinator at [email protected].

All new officials must complete a Level 1 Football Canada Officials’ Certification Program, which has yet to be scheduled.

Contact: Murray Drinkwalter (Referee-in-Chief)