HVSEA Hosts Successful Sports Officials Symposium
From left to right: Chris Green (Taunton Community Liasion), Mark ‘Otto’ Ottavianelli (Taunton Athletic Director), Eric Engelbarts (HVSEA Executive Director), Chris Weakland (SCASD Athletic Director).
STATE COLLEGE, PA, March 19, 2024 – The Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance (HVSEA) proudly hosted the Happy Valley Sports Officials Symposium on March 16, 2024. This event, held at State College Area High School, brought together representatives from five Pennsylvania school districts, two local State College sports associations, and various community advocates for a day of learning and collaboration.
"We are proud to support such an innovative initiative developed by Taunton Public Schools," said Eric Engelbarts, Executive Director of HVSEA.
"Welcoming the Taunton crew to Happy Valley and hearing them share their story was a great experience. We hope this marks the first step in addressing the officiating shortage we observe across all sports, both locally in Happy Valley and beyond."
A welcome reception hosted on Friday evening at Gigi’s Southern Table set the tone for the symposium, offering attendees a chance to network and engage in discussions prior to the main event.
The symposium featured a comprehensive agenda aimed at enhancing the training and recruitment of sports officials, drawing inspiration from the innovative practices implemented by educators from Taunton (MA) Public Schools, hearing from both Mark Ottavianelli and Chris Green.
Mark ‘Otto’ Ottavianelli, a seasoned athletic administrator with 24 years of experience, shared his expertise in overseeing successful sports programs at Taunton Public Schools. Ottavianelli is also a respected official, earning accolades such as the 2011 Cape Cod Baseball League Umpire of the Year.
Chris Green, renowned for his community engagement efforts for over a decade and background as a standout athlete, provided valuable insights into the importance of sports officiating in shaping the future of young athletes.
The Happy Valley Sports Officials Symposium provided a unique platform for stakeholders to come together, exchange ideas, and drive positive change in the realm of sports officiating.
The agenda for the symposium included four informative sessions:
Session 1: Sports Officiating Class Introduction - Led by Mark Ottavianelli and Chris Green, providing participants with an overview of the sports officiating curriculum and its implementation strategies.
Session 2: Zoom Presentation - RefReps Kyle Armstrong shared valuable insights into the role of referees and the importance of mentorship in officiating. Introducing the notable RefReps Officiating Education System, highlighting its turn-key referee education courses and innovative, interactive POV training videos.
Session 3: Sports Officiating Class Implementation - Mark Ottavianelli and Chris Green delved deeper into the practical aspects of implementing a sports officiating program within educational institutions.
Session 4: Sports Officiating Mentor Program - Attendees learned about the significance of mentorship in nurturing future sports officials and fostering a supportive officiating community.
The symposium concluded with discussions on future steps and initiatives regarding the advancement of the program.
HVSEA eagerly anticipates partnering with interested stakeholders to ensure a seamless integration into their curriculum. Happy Valley, along with its collaborative partners, is ready to lead charge in driving meaningful progress in officiating programs across its districts, communities, and state.