Officiate Michigan Day
Schedule
| TIME | SESSION |
|---|---|
| 7:30 AM – 9 AM | Check-in |
| 9 AM – 9:45 AM | Opening Session - Mike Pereira |
| 10 AM – 10:50 AM | Sport-Specific Breakout Session 1 |
| 11 AM – 11:50 AM | Sport-Specific Breakout Session 2 |
| 12:10 PM – 1:10 PM | Lunch Session |
| 1:30 PM – 2:20 PM | Sport-Specific Breakout Session 3 |
| 2:30 PM – 3:20 PM | Sport-Specific Breakout Session 4 |
| 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM | Closing Session - Kari Seitz |
*This is an outline of the event schedule. Scroll down for the detailed schedule.
Conference App
Download the Officiate Michigan Day app! Explore the schedule, speakers, venue maps, and receive important event updates before and throughout the event.
The Officiate Michigan Day 2026 Group Invitation code for the iOS App or Android App is: UYXEGUMT.
OMD Speakers
Be sure to check out the speaker lineup and biographies for this year's Officiate Michigan Day event!
OMD Vendors
Visit our on-site vendors throughout the day to explore products, services, and resources designed to support officials at every level. Be sure to stop by, connect with our partners, and see what they have to offer. See the final vendor lineup below!
NASO Summit
The 2026 NASO Summit will be held in Grand Rapids, Michigan on July 26-28, 2026.
What’s My Why
“What’s My Why” is a weekly feature telling the stories of MHSAA-registered officials in their own words. If you’re an MHSAA official and would like to share your reason why, please submit a 15 to 45-second video, taken horizontally, to Director of Officials Sam Davis at [email protected].
Detailed Event Schedule
7:30 AM – 9 AM: Check-In
Upon arrival, please check in at the registration tables in the corridor outside the Grand Gallery meeting rooms, accessible via the Monroe Avenue entrance.
9 AM – 9:45 AM: Opening Session
We are excited to welcome Fox Sports Rules Analyst, UFL Vice President of Officiating and former NFL Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira as the keynote speaker for our opening session.
10 AM – 10:50 AM: Sport-Specific Breakout Session 1
| SPORT | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | Becoming a Better Plate Umpire in 2027 | Dave Uyl |
| Basketball | Trail, Center, Lead Positioning and Court Coverage | Donnie Eppley and Andy O'Brien |
| Competitive Cheer | Recruiting, Mentoring, and Retaining Officials | Stacy Smith and Paula McAllister |
| Football | When Communication Matters - Handling Tough Situations and Tricky Plays | Ron Torbert, Shawn Smith, Alex Kemp, and Dino Paganelli |
| Gymnastics | Gymnastic Rules - Vault & Beam | Doris Goodlock and Brenda Betz |
| Lacrosse - Boys | Officiating the Defense | Mark Burnett |
| Lacrosse - Girls | Three-Person Positioning: Beyond the Basics | Liz Brush |
| Soccer | Reflections From World Cup 2026 | Kari Seitz |
| Softball | Climbing the Ladder | Sally Walker |
| Track & Field | Procedures: We Don't Just Go Around the Oval Pt1 | Mike VanDyke and Rudy Godefroidt |
| Volleyball | What's New? (A look at the most current NFHS rules via applications) | Joan Powell and Rachael Rodriguez |
| Wrestling | Wrestling 101 | Dan Hutcheson |
11 AM – 11:50 AM: Sport-Specific Breakout Session 2
| SPORT | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | The Ideal Umpire | Rich Fetchiet |
| Basketball | Play Calling Principles | Donnie Eppley and Andy O'Brien |
| Competitive Cheer | Hot Topics: Scoring Breakdown | Diana Dildine and Amy Braun |
| Field Hockey | Management & Leadership on the Field | Gus Soteriades |
| Football | Position Breakout #1: LOS – Foul Recognition/Quality Fouls (Offensive Holds) | Will McKoy and Mark Bennett |
| Football | Position Breakout #1: Referees – Crew Chief 101 | Ron Torbert, Shawn Smith, Alex Kemp, and Jeff Servinski |
| Football | Position Breakout #1: Umpire – Foul Recognition/Quality Fouls (Offensive Holds) | Jason Nickleby and Dalton Barksdale |
| Football | Position Breakout #1: Deeps – Foul Recognition/Quality Fouls (Defensive Pass Interference) | Dino Paganelli and Phil Hicks |
| Ice Hockey | Safety-critical rule enforcement | Randy Sheahan |
| Lacrosse - Boys | Deciphering Personal Fouls | Mark Burnett |
| Soccer | Taking the Jersey Off: Recovering After Difficult Matches | Dr. Sandra Serafini |
| Softball | The Ideal Umpire | Sally Walker |
| Swimming & Diving | The Professionalism of a Swimming and Diving Official | R.J. Van Almen |
| Volleyball | What's Not New? (A look at previous rule changes/interpretations that continue to need attention) | Joan Powell and Rachael Rodriguez |
| Wrestling | Birth of a Wrestling Rule: NFHS Rules change process | Tony Clarke |
12:10 PM – 1:10 PM: Lunch Sessions
| TOPIC | PRESENTER |
|---|---|
| Ask the MHSAA Staff | Brad Bush, Andy Frushour, Cody Inglis, and Will McKoy |
| Assigner & Association Meeting (required) | Sam Davis and Jeff Spedoske |
| Communication & Game Management | Dr. Jayson Dibble |
| From the Athletic Director's Chair | Connor Thomas, Mason HS, Jonathan Goei, Forest Hills Central HS, Nikki Norris, East Lansing HS, and Chris Zylstra, East Grand Rapids |
| Leadership Lessons | Donnie Eppley, Suzanne Lowry, Ron Torbert, and Rob Wigod |
| Legal Lessons for Officials | Jim Dworman |
| Mental Performance – How to Officiate with Confidence and Prevent Burnout | Dr. Sandra Serafini |
| Mentoring, Recruiting, and Retaining Officials | Ed Mcarty and Charlie Morrison |
| Moving Up the Ladder – What’s the Path? | Rich Fetchiet, Jason Nickleby, and Andy O'Brien |
| NFHS Rules Process & Officials Program | Dana Pappas |
| Officiating Management and AI | Patrick Kane and Megan Cusick |
| RefReps | Caleb Lovelace and Kyle Armstrong |
| The First Three Years – New (and Newer) Officials | Christian Smith and Nick Kubitskey |
| The Game is Over: Now What? | Nichole Kramer-Kiuchi |
| View from the Top | Shawn Smith, Jenna Schroeder, and Gary Zielinski |
1:30 PM – 2:20 PM: Sport-Specific Breakout Session 3
| SPORT | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | Handling People & Situations | Rich Fetchiet and Dave Uyl |
| Basketball | Mental Approach to the Game: From Locker Room to the Final Horn | Gary Zielinski |
| Competitive Cheer | Consistency During a Long Day – Preparedness & Professionalism | Juli Brown and Jill Lansky |
| Football | Position Breakout #2: Deeps – Goal Line Coverage (Tricks of the Trade) | Dino Paganelli and Phil Hicks |
| Football | Position Breakout #2: LOS – Forward Progress Spots | Will McKoy and Mark Bennett |
| Football | Position Breakout #2: Referees – Game Management & Penalty Enforcement | Ron Torbert, Shawn Smith, Alex Kemp, and Jeff Servinski |
| Football | Position Breakout #2: Umpires – Penalty Enforcement (How to Help the Crew) | Jason Nickleby and Dalton Barksdale |
| Gymnastics | Gymnastic Rules - Bars & Floor | Doris Goodlock and Brenda Betz |
| Lacrosse - Boys | Climbing the Ladder: Tangible Steps to Improve at any Level | Don Boyer |
| Lacrosse - Girls | Seeing the Game: Positioning and Play Analysis | Liz Brush |
| Soccer | Whistles and Wisdom: Training, Mentoring and Supporting Local Referees | Yuya Kiuchi and Josh Abts |
| Softball | History of Signals & Mechanics | Bryan Smith & Jim Connors |
| Track & Field | Procedures: We don't just go around in circles, Pt2 | Mike VanDyke and Rudy Godefroidt |
| Volleyball | Game Management (You can be a 100% test-taker, but can you manage the match?) | Joan Powell and Rachael Rodriguez |
| Wrestling | Wrestling 101 | Dan Hutcheson |
2:30 PM – 3:20 PM: Sport-Specific Breakout Session 4
| SPORT | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | Video Review: 8 Plays for Umpiring Improvement | Rich Fetchiet and Dave Uyl |
| Basketball | Video Review: Breaking Down Plays with the Pros | Joey Crawford, Gary Zielinski and Jenna Schroeder |
| Competitive Cheer | Hot Topics | Cindy Tyzo and Candy Cox |
| Field Hockey | Management & Leadership on the Field | Gus Soteriades |
| Football | Video Breakdown: Each clinician shares one play that was a “learn from” moment | Ron Torbert, Shawn Smith, Alex Kemp, Dino Paganelli, Jeff Servinski, Will McKoy, Jason Nickleby, Phil Hicks, Mark Bennett, and Dalton Barksdale |
| Ice Hockey | Game Management & De-escalating "The Temperature" | Randy Sheahan |
| Lacrosse - Boys |
Selling Your Calls Using Professional Dramatic Affect |
Luke Griemsman |
| Soccer | Inside Referee Development: A Panel Discussion | Kari Seitz, Yuya Kiuchi, Sandra Serafini |
| Softball | “You Missed the Call, Now What?” | Bryan Smith & Jim Connors |
| Swimming & Diving | Preparing for the 2026-27 Season | R.J. Van Almen |
| Volleyball | Words Matter (A module on effective communication/response skills) | Joan Powell and Rachael Rodriguez |
| Wrestling | You Make the Call | Tony Clarke |
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM: Closing Session
We are excited to welcome U.S. Soccer Vice President of Refereeing Kari Seitz as the featured speaker for our closing session.