A Leading Official
July 29, 2014
For more than a decade, Mark Uyl has been the MHSAA’s leader of service and support to officials. Mark’s calm demeanor and subtle sense of humor have much to do with his successful leadership of what we sometimes call “the complaint department;” but because he has been both, Mark has a good feel for and the respect of both school administrators and officials.
Since joining the MHSAA staff in January of 2004, Mark has continued to referee college football and baseball. Last month Mark worked the NCAA College World Series in Omaha which had been a long-time goal for this still very young man.
This week Mark ascends to chair of the board of directors of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO).
It’s clear that Mark has as fine a reputation nationwide as he enjoys here in his home state.
Officiating’s High Calling
October 28, 2016
One of the sports world’s better wordsmiths is Referee Magazine publisher Barry Mano. He’s also a fine thinker, as these artful lines demonstrated at the 2016 Officiating Industry Luncheon in San Antonio:
“Let me provide, in all subjectivity, some observations about our environment, about our fellow citizens. We are:
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“More generous but less forgiving.
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More open but less discriminating with that openness.
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More informed but less knowledgeable.
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More litigious but less willing to abide by the rules.
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Quick to seek an expert opinion, then just as quick to get a second opinion, one that agrees with ours.”
Barry is president of the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) which helps contest officials at all levels aspire to be discriminating and knowledgeable adjudicators of fair and healthy competitive athletics.
At a time when the number of registered officials with the Michigan High School Athletic Association has sunk to a 30-year low, Barry’s words are a clarion call to young men and women of character to consider sports officiating as an avocation, or even vocation, that will enrich their lives immensely.