The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association is declaring October 5-10 as Fall Sport Officials Appreciation Week to thank nearly 5,500 MPSSAA-registered sport officials in Maryland and highlight their work in interscholastic athletics.
The recognition covers officials working cross country, field hockey, girls’ flag football, football, golf, soccer and volleyball. Developed by the MPSSAA Sportsmanship Committee in 2023, the fall recognition is part of a series of seasonal recognitions for registered sports officials during the 2026-2027 school year.
Schools Asked to Recognize Officials
MPSSAA is asking member school communities, including athletic directors, coaches, student-athletes, school administrators and athletic program supporters, to help recognize registered sports officials. Member schools received activities, a pre-contest public address announcement and a logo to support the recognition.
MPSSAA also encouraged participation online with the hashtag #ThankYouOfficials and by tagging its official social media accounts: Facebook at @Mpssaa, Instagram at @mpssaa_sport and X at @MPSSAA_Org. The association’s message to the school community is direct: “Thank an Official!”
Information for Prospective Officials
People interested in becoming an official can visit the MPSSAA website’s Officials section for more information. The recognition gives member schools an opportunity to thank officials for their dedication and involvement in interscholastic athletics.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Fall Sport Officials Appreciation Week recognizes the officials who work cross country, field hockey, girls’ flag football, football, golf, soccer and volleyball across Maryland. School activities, pre-contest announcements and social media participation give MPSSAA member communities several ways to take part from October 5-10.
Source: Original report
