CFL Officials Prepare for 2005 Season
Published on May 12, 2005 under Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release
Toronto, Ontario â The Canadian Football League announced today that it will be hosting its 37th annual CFL preseason officials' clinic at the Viscount Gort Hotel in Winnipeg, Manitoba this coming weekend, May 13-15th. With a commitment to strengthen its national officiating program, the League continues to focus on recruitment, skills development and league-wide performance consistency. Attending this year's pre-season clinic are 35 returning CFL officials as well as eleven new recruits who come to the program with on-field experience from the CIS football level.
As one of a series of year-long initiatives, the camp kicks off the 2005 season with extensive individual assessments, including fitness testing, written exams and film sessions with each of the attending officials and prospects. New to the clinic this year are workshops and discussion groups along with more extensive pre-season preparation, including take home examinations on rules and mechanics.
"The CFL officiating staff takes its role in the League very seriously. These professionals are fully committed to bringing the highest level of performance to each and every game," said George Black, Director of Officiating at the CFL. "Through onsite support from CFL football operations, and the introduction of eleven new officials in this year's clinic, we are excited to be in a position to build for the future, with an opportunity to development both our officiating personnel and the overall program."
Building off momentum from national meetings held earlier this year, this weekend's training camp will also include a full review of standard penalty calls. CFL officials and more than 40 coaches representing the nine member Clubs met back in March to review and discuss the most frequently called penalties. The positive session resulted in agreement that penalty call standards would be implemented for the 2005 season, with a shared responsibility between officials and coaches to ensure consistency and a better understanding across the League of key penalties and how they are called.
Published Sport Psychologist, Cal Butterill of the University of Winnipeg will be attending the pre-season camp as both a key note speaker and workshop lead during multiple sessions on Saturday. At a formal dinner that night, Art McAvoy and Ken Picot will be honored in recognition of their tenure with the League as CFL Officials. McAvoy retired from the CFL in 2003 after 26 years and Picot did the same in 2004 after 21 years of service.
George Black and the CFL Officiating team will be available for media interviews and enquiries at the Viscount Gort Hotel on Friday, May 13th beginning at 10:45am (local time). For additional information and/or onsite media requests, please contact Shawn Coates at (416) 543-1920.
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