WATERVILLE, Maine – The North Atlantic Conference is pleased to announce a partnership with Officially Human, whose mission is to restore respect to game officials and recognize them as authorities on the fields and courts.

Founded in 2019 by Brenda Hilton, Officially Human aims to “humanize” sports officials and address the growing crisis of officiating that has impacted every sport, official, and level of competition.

A survey conducted by Officially Human in 2020, showed that majority of officials rank “love of the sport” as their number 1 reason for officiating. However, more than half leave the profession due to verbal abuse from stakeholders involved (parents, fans, coaches, players, etc.).

“Our partnership with Officially Human comes at a pivotal time as the NAC shares a collective concern for the shortage and treatment of sports officials,” said NAC Commissioner Marcella Zalot. “With this partnership, the NAC’s aims to better highlight how players, parents, coaches, and administrators can assist in supporting the mission to improve the treatment of officials.”

As part of the partnership, the NAC and its member institutions will have announcements and reminders during games to promote sportsmanship. In addition, there will be combined initiatives to foster a culture of respect and appreciation for officials. Member institutions will have access to resources created by Officially Human throughout this partnership.

“Officially Human is proud to partner with the North Atlantic Conference and its member institutions. I look forward to working with Commissioner Zalot on raising awareness on the importance of sportsmanship at athletic competitions,” said Brenda Hilton, founder and CEO of Officially Human.

Attendees may notice initiatives promoting this partnership at upcoming NAC conference Championships.
 
About Officially Human:
Based in Lombard, IL., Officially Human was founded to restore respect to, and positive treatment of, sport officials through increased education and communication to all stakeholders (administrators, coaches, athletes, and fans.) Founded in 2019, OH is the leader in addressing the growing crisis in officiating that touches every sport, official, and level of competition. OH offers tailored solutions to athletic host organizations of all sizes that improve the stakeholder experience at each of their sporting competitions. The comprehensive OH solutions package includes digital education, awareness building, event host communication strategies, and organizational support in addressing poor fan behavior. To learn more about Officially Human, visit Officially Human.org.