NAIA National Championship

[Vangelis]

I just heard that an officiating crew from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, D-III, has been assigned to work the NAIA National Championship game in Rome, Georgia on 12/18/10. Why not assign actual NAIA officials to work that game? I'm happy for the officials who were selected to work the game, but the selection of D-III officials seems like an odd choice to me. If I were an NAIA official, I'd be a bit upset! Here's and interesting question: Will NAIA officials be selected to work the D-III National Championship game? I seriously doubt it.   

[Rulesman]

Is it possible the crew might also work an NAIA schedule? I know of officials who primarily work D-II that have also worked one more more D-III and D-I games as supplemental staff this year.

[Vangelis]

Is it possible the crew might also work an NAIA schedule? I know of officials who primarily work D-II that have also worked one more more D-III and D-I games as supplemental staff this year.

That is very possible. I just think that it is odd that a D-III conference gets the nod. I'm sure that the gentlemen that were selected will do a fine job.

[cincybearcat]

The assigner for the Heartland also assigns for a couple of NAIA schools.  This is common in this area of the country (Ohio/Indiana)...where we don't have a lot of NAIA schools in the area anymore, so those schools usually use a DIII conference staff to fill their games.

[Vangelis]

The assigner for the Heartland also assigns for a couple of NAIA schools.  This is common in this area of the country (Ohio/Indiana)...where we don't have a lot of NAIA schools in the area anymore, so those schools usually use a DIII conference staff to fill their games.

That makes sense then. Good luck to those who were assigned. 

[gsrc]

You sure they are from the Heartland Conference and not the Heart of America Conference which is part of the NAIA?

[cincybearcat]

It is Heartland...I have confirmed with some of the guys I know that work in that league.

[Sonofanump]

I'd bet they work some Indiana Mid-States East games.  One of the Ohio  D3 conferences (NCAC/IOA) also assigns for Walsh & Malone of the Mid-States East and have been assigned NAIA playoff games.

[jimcore]

NAIA playoff games are worked by DIII officials all the time.  Here in the Northwest, Carroll College was host to 3 playoff games this year and like every year officials from the Seattle/Portland DII/DIII conferences worked every game.  The officials who work for the Frontier Conference (NAIA) that get recommended for playoffs never get to work as most of the schools are in the Midwest and Great Lake areas.  The NAIA won't spend the money to send us that far.  Cheaper to bring in officials from bigger other leagues.  Sucks but we deal with it every year.  And no, the DII/III people don't give up their games to us.

[Rulesman]

Trust me, the NCAA isn't overly generous when it comes to spending D-II travel money, either.

[Vangelis]

I'm curious, how many NAIA officiating staffs are there nationwide? Does each conference have an officiating staff/coordinator? If I am not mistaken, there are 10 conferences and app. 92 schools. Who's in charge of NAIA officiating? 

[Diablo]

I'm curious, how many NAIA officiating staffs are there nationwide? Does each conference have an officiating staff/coordinator? If I am not mistaken, there are 10 conferences and app. 92 schools. Who's in charge of NAIA officiating? 

Also, are there any rule differences between NAIA and NCAA?

[cincybearcat]

there are no rules differences in NAIA

the NAIA does seem very budget conscience when it comes to post-season vs. NCAA (and I don't blame them).  my one NAIA post season assingment...we drove around 400 miles one way.  our game check was $5 less per man than we make in the regular season...we got no meal allowance, had to share hotel rooms...and only one guy got paid mileage (even though we took 2 cars).  compare this to NCAA DIII post-season...which has a higher per game fee, everyone that drives gets mileage, you get a per-diem for meals...and you each get your own room.

i am not complaining, a post season assignment is a post season assignment...but you can see that the NAIA does opperate on a smaller budget, and this could explain why for the schools that are in maybe the Midwest or Northeast that don't have a lot of NAIA schools anymore might end up using an crew that works mostly NCAA games

[Vangelis]

I'm curious, how many NAIA officiating staffs are there nationwide? Does each conference have an officiating staff/coordinator? If I am not mistaken, there are 10 conferences and app. 92 schools. Who's in charge of NAIA officiating? 

The answer is: Larry Lady has officiated basketball, football and baseball at the high school level, and collegiate basketball at all levels (DI, DII, DIII, NAIA and JUCO) from 1960 to 2000. Currently Lady serves as the Heart of America Athletic Conference Commissioner and NAIA Supervisor of officials for men's and women's basketball, and football.

[jimcore]

The Frontier Conference, which consists of 6 schools located in Montana and Wyoming, has a football supervisor and a football officiating staff.  Our supervisor is a working official in the Big Sky.

[cougar729]

The Heart of America, Great Plains, and Kansas conferences all have their own staff

[wheel75]

The Heart of America, Great Plains, and Kansas conferences all have their own staff

As does the Mid-South.