NFL/CFL TEAM UP ON OFFICIATING
 |
| Photo courtesy Arthur Ward |
TORONTO/NEW YORK CITY (April 22, 2016) – The National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) today announced the formation of the NFL-CFL Officiating Development Program.
Beginning this season, a group of NFL officials will have the opportunity to work as part of CFL crews during preseason and regular-season games in June and July, prior to starting their NFL season at the league’s annual officiating clinic in late July.
Several CFL officials will then join the NFL’s Officiating Development Program, which is designed to train top officials in all aspects of NFL officiating. Elements of the program include attending NFL minicamps and training camps, officiating preseason games, studying position-specific film with veteran NFL officials, reviewing mechanics and analyzing rules differences between the NFL and other leagues, including the CFL and college football.
“Any time our newer officials can get more reps on the field, during practices or games, that will make them better officials,” said NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino. “The collaboration with the CFL will certainly benefit us as we prepare for the 2016 season and we look forward to welcoming our CFL officiating counterparts to our development program later this spring.”
The NFL officials working in the CFL will be primarily deep wing officials – side judges and field judges – to minimize the impact of some of the rules differences between the two leagues.
“This historic partnership gives officials in both leagues an opportunity to hone their craft and get better through shared development activities and more snaps at the pro level,” said CFL Senior Vice-President, Football Glen Johnson. “We’re excited that a group of our officials will actively participate in the NFL Development Program and now have a formal path forward to be considered as prospects in their league.”
Not sure if this is to improve the CFL officiating or create more controversy in the NFL with the influx of incompetent officials that will drive the game to be refereed from just a replay camera.
Anything that can help improve the quality of officiating in the CFL is welcome.
Gee maybe Orridge has actually been doing something these last few months instead of just hiding like everyone's assuming. Yesterday's drug testing deal was huge too. If he ends up being a rockstar commish I'm sure everyone won't mind eating some crow. This can only be a good thing for the game in getting better quality officiating and improving the product. Now only if they could sign some kind of marketing agreement with the NFL and use their hype machine to promote the CFL that would be awesome. NFL snobs in this country won't know what to do with themselves!… Read more »
Excellent initiative by the two leagues!
Best announcement in a long time from a league perspective…
I love the CFL, but so often I watch the NCAA or NFL and the refs there seem to have a control of the games resulting in an almost seamless flow. This is a great development for the CFL as it can only improve things.
Maybe the CFL Commish is doing something… sometimes hard to tell.
Kel
I'd rather have a quiet commish that gets stuff done as opposed to a an outgoing commish that doesn't do squat. Cohon that means you!
Al
This is an interesting concept. Sounds like the officials in both leagues leave a little bit to be desired. Don't think it can hurt. Don't think our officials can get any worse.