Officially Human (https://officiallyhuman.com/) and Blue Valley Recreation announced a partnership to support local youth rec officials. The collaboration is another aspect of Blue Valley Rec’s ongoing commitment to good sportsmanship.
Brenda Hilton, Officially Human founder and CEO welcomed Blue Valley Rec, “I’m excited to partner with Blue Valley Rec. This partnership with Shane and his team will allow them the opportunity to provide the Elevate Respect course to their athletes and share with them and their families the importance of ‘humanizing’ officials at the recreational level.”
Hilton knows the challenges officials face today. She has more than 23 years of experience with collegiate officiating, including 11 years with the Summit League (formerly the Mid-Continent conference) and currently works for a Division I collegiate athletic conference.
Blue Valley Rec players and parents will benefit from Officially Human’s resources aimed at educating players and parents about the importance of good sportsmanship and respecting officials. The curriculum includes six interactive lessons that combine stories, statistics, video, and quizzes to help communicate the ongoing landscape of officiating. Access to the Behind The Stripes podcast which discusses the world of officiating, current events, and issues officials and sports constituencies face everyday is also included.
“Blue Valley Rec is excited to have Officially Human as a partner as we look to model positive sportsmanship in youth sports,” Blue Valley Rec Executive Director Shane DeWald said.
The partnership comes on the heels of Blue Valley Rec’s parent sportsmanship seminar in March where Bill Severns and Chris Tallent spoke about treating officials with respect and displaying grace. The Commission is also working with Enjoy the Game to remind parents that games are for learning. Blue Valley Rec made strides in 2021 with the Rufus L. Nye Umpire Equipment Program funded by the family of former commissioner Rufus Nye. The program provides equipment to new officials, so cost is not a barrier for new hires. And now, Officially Human will provide resources so respect is not a barrier for official applicants.
“Blue Valley Rec is committed to providing the best working environment possible for our officials,” said DeWald. “Sportsmanship has been in the news for all the wrong reasons and we want to create a positive and encouraging experience for all.”
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, Officially Human is the leader in addressing the growing crisis in officiating that touches every sport, official, and level of competition. Officially Human offers tailored solutions to athletic host organizations of all sizes that improve the stakeholder experience at each of their sporting competitions. The comprehensive 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 officiallyhuman.com.
ABOUT BLUE VALLEY REC
Formed in 1986 by a concerned citizen group to address the shortage of recreation opportunities in the area, Blue Valley Rec enriches lives and strengthens the spirit of community through clean, safe fun while championing community and personal growth through dynamic, lifelong experiences.