DIAA Designates Officials Appreciation Weeks

Fall Sport Officials Appreciation Week starts October 24th, 2021

(Dover, DE) October 23, 2021 – The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) is celebrating and recognizing DIAA registered officials with a series of appreciation weeks throughout the school year.  The first appreciation week for fall officials is October 24-30, 2021.   The appreciation weeks are meant to thank and bring attention to the hard work and dedication of DIAA’s registered sport officials.

There are nearly 1,000 registered DIAA officials in the First State, and the celebration starting tomorrow will target those officials that currently work the fall sports of field hockey, football, soccer, and volleyball. Both winter and spring sport officials will be recognized during the months of February and April 2022.  

DIAA is requesting all member school communities, including but not limited to athletic directors, coaches, student-athletes, spectators and school administration, to assist in recognizing all DIAA registered sports officials by highlighting actions that would thank officials for their dedication and involvement in interscholastic athletics.

Member schools have been provided with a list of activities they can use to show their appreciation as well as a pre-contest public address announcement that can be read before all athletic contests next week.  For fans and community members attending athletic contests, ways to support officials would be to display sportsmanship at all times during games and to be respectful at all times.  We also encourage everyone to participate in Officials Appreciation Week online by using the hashtag #ThankYouOfficials and tagging @DIAA_Delaware on Twitter.

The DIAA community has been reminded of just how important interscholastic athletics are to our member schools, students and communities. DIAA would not be able to carry out our purpose of  “education through athletics” without the hard work and commitment of DIAA officials.  DIAA is appreciative of everyone who will join in the celebration.  

For more information on becoming an official, please visit https://highschoolofficials.com/

For media inquiries contact Alison May at alison.may@doe.k12.de.us