The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that the annual winter meeting of Division I conference coordinators for football officials is taking place Jan. 27-28 for the 13th year at NFF Headquarters in Irving, Texas. The meeting is being led by College Football Officiating (CFO) National Coordinator Steve Shaw. NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell will kick off the meeting with opening remarks.
“We are again grateful to the National Football Foundation for welcoming the coordinators for our winter meeting to their hometown,” said Shaw. “The Foundation and the officiating side of college football both exist to make this a better game, and the coordinators are pleased to continue our relationship. The partnership with the NFF is extremely important to the coordinators in our joint work for the good of this great game.”
The CFO was formed in 2008 by the NCAA and the Collegiate Commissioners’ Association to ensure the consistent application of NCAA football playing rules and policies around the country. Mid-American Conference Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher currently serves as the chairman of the CFO Board of Managers. The officiating coordinators from all 23 NCAA Division I conferences, covering both the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Football Championship Subdivision, are participating in the meeting. The meeting covers the most recent rule interpretations, officiating mechanics and other aspects of officiating.
“We are proud to once again welcome the nation’s Division I officiating coordinators to our headquarters,” said Hatchell. “The work led by the College Football Officiating team is essential to the fairness, consistency, and integrity of the game, and this annual meeting provides a critical forum to evaluate the rules, share best practices, and prepare for the season ahead. The NFF is honored to support the CFO and its ongoing efforts to strengthen college football at every level.”
The January meeting represents one of two annual meetings that take place, allowing the members of the CFO to regularly exchange ideas, analyze video, discuss play situations and ensure the consistent application of the rules between the conferences around the country. The officiating coordinators play the lead role at their respective conferences in overseeing all aspects of their football officiating, including training, evaluating and assigning officials to games for both the regular season and postseason. In addition to hosting the meeting, the NFF supports the CFO by distributing the rule changes at the start of each season as well as the CFO-NCAA Media Video during the season, which explains recent play calls.
Shaw, who became the CFO National Coordinator of Football Officials in March 2020, previously served the Southeastern Conference and Sun Belt Conference as coordinator of officials. He also serves as the Secretary-Rules Editor of the NCAA Football Rules Committee, a position critical to the development of competition rules and policies. Shaw excelled as a head referee for 15 years in the SEC, earning 14 postseason assignments, including two national championship games. He has been a leader in revamping the sport’s officiating mechanics and advancing the use of technology to assist officials.
