Another First In The NCAA -
Will It Next Be A First
For The NFL?
Sarah Thomas made history at the Little Caesars Bowl on December 26th, becoming the first woman to officiate a bowl game when she worked the matchup between Ohio and Marshall.
Thomas is one of five women officiating in major college football, but Little Caesars Bowl spokesman Tim Moore said she was the first to draw an assignment for a Bowl Subdivision postseason game.
"It was an honor," Thomas said while running off the field with her colleagues after Marshall's 21-17 victory at Ford Field.
Thomas' position as line judge meant that she spent most of the game in front of the Thundering Herd's bench, but the Marshall players didn't pay much attention.
"I noticed her before the game, but that was it," said Marshall running back Martin Ward, the game's MVP. "Once the game started, she was just doing the job that the line judge does in every game we play. It didn't matter that she was a woman at all."
Thomas became the first woman to be an official for a major college football game in 2007 and is on the NFL's list of officiating prospects. The married mother of two young sons is from Brandon, Miss., and is a pharmaceutical representative.
"She did a good job," Marshall coach Rick Minter said. "I didn't know she was the first woman to work a bowl game, so what an honor to say I was on the same sideline as she was. And, it's kind of neat that Pam Ward was doing this game on TV for ESPN."
Terri Valenti is believed to be the first woman to officiate a professional game. She was the head linesman earlier this year in a United Football League game. During the 2009 season, SICOA had three women officials on their staff; Camille Nichols, Ella Coffee & Jessica Tien.
Sarah Thomas
University of Mobile Graduate
Played High School & College Basketball
Married With Two Children - 36 yrs old
Resides In Pascagoula, AL.
Works youth & High School With The
Gulf Coast (AL) Football Officials Assn.
Officiates In College With C-USA
2010 SICOA
REGISTRATION
FORM NOW
AVAILABLE FOR
DOWNLOAD & PRINT
SICOA membership runs from January 1st
through December 31st annually. To obtain
the 2010 form, click the link below, download,
print, complete all sections and submit it with
your membership fee. No officials will be
eligible to officiate any contests for spring,
summer or fall games until form is submitted.
This form is for youth and high school officials
only. Collegiate officials will submit their
form following the spring workshop.
2010 SICOA Application
SICOA Crew Works 2009
National Tournament At
Disneys Wide World of Sports
Congratulations to Kevin Clethen and his crew
for representing SICOA well at the 2009
National Tournament at Disney. The crew
worked two Division 1 first round games
on Sunday, December 6th. Members of his
crew included Mark Mero, Camille Nichols,
Paul Nichols and Steve Madison.
SICOA has worked the Pop Warner Nationals
for over eight years.
SICOA Crew To
Officiate The
Manatee v Sarasota
High School All Star
Game on 1-8-10
note - this game was originally scheduled
for Friday, 12-16 but was postponed due
to poor weather conditions.
SICOA will again officiate for the third year
in a row, the Sarasota County vs. Manatee
County All-Star High School Game to be
played at Sarasota Riverview High School
at 7:30pm on Friday, January 8th.
2010 Spring Training
Classes
For 1st & 2nd
Year Officials
Tuesday & Thursday Evenings
7pm - 9pm for six weeks
Starting March 2nd
This program is for 1st and 2nd year officials
and those instructed by the board of directors
that need re-training.
MONITOR THIS SITE FOR MEETING
LOCATION
TOUCHDOWN TORTISE
2010 Minor League
Football Officials
Application Now
Available
SICOA will be booking the 31 team
National Independent Football League
starting in February. If you are a returning
official or a new applicant, please complete
and submit the application form by clicking
the link below. Officials must have 5 years
of officiating experience on the high school
level. Games are played on Saturdays &
Sundays. NFL rules. The 2010 workshop
will be held in January in Orlando.
2010 MLF Application
EFT Form Available Now For
Download & Print For Game
Officiating Fees For Pasco
& Polk County High
School Games.
CLICK HERE FOR FORM
Walters
tapped as
new commissioner
of the N.I.F.L.
June 14, 2009
SICOA Supervisor of Officials
John Walters has been named
the
new commissioner of the 32team
National Independent Football
League. The NIFL is a minor
league program based in
Daytona Beach. The three year
old league plays from January to
May each year. Besides the day
to day operations, he will also
oversee the league's game
officials through an Association with
SICOA. Walters has been the
Southern States Football League's
(SSFL) Supervisor of Officials
the past 7 years and will continue
in that capacity with the SSFL
overseeing
the officials now in
both the NIFL and SSFL invoving
a total of 16 crews of 7 officials
each stretching from Georgia
to the Florida Keys. The 2009
minor league workshop is set for
early
November at Disney's
Wide World of Sports. If you are
interested in officiating minor league
football, go to the minor league
officiating
site from the main menu
on
this website. For league
information,
visit
www.niflfootball.org
