From Mark Estermyer

We will be conducting our on-field football officiating fundamentals training again starting on Sunday, July 5th at 6:30pm at Shaler High School and will run weekly for the next 5-6 weeks (weather permitting).  This is our EAIFO chapter training, but we welcome officials from any chapter to join us.  This includes people who have not yet taken their test and are thinking about officiating.  I've included everyone from last year on this email along with the new EAIFO officials.  This will be basically the exact same class as last year material-wise if you planned on attending again.

  If you are interested, please sign up at the below Google Form so that I may compile a communication list.  
  https://forms.gle/2xY8zc8s9gkVSfxr8   These training sessions are geared toward brand new officials or officials with only a couple years of experience, so we will be drilling fundamentals every week.  This also may be beneficial if you are switching to a new position or want to learn a different position.  Veteran officials that have attended these sessions felt that they were very helpful and beneficial to them as well, so anyone is welcome to come to these.  I would especially encourage veteran officials to consider attending from Week 3 on.  Here is a tentative syllabus: https://docs.google.com/document/d/155OWkkRdFvW04AxLrHkeXDyZrqh7tZodVHRYD2YuIHs/edit?usp=sharing   We will be doing active drills on the field at these sessions, so please wear athletic clothes and bring a flag, bean bag, and a whistle if you have them.  If you don't have your stuff yet, no big deal.  New EAIFO officials, I will bring our chapter "used equipment locker" for you to rummage through.   We will be at Shaler High School.  Field is next to the tennis courts. 381 Wible Run Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15209   We do not rent or reserve this field, so if for some reason the field is unavailable, our secondary site will be Shaler Middle School (where the varsity plays), although I don't foresee us needing that.  If we need to go here, this is the address. 1810 Mt Royal Blvd, Glenshaw, PA 15116 If you're on Facebook, our chapter posts an automated "Play of the Day" right from the case book about every 2 days.  Please follow our page and chime in when questions are posted.  It would also help spread the word of officiating if you share it to other pages and groups for non-officials to participate and hopefully pique their interest in officiating. https://www.facebook.com/piaaEAIFO   Cancellations due to weather will typically be the day-of and will be decided by 5pm.  I will send via email and this Telegram group, if you prefer to get the alerts on your phone.  https://t.me/+E0PIcIta53RiNDEx  

If anyone is planning to attend the PIAA officials convention please let me know by Friday, June 19. If we have five or more registered all can pay $90 for registration instead of $100. Thank you. 

The annual Penn-Ohio football game will be held in Pennsylvania this year, the game will be on Thursday June 18th at Geneva College with kickoff at 7:05 PM. We will be inducting 4 former chapter members into the Penn-Ohio Hall of Fame they are Bull Croston, Lefty Dionisio, Mike Cunning and Dave McHenry. Members of our chapter will be officiating the game, they are 

Tony Lascola - Referee,  Chris Healy - Umpire,  Andy Podbieski - Line Judge,  Ron Schad - Head Linesman,  John Bair - Side Judge,  Adam Young - Field Judge

Wanted to let all know that Frank Pidro sr. Passed away,  keep the family in your prayers. 

Brian Mikush's mother passed away, please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers. 

https://www.alvarezhahnfs.com/obituary/Janet-Mikush

https://www.timesonline.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2026/05/06/america-250-beaver-county-top-10-high-school-football-players/89889325007/ 

For anyone interested, the Penn State 7 on 7 passing camp will be on Thursdays June 11th and 18th. They will be held at the intramural fields at Penn State, they will have a meeting at 9 AM with games beginning at 10 AM and games should be done around 6 PM.  They will guarantee 6 games, if interested contact  Todd Moss at tmoss24ref@gmail.com 

Former chapter mmeber Jim Demarco passed away on March 12th, please keep his family in your prayers. Attached is his obituary.

 https://www.simpsonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/James-Demarco?obId=47549193

Hi Everyone,

Please see the two links below explaining rules changes for the 2026 season. 

https://nfhs.org/stories/prohibition-on-slapping-the-head-now-applies-to-all-players-in-high-school-football

https://www.nfhs.org/sports/football/rules