NFL, CFL announce officiating development program
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The NFL and CFL have announced a joint Officiating Development Program aimed at giving less experienced officials more time on the field.
“Any time our newer officials can get more reps on the field, during practices or games, that will make them better officials,” said NFL senior vice president of officiating Dean Blandino. “The collaboration with the CFL will certainly benefit us as we prepare for the 2016 season and we look forward to welcoming our CFL officiating counterparts to our development program later this spring.”
The program will allow for certain NFL officials to work alongside CFL officials this preseason as well as during CFL regular-season games in June and July.
CFL officials will then be invited to join NFL minicamps and training camps and to help officiate preseason games.
“We’re excited that a group of our officials will actively participate in the NFL Development Program and now have a formal path forward to be considered as prospects in their league,” said CFL senior vice president Glen Johnson.
CFL preseason games begin on June 8, with the regular season kicking off on June 23. The NFL preseason starts on August 11 and the regular season will begin on Sept. 8 with a Super Bowl rematch between the Panthers and the Broncos.
