MARLBOROUGH, Mass. – The NEWMAC is joining other NCAA conferences in celebrating Officials Appreciation Week throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. This marks the fourth year of the Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA) initiative to highlight and thank conference officials across all sports.
Officials Appreciation Week will be celebrated during the fall, winter, and spring sport seasons. To kick off the year, the fall celebration will take place from October 5th to October 11th, followed by the winter celebration from January 11th to January 17th, and the spring celebration from April 5th to April 11th.
The commitment of NEWMAC officials and referees to safe, fair, and competitive contests is a critical part of the student-athlete experience, and this initiative provides an opportunity to recognize their contributions. As part of the celebration, SAAC representatives on each NEWMAC campus will hand out towels and patches to officials at designated home contests throughout the week. In addition, the NEWMAC will spotlight several of its long-time fall sport officials during the fall celebration.
"The NEWMAC is fortunate to have officials who show up each week prepared and committed. Their work goes beyond enforcing the rules — they help create a competitive environment where student-athletes can compete at the highest level safely. Though often overlooked, their efforts make a real difference in the quality of competition, and we appreciate their commitment to our programs and student-athletes," said NEWMAC Executive Director Patrick B. Summers.
Officials Appreciation Week is one of numerous initiatives implemented as part of the DIIICA Strategic Plan for Collegiate Officiating, created following the DIIICA's Strategic Analysis of the State of Collegiate Officiating. In conjunction with the NCAA and the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO), the initiative also addresses the urgent need for more sports officials. Those interested in becoming an official can learn more by visiting the NCAA's Say Yes to Officiating platform.
In addition, the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) and the DIIICA announced the launch of a new sports officiating recruitment effort this fall. The initiative is titled "Stay In the Game" (www.sayyestoofficiating.com/stayinthegame/) and is designed to help DIII athletes stay connected to sports through officiating. The program pairs athletes with mentors via the NASO GameSavers network, offering guidance, resources, and local opportunities to begin an officiating journey and continue making an impact in the game.
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with eight Associate Members: Brandeis University (Women's Lacrosse, 2026-2027), New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 20 sports.