The mission of the Georgia Athletic Officials Association (GAOA) is to organize Georgia’s athletic officials into a cohesive state-wide association that encourages excellence in athletics; that emphasizes sportsmanship, fair-play, and integrity at all levels; and that provides services and support for its members.
Established in conjunction with the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) in 1993, GAOA initially included about 50 members. In 2007, however, the two groups began to see the results of several years of intensified cooperation, and in that year GAOA held its first state-wide conference. As a result of the concerted and continuing effort to make GAOA more beneficial and relevant to its members, membership in GAOA now stands at more than 4,000.
As part of its fifth annual conference, GAOA joined with the GHSA to host the National Association of Sports Official’s (NASO) 29th National Summit at the Cobb Galleria Center and the Atlanta Renaissance Marriott Hotel in the summer of 2011.
Part of the NASO summit, GAOA’s “Officiate GA Day” drew over 1,600 Georgia high school officials to the Cobb Galleria Center; it received a commendation for programming excellence signed by the Governor of Georgia. Furthermore, NASO Executive Director Barry Mano noted that “Officate GA Day” had set a record by bringing together the largest number of high school officials participating in professional development, anytime, anywhere.
GAOA is also proud to have a strong partnership with the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association, which annually honors GAOA’s 10 sport-specific Official of the Year awards and its overall Official of the Year award at its annual GACA’s Coaches Hall-of-Fame Induction Ceremony at The Northwest Trade Center in Dalton. A virtual Officials Hall of Fame was opened July 21, 2012 and can be viewed at www.GAOAHallofFame.com.
GAOA also works closely with the Georgia Independent Schools Association (GISA) in supplying officials for the GACA’s and GISA’s North/South all-star football, basketball, and softball games.
In addition to awards and recognition and an annual professional development conference, members of GAOA receive a card that authorizes free admission to all GHSA- and GISA- sanctioned games and contests, including playoff and champioship games.
GAOA membership is available to all high school officials, to collegiate-level intramural officials, and to organized recreation department officials associations that serve as feeder systems for high school associations.
A sound relationship between high school associations and officials organizations is not found in every state. The bond between GAOA and the state’s high school associations is productive and strong; it helps to provide Georgia officials with exceptional opportunities for professional growth and to provide Georgia high schools with some of the best officiating anywhere.
GAOA’s MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE
Free access to all GHSA and GISA sanctioned games and contests, including state playoff and championship games
Awards and recognition for:
GAOA overall official of the year award & ring
GAOA sport-specific officials of the year awards
GAOA officials for GACA All-Star games
GAOA annual conference at minimum registration fee
GAOA’s virtual hall of fame, www.GAOAHallofFame.com
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