For the ninth year, the Ohio High School Athletic Association is supporting the “First Friday” campaign during the football season as part of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Participation is encouraged at any time throughout the month of September and is also supported by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association (OHSFCA) and the Central Ohio Football Officials Association (COFOA).

The campaign includes wrist bands and public address announcements. Its motto is “tackling prostate cancer one play at a time.” Prostate cancer affects one in six men in America.

Questions can be directed to First Friday Foundation representative Marti Sammons at firstfridayfoundation@gmail.com. Questions pertaining to the Campaign and its interaction with OHSAA contests, please contact Tyler Brooks at tbrooks@ohsaa.org.

Other Cancer Initiatives

Several other cancer awareness initiatives are also underway around Ohio, including “Volley for the Cure” in volleyball, as well as “Kick of the Cure” and “Red Card Cancer” in soccer. Some schools are doing a “For the Cure” event in all their fall sports.

More information will be included in upcoming state tournament programs and in the winter edition of OHSAA Magazine.

Rick Pollak Named Director of Officiating Development for Field Hockey

OHSAA Assistant Commissioner Beau Rugg has announced that Rick Pollak has been named Director of Officiating Development for Field Hockey.

Pollak has served the OHSAA in the role of sports official, instructor, rules interpreter, association secretary and assigner since 1993. He is an active sports official in baseball, basketball, field hockey, softball and swimming.

“I am honored to serve in this position for the OHSAA,” Pollak said. “I hope to encourage and enhance the field hockey experience across the state via umpires, student-athletes, coaches and athletic directors.”

Under Rugg’s leadership, Pollak joins 11 other individuals who serve as the OHSAA Director of Officiating Development in their respective sport. The directors serve as instructors, state rules interpreters, official’s observers, liaisons with local officials associations and consultants to the OHSAA.

More information is posted at: http://www.ohsaa.org/officials/directors.htm

“Rick is a great addition to our Directors of Officiating Development, not just for field hockey, but for our entire department,” Rugg said.

“We have a great group that care deeply for high school sports and the important role that officials serve. Rick is a welcomed addition and we look forward to his input and service.”