Welcome to the national website for the Canadian Football Officials Association. This site provides information on tackle football as it is played in Canada, with particular emphasis on officiating aspects of the game at the amateur level.

2010 Biennial Conference

Winnipeg is gearing up for the 2010 CFOA-ACOF Biennial Conference, featuring special guest speaker Milt Stegall.

The conference will be held May 21–24 Winnipeg's CanadInns Hotel - Polo Park adjacent to CanadInns Stadium.

Visit the conference website (www.2010cfoa-acof.ca) for more information on all the conference activities and to register online.

Be a Ref

The week of September 3 – 13, 2009 was declared Football Official’s Week in Canada in an effort to draw attention to the men and women who wear the stripes on football fields across Canada.

Football is one of the fastest growing sports in Canada with more and more youngsters playing tackle, touch, and flag football every year.  This puts a tremendous strain on officiating at all levels and with the support of George Black, the Director of Officiating with the CFL, there is a nation-wide focus on the people who make the calls to ensure the game is played fairly.  “Football is such a great game,” says Black “and being an official is a tremendous way to stay involved after the playing days are over.  But its not just former players,” he adds, “parents, either mom or dad, can go out on a football field and have a wonderful experience.”

Local Football Officials Associations across Canada took part in the week as they try to draw more interested people to try their hand at officiating.  Not everyone strives to become a professional but Black adds, “the Canadian Football League is constantly monitoring officials from across the country to find the best to bring into the professional ranks.  That is not the only goal.  The health and well-being of a great sport is dependent on officials and everyone involved in the game from managers and coaches to the players and fans want to be sure football continues to be a great sport.”

For more information on Football Official’s Week and officiating in your area, contact your nearest football officials association representative or members of the CFOA Executive.

You can also go on-line to Be A Ref.ca.

"First and Ten" Newsletter 2010

The first installment of the 2010 "First and Ten" newsletter for January / February 2010 is now available.

2009 Football Canada Cup Policies and Procedures Manual

Football Canada has prepared a manual for the 2009 Fooball Canada Cup. A copy is available here for download.

"You Make the Call" Calendar for 2009

The CFOA executive would like to extend best wishes to all its members for a healthy and prosperous new year. It presents you with its second edition of its You Make the Call Calendar. This year it features rule study surrounding plays in the End Zone.

Constitution and Policies Updated

An copy of the CFOA/ACOF Consitution and Policy Manual have been added. Major changes to these documents were made at the 2008 Annual General Meeting in Halifax.

Tom Cheney Award

Ron Hallock, President of the Manitoba Football Officials Association and a CFOA Vice-President, was selected as the 2008 recipient of the Tom Cheney Award. This award was presented at the CFOA Awards Dinner during the 2008 CFOA Conference recently held in Halifax. The award is presented every two years to an individual for his or her outstanding contribution and service toward the improvement of football officiating in Canada.

Football Canada Officials' Certification Program

Football Canada recently changed the name of the Canadian Football Officials' Certification Program (CFOCP) to the Football Canada Officials' Certification Program (FCOCP). A general information document on the FCOCP program has been prepared by the CFOA and is available here for download in PDF format. This information is also available in the Training Materials section of this site.