Welcome to the website of the Western New York Certified Football Officials Association. WNYCFO currently services nearly sixty (60) schools throughout Erie, Niagara and Orleans Counties. At the present time, we have over one hundred (100) active members and we invite anyone with an interest in becoming a football official to simply go the Recruiting section on our website for instructions on the ways and means to join our group and become a future State Certified member.
Many times I have reminded our current members that becoming a certified football official places you in a category which I describe as being special. "Special" meaning that you are able to go onto a football field and manage a game with fairness and most importantly safety for the players in the game. This is something most fans, young coaches and over-zealous parents take for granted. While it may seem easy it's not as easy as it appears. Maintaining a game in a safe environment while making rule decisions takes a special person.
Our officials know their areas of field coverage from repetitive training so that they can properly observe play and make judgements to keep a game safe and fair. Becoming a member of WNYCFO places you on that pathway.
Our organization prides itself in the means we use to train new officials combined with constant interaction with current active members. Our main purpose is to allow new officials to steadily develop in terms of NFHS rules enforcement and field mechanics on the way to officiating the higher levels of High School games.
We provide new members mentors and we hold in-person on-field training sessions as well as placing our new developing officials in a classroom setting separate and apart from those classes filled with veteran officials. This allows our inexperienced officials an opportunity to develop properly. With that in mind, I guarantee that if you elect to become a high school football official, you will not be disappointed in what WNYCFO has to offer.
Also, in joining WNYCFO you will create life-lasting friendships and gain the respect and integrity that comes from being a member of the smallest but most important team on the field.
Thank you for your interest in the Western New York Certified Football Officials.
Mike Binkowski, President