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RAOA Mentorship Program

The mentorship program is available to first and second year officials and also to any RAOA member official that desires a mentor. Interested officials who would like to be a mentor should contact their sport’s respective Vice President.

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The following items define the program in more detail:

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  • 1:1 ratio of mentor to mentee when possible.

  • The mentor will be required to contact the official two to three times during the respective season, via email, phone, or in person, to facilitate discussions and promote a positive relationship between the mentor and mentee. (A suggested sequence may be; pre-season, during the season, and post-season.)

  • It is expected that the mentee will also initiate contact with the mentor. The ultimate goal is for the mentee to grow, mature and evolve into a confident, self-sufficient official who can handle the myriad of situations they’ll face in their career.

  • The goal of the mentorship program is that the communication will be a shared responsibility between both mentor and mentee in order for the program to reach its fullest potential.

 

Ideas for mentor/mentee activities included, but are not limited to:

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  • Mentor is a direct resource for mentee.

  • Overviews websites–MSHSL/Arbiter/RAOA

  • Casebook and scenario reviews.

  • Mentor shadows mentee.

  • Mentee observes mentor work a game(s).

  • Work a game(s) together in-season and/or out of season.

  • Mentor/mentee communicates as they see fit either via email or phone throughout season.

  • Assist mentee in attaining proper equipment.

  • Mechanics and positioning overviews.

  • Mentee shadows mentor.

  • Mentor observes mentee work a game(s)

  • Mentor and mentee observe a game(s) together.

  • Mentor breaks down video of a mentee worked game and/or a mentor worked game.

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If you are interested in being a mentor, please contact your sports Vice President which can be found at the bottom of this page.

About RAOA

Rochester Area Officials Association (RAOA) trains, mentors, and assigns high school officials in the sports of Baseball, Basketball, Football, Softball and Volleyball.

 

With over 250 members, RAOA was established in Rochester, MN in 1950 and is a member of the Minnesota State High School League. RAOA provides officials to high schools through out Southern Minnesota.

 

Over our proud history, RAOA has had many members assigned to Minnesota State Championship games as well as those who moved up to officiate in the NCAA.

Mission

The Mission of the Rochester Area Official Association (RAOA) is to assist members in becoming better athletic officials.

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RAOA will accomplish this goal through clarification and interpretation of rules and promoting efficient and standard officiating techniques in football, basketball, baseball, softball and Volleyball. Each member will be involved in the following :
 

  • Rules Knowledge

  • Instructional Meetings

  • Professionalism

  • Promoting Sportsmanship

Board Members

President - Eric Okstad

Past President - Eric Rain

Secretary/Treasurer - Jared Butson

 

VP Football - Joel Traver

VP Volleyball - Darci Meyer

VP Basketball - Jesse Kralewski

VP Baseball - Chris Zollner

VP Softball - MJ Wagenson

Business Info

Address:

Rochester Area Officials Association
ATTN: Jared Butson
221 Devin Drive
St. Charles, MN 55972

 

Phone: 507-250-1446
Email: jaredjbutson@gmail.com

Contact the RAOA Webmaster with questions regarding this page.

©2025 ROCHESTER AREA OFFICIAL'S ASSOCIATION

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