RAOA Minnesota
Mentorship Program
Guidance, support, and development resources for first- and second-year officials and any RAOA member seeking mentorship.
RAOA Mentorship Program
The RAOA Mentorship Program helps first- and second-year officials build confidence, grow their skills, and strengthen their connection to the association. The program is also available to any RAOA official who would benefit from working with a mentor.
Who the Program Is For
Mentorship is available to first- and second-year officials, as well as any RAOA member official who would like additional support, guidance, or feedback during a season. Officials who are interested in serving as mentors should contact their sport’s Vice President.
How the Program Works
When possible, the program is designed around a 1:1 mentor-to-mentee relationship. Mentors are expected to connect with their mentee two to three times during the respective season by email, phone, or in person. A natural sequence might include a preseason check-in, an in-season conversation, and a postseason follow-up.
Mentees are also encouraged to take initiative and stay engaged throughout the process. The ultimate goal is for each official to grow into a confident, self-sufficient official who can handle the wide range of situations they will face throughout their officiating career.
The strongest mentorships are built on shared responsibility. Communication should be a two-way effort so the relationship can be meaningful, practical, and valuable for both mentor and mentee.
Football Mentorship Note
In football, mentees are mentored by an entire full-time varsity crew rather than by just one individual. This gives newer football officials the benefit of multiple perspectives, broader support, and exposure to varsity-level communication, mechanics, and game management.
Examples of Mentor / Mentee Activities
Each mentorship relationship will look a little different, but common activities may include:
- Mentor serves as a direct resource for the mentee.
- Review key websites and systems such as MSHSL, Arbiter, and RAOA resources.
- Discuss casebook plays, scenarios, and rules applications.
- Mentor shadows the mentee at a game.
- Mentee observes the mentor working games.
- Work games together during the season or in the offseason when possible.
- Communicate by phone or email throughout the season as needed.
- Assist the mentee in obtaining proper equipment and readiness items.
- Review mechanics, positioning, and game presence.
- Mentee shadows the mentor in pregame, halftime, and postgame routines.
- Mentor observes the mentee and provides constructive feedback.
- Mentor and mentee observe games together and discuss what they see.
- Break down video from games worked by the mentor or mentee.
Interested in Being a Mentor?
If you are interested in serving as a mentor, please contact your sport’s Vice President. Officials who would like to be matched with a mentor may also reach out using the contacts below.
Sport Vice President Contacts
To protect individual email addresses and help route messages properly, please use the contact links below for mentorship questions by sport.