New Official
Build your foundation.
Learn professionalism, communication, positioning, signals, game administration, and what to expect before your first assignments.
Start the free course
Online development for new officials, working officials, crews, and associations
Great Lakes Officials Academy
Prepare before the game speeds up.
Build mechanics, judgment, communication, and game control through structured courses, real-game scenarios, knowledge checks, and practical officiating education built for the moments that matter.
Self-paced learning
Scenario-based training
Multiple sports
Completion recognition
Official Development System
Training Active
The Official
Prepare
Recognize
Decide
Communicate
Structured Development
Real-Game Mechanics
Communication Training
Progress & Recognition
Choose your path
Training that meets you where you are.
Whether you are preparing for your first assignment or leading an experienced crew, the academy gives you a clearer next step.
Developing Official
Become more consistent.
Improve rules application, positioning, rotations, judgment, timing, communication, and confidence under live-game pressure.
Find your courseVeteran Official or Crew
Lead and sharpen.
Study difficult plays, advanced mechanics, crew accountability, leadership, game management, and high-pressure decision-making.
View advanced accessAssociation or Assigner
Develop your roster.
Give officials a structured learning pathway that supports meetings, mentorship, evaluations, and long-term retention.
Discuss a partnership
Featured training
View All Courses
Start with a course built for real games.
Move beyond memorizing words. Learn what to recognize, where to position yourself, how to administer the play, and how to communicate the ruling.
FreeFeatured
FoundationAll Sports
All Sports · Beginner
Introduction to Officiating
Build the mindset, professionalism, communication, and game-management foundation every official needs.
All Levels
BasketballNFHS Development
Basketball · Comprehensive
Introduction to Basketball Officiating
Study violations, fouls, mechanics, rotations, administration, communication, and end-game situations.
Beginner
BaseballNFHS Umpiring
Baseball · Beginner
Introduction to Baseball Umpiring
Learn foundational rules, plate and base responsibilities, positioning, game administration, and crew communication.
SaleBeginner
SoftballNFHS Umpiring
Softball · Beginner
Introduction to Softball Umpiring
Master pitching rules, the Look-Back Rule, interference, obstruction, DP/FLEX, appeals, and game management.
How training works
Browse the Training Library
Learn it. See it. Decide it. Use it.
Every course is designed to move officials from information toward confident application—not simply to finish another video or read another rule.
01
Choose the right development track
Start with your sport, experience level, and the part of your game that needs the most attention.
02
Train in focused sessions
Work through organized lessons, visual explanations, mechanics concepts, and rule applications at your pace.
03
Test your judgment
Use scenarios and knowledge checks to practice making decisions before the same situation happens live.
04
Apply it in your next game
Walk onto the court or field with a specific focus, stronger habits, and a clearer plan for improvement.
Multi-sport academy
Explore by Sport
One development standard. Every sport.
The academy is growing into a complete education platform for high school sports officials, umpires, crews, associations, and assigners.
Available sports
Training available
Basketball
Rules, mechanics, rotations, judgment, and game management.
View training →
Training available
Softball
Pitching, baserunning, DP/FLEX, enforcement, and game control.
View training →
Training available
Baseball
Plate work, bases, rule application, administration, and crew skills.
View training →Coming soon
Coming soon
Football
Join the academy updates list for future football training.
Get updates →
Coming soon
Lacrosse
Future development built around positioning, coverage, and game flow.
Get updates →
Coming soon
Volleyball
Future training for mechanics, signals, crew work, and match control.
Get updates →
Coming soon
Wrestling
Future education for positioning, control, scoring, and administration.
Get updates →
Scenario-based learning
The game will test your decision before it tests your memory.
GLOA scenarios force you to identify the rule, understand the sequence, select the correct ruling, and think through the mechanics and communication that follow.
1Recognize the full sequence before reacting.
2Identify the applicable rule and ball status.
3Make the correct ruling from the correct angle.
4Administer and communicate the decision professionally.
The academy does not replace local association, assigner, or state requirements. It supplements them with structured development and practical application.
Membership development
Keep improving between assignments.
Membership creates an ongoing development system around your courses, scenario work, mechanics education, film-style instruction, and practical officials resources.
Structured learning tracksScenario trainingProgress milestonesMember resources
Foundation
Starter Official
For newer officials building mechanics, signals, confidence, and core habits.
$5per month
Most Popular
Development
Core Official
For working officials pursuing consistency, game control, and advancement.
$15per month
Advanced
Advanced Official / Crews
For advanced mechanics, leadership, difficult scenarios, and crew accountability.
$25per month
The GLOA standard
Information becomes valuable when it changes performance.
01
Practical
Training should connect directly to the situations, mechanics, communication, and decisions officials face in live competition.
02
Structured
Officials improve faster when learning follows a clear sequence instead of relying on scattered videos, posts, and conversations.
03
Repeatable
Strong habits come from reviewing concepts, working situations, and returning to the same development process throughout the season.
04
Professional
Mechanics matter, but credibility also comes from preparation, composure, communication, accountability, and respect for the contest.
Questions answered
Know what to expect.
Clear answers for officials deciding where to begin and how the academy fits into their development.
Contact the AcademyWho is Great Lakes Officials Academy designed for?
The academy is designed for brand-new officials, working officials who want greater consistency, veteran officials and crews pursuing advanced development, and associations or assigners seeking more structured education for their rosters.
Does the training include rules, mechanics, and game situations?
Yes. Courses are built to connect rule knowledge with positioning, mechanics, administration, communication, game management, and scenario-based decision-making. Each course varies by sport and level.
Can a completely new official start here?
Yes. The free Introduction to Officiating course is the recommended starting point. It covers the role of the official, professionalism, communication, game management, handling conflict, and first-season expectations.
Does GLOA replace my state association or local officials association?
No. State association requirements, local mechanics, assigner instructions, and association expectations always take priority. GLOA is a supplemental development platform intended to help officials prepare, practice, and improve.
Can I cancel a monthly membership?
Yes. Monthly memberships can be canceled, with access generally continuing through the end of the current billing period according to the membership provider’s terms.
Your next assignment starts now
Walk into the game prepared—not hoping.
Choose your course, strengthen your decision-making, and build the mechanics and confidence that hold up when the pressure rises.