Dana Pappas and Nate Acosta, Commission of New Mexico Officials, Commissioner's Corner

Top 10 Commissioner's Questions 

Dennis Barela (0s):

Alright, great.

Ken Adent (1m 6s):

Thank you for joining. We've got, uh, Dana Pappas and Nate, Acosta joining us this evening and talking about, uh, uh, what's happening in high school sports in the state of New Mexico. Um, welcome. Dana and Nate. Thanks for Dana. Hey, thanks for having us.

Dana Pappas (1m 22s):

Thank you so much. Good to be on another webinar with you guys.

Ken Adent (1m 26s):

Cool. Uh, it's been a pretty interesting spring with, you know, the COVID-19 and webinars and all that. Um, you guys know the story about Dennis and I just being born and decided to get things started, and it was kind of cool that, uh, this thing kind of exploded from, uh, you know, just a couple of guys talk and football, two multiple sports. You want to touch base on what your guys' opinion and how that's, how it began with the statewide.

Dana Pappas (1m 60s):

Sure, absolutely. So, as you mentioned, the two of you kind of started this off, and then I, I don't know if your intention, when you were getting into it was for it to become what it is, and that is now seven different sports that we've got webinars in. Um, for our state, it's received national attention now and received the local press and really it's just exploded. And the two of you started it out of, out of boredom as you stated, but it really turned into something that Nate and I realized very quickly, we needed get on board and start providing something for our Officials during this, uh, will in sports.

Dana Pappas (2m 38s):

So, um, you know, Hector Martinez and baseball, he was right after the football ones. And then Nate was like, we better start doing something for basketball. So we started basketball and then I've just been trying to get people on board in some of our other sports. And now we also have had softball. We've had wrestling, we have first soccer won tonight and our first volleyball next week. So it's been something that's grown rather quickly. Um, and rather unexpectedly it's been great to see how many people in the state have participated in the webinar's and then, and also people from around the country who have, and then as well.

Dana Pappas (3m 19s):

So we've kind of expanded The and I'm always family outside of our borders. And, and it's really just been a, kind of a fun ride and it kind of happened very quick. We, but it's been a lot of fun and a lot of learning and education and laughter and, and, uh, all of the stuff that we love about officiating kind of contained seminars.

Nate Acosta (3m 40s):

Yeah. You know, to, to kind of follow up on what Dana is talking about. Um, this pandemic song almost been a blessing for our Officials actually, um, you know, this is a time that, um, well with the help of YouTube, but this has been time that our Officials has probably gotten the most training that we've ever given them, you know, and that's obviously with the help of, you know, the various Officials and different sports and, and of course, you know, with the content tax it Dana has and why. Yeah.

Nate Acosta (4m 10s):

And, um, the relationship she's, she's built, um, it's given us the ability to bring in some of these people and, and okay. Of course, you know, um, it helps that, uh, you know, we have individuals like yourself that want to, you know, kind of facilitate these things that, that really take a lot off of mine and Dana's plate so that, um, you know, because, you know, we don't know every sport, um, you know, we know some basics, but really, you know, you guys are the ones that know what your sport or, and, and the fact that you can facilitate this is, is, is very helpful for us.

Ken Adent (4m 47s):

That's so cool to hear here. I know we did not expect it, but we embraced it. Let me tell him. And we were really that other sports got involved. Um, Nate have you, Dennis and I were talking, is it the newer Officials? Is it the middle official? Is it the seasoned official who's who's been jumping on board in your opinion, in the basketball or whatever groups that you attended?

Nate Acosta (5m 15s):

Um, it really just depends, um, you know, depending on, you know, I can speak for basketball, um, you know, it's, it's our veteran, Officials all the way down to our brand new Officials. Um, and I, and I would say that that's probably pretty similar, um, in all sports, um, we'll find out tonight how our soccer population is. Um, and, and next week, what our volleyball population looks like, but for the most part, um, you know, from our younger Officials for our, and I think everybody's kind of taking an advantage of, of the opportunity.

Ken Adent (5m 47s):

Okay. The reason I asked that question in, you know, Dana, you're, I'm sure you're on top of this, but because the newer Officials, I think we're going to bring in through technology through, uh, what, what Dennis is really fantastic at is, is, uh, you know, media, you know, web media and web advertising, Instagram, all of that other stuff that he's involved with. Um, and I, you know, the old fashioned ways of us getting New or Officials it, and word of mouth, it's just the us older guys are the guys that are aging, really arguing in touch with the newer.

Ken Adent (6m 23s):

I just, I find that this might be a way we can do a better job of recruiting.

Dana Pappas (6m 33s):

And I think you're exactly right. Ken I think, you know, we're in an interesting situation nationally from the standpoint of, you know, definitely trying to retain Officials, but we're also wanting to recruit new members into the association, you know, every association across the country, whether it's things we're talking about at our last, um, board of directors meeting for the national association of sports Officials was the need to have somebody on our board. Who's a little bit more in touch with millennials, you know, kind of with the generation below me.

Dana Pappas (7m 4s):

And it was funny because they were like, well, Dana, you're the millennial on the board. I was like, Whoa, Whoa, hold on a second. I wasn't sure if I was gonna sign off on that, but there is a realization nationally that there, that we've got to start talking in a different way to potential Officials because, you know, we're in a situation where we have to kind of do a blend of things as, as you all know, I'm huge, huge on relationships. And I don't ever want the face to face to end.

Dana Pappas (7m 34s):

I don't want relationships in the family to end, but I also have to be a realist and understand that the old methods of communication aren't going to resonate really with, with newer Officials and using media and using technology and using all those different, um, methods of training of recruiting, you know, we have to get on board with that. And I think that through this pandemic, we've really seen that there's not only a need for it, but there's also an interest in learning in that way.

Dana Pappas (8m 7s):

And, and looking all of the Officials across the sports that we've done, there's been a decent mix of very veteran Officials, as well as newer Officials, but it's really the Officials that are kind of in that six to 10 year range that have really kind of signed on with what's going on with, with technology. And I think it's the people who kind of have their feet, one foot on either side of that, the New slash veteran certification.

Dana Pappas (8m 38s):

Um, but I just, I really feel like this is a great way to reach the individuals who are visual learners, um, because how we used to do things, how we did things three, five years ago, some of it works, but certainly it's time to adjust and adapt, um, sports and, and officiating has to evolve right along with it.

Nate Acosta (8m 59s):

Absolutely. And, and really, you know, I, I'm probably the millennial and, and if, and I joked before we started this, no, unless it has bullet points or a little red dot that shows me that I have a notification, um, chances are, I'm not going to read it. Um, and I think that's kinda how we have to engage, um, some of these younger, newer Officials, but we still have to keep that balance of reaching out to our veteran Officials and they still like to have live meetings. And they still like to, to be that they like to have that face to face interaction.

Nate Acosta (9m 33s):

And, and I, I tell people all the time, the only reason I enjoy officiating was the ice tea after the game. And, and you know, that that still holds true today. I mean, everything I do on the floor and giving back to the community and giving back to the kids is fun and all, but the most fun that I've had officiating was the ice tea after the game. And so somehow we gotta find a balance between, uh, that one-on-one that interaction and using the little red notification dot.

Dennis Barela (10m 4s):

Yeah. And so, so with that, um, when we first approached you Dana about these webinars, um, you know, what was your expectations when, when we told you what our plan was, what did you actually get out of listening? Um, how'd you chill the nest Two months, went with these webinars of when we first sat down with you by telephone, you know, and say, Hey, this is R and D I R R idea.

Dana Pappas (10m 35s):

You know, it was funny because I don't know, I don't know what my expectations were because it was so new. It was such uncharted territory for all of us. Um, I was hoping that there would be a little bit of interest. I was hoping that, um, you know, it would go on for a couple of weeks and, and, uh, and just, you know, maybe spread into some other sports, but I really wasn't expecting it to be everything that it has been. Um, it, it exceeded my expectation.

Dana Pappas (11m 5s):

I may have had, it's gone so far off the charts for me. It's just been incredible. And, you know, I've been on probably 95% of all of them that have been on across all sports. And, you know, for me, obviously the content has been great, but the bigger, I guess, the bigger win out of all of it is just, Officials been together from across the state, um, getting on the same page, but building those relationships. And, you know, for me, it seemed on some of them see everybody's faces and just being able to spend that time with then, because my schedule when it's normal is absolutely crazy.

Dana Pappas (11m 47s):

And I don't always have time to spend one on one with Officials as much as I'd like to. So just having the, to listen in and hear you all feed off of each other and, um, you know, at the end of, and people just, Hey, you know, Oh, how's the family. And checking in one another, that, that family is really, what's so important to me. And it's been unbelievable just to be able to witness it and see how much people are gain out of it. And, you know, the positive text messages that I get as the webinars are going on about how exceptional everything is, it's just, it's blown my mind.

Dana Pappas (12m 24s):

And it really has helped me, you know, you all know I've been doing this for a long time, but it's helped me connect with my population that I serve in an extraordinary way. I mean, I can't thank you all enough for starting it. And of course, everybody who's been involved since the onset because it it's given me a very full heart. And it's given me a lot of hope to see so many of our Officials who are so willing to give up their time to help us Officials get better and really just want to talk officiating and nothing.

Dana Pappas (12m 57s):

You know, I'm of all of the things that have happened in my career. I've never been more proud of my Officials that I've been in this, in this pandemic because what you guys have done and Officials, and all sports have done to make this happen and to participate. It's just more my heart. And I, I can't thank you enough. I can't think everybody has done it enough because it's just, it's been a sign of hope. It's been reinvigorating. It's just, it's been so positive. I can't see a downside aside from trying to figure out how to, you know, how to continue it, um, and find more people who are interested in being a part of it.

Dana Pappas (13m 36s):

So I think that that's the only like, Oh, you know, how do we maintain this? But it's just, it's been incredible, like just absolutely incredible in every way.

Nate Acosta (13m 47s):

And she touches on the family, the fact that everybody gets to kind of meet and we're talking Officials from all four corners of the state are joining in. And, and I see E that, which is awesome and exciting, but I also see the fact that we're the consistency in the message and the training. Um, and that's something that Dana and I constantly talk about is how can we, uh, be more consistent statewide and, and how, and the central and the The Northwest and the Southwest and the Southeast just kind of come together and, and really be a lot more consistent.

Nate Acosta (14m 26s):

And, and I think this is kind of really, this was the blessing that needed to happen in order for that to happen. And, and, and it's awesome because everyone's getting the same message.

Dana Pappas (14m 39s):

Yeah. I told that, you know, that's the, that's been, the incredible thing is seeing all of you working together, because I look at the Officials and especially on the football webinars, um, you know, you have gotten Todd Morris involved with helping you get some speakers and he's a Clovis. I, and just seeing people working together and talking about the NMO, not once, did I hear somebody say, well, in our region, we do this a lot. Our region, we do that. It's been, this is how we are going to approach things.

Dana Pappas (15m 12s):

This is philosophically how we want to look at, look at things. And it hasn't ever been a regional issue, which has been amazing because we fight that all the time being sort of geographically challenged. So it's really been, it's been incredible to see people coming together and maybe it was on necessity because everybody is kind of struggling a little bit, but I just feel like it's been such a unifier that, um, I can't sing its praises enough. So it's been, it's been amazing.

Ken Adent (15m 44s):

It has been I've, I've met people from all over the state and it's like, it made the state smaller where we all, you know, the guys from Clovis talking to the guys from Crucis and it's just fantastic. I got to touch base on the state clinic. We just got an email that it's going to be all virtual this year. Um, do you, are you guys still trying to figure that out or how's that gonna work?

Dana Pappas (16m 6s):

We are so Nate and I plan on the next couple of weeks to figure out kind of what the schedule is going to look like for that. So, you know, we'll probably end up having it the weekend that the state clinic was initially scheduled for, which will be July 17th and 18th, I think. Um, and we'll look to have the three sports, which would be football, volleyball, and basketball during that weekend. Um, probably multiple sessions we're still looking at. So we're going to try to figure out if we're going to do some panel stuff. And if we're going to take the model that the AFOA folks, you know, under, under you guys' leadership have done as far as the state credit goes, but we definitely, you know, having this platform already kind of preset for us, gives us some really good ideas as far as developing that schedule, finding speakers, all of that stuff.

Dana Pappas (16m 55s):

So we'll have to, I mean, obviously we have to do the sessions that are rules, changes and points of emphasis, all of that. But these, uh, these webinars have given us really good ideas as far as other topics that maybe we wouldn't have thought about before. So it, you know, we're excited, it's something new and different, and I'm actually so glad that we've had all these webinars to date because we aren't having to reinvent the wheel for lack of a better way to put it. We've got some ideas because they've already been presented to us.

Dana Pappas (17m 26s):

So that's been super helpful for us

Dennis Barela (17m 31s):

Going back to, you know, how we were able to be all on one page and talk about one philosophy throughout the state is I don't think this happened overnight because we had been talking with Officials throughout the state for about a year. Uh, we've been working with Shawn Cooper and Crucis, uh, Leonard Longo, Longhorn, uh, Dave <inaudible>, um, Mike Horgan sends down and Clovis.

Dennis Barela (18m 3s):

And so there's been about nine of us that have, uh, stayed in communication for about a year now on slack.com and text message and emails and just bouncing ideas off of each other of, of looking at film, Hey, what do you see here? This is what the evaluator told us here. And just kind of trying to, um, stay in the rule book and the mechanic book and saying, well, we don't do it this way, but this is what the rule book says. And so when this, uh, pandemic happen and we said, we reached out and said, Hey, we want to put together webinar's and this is how we want to do it.

Dennis Barela (18m 41s):

They're already on board with us because of things that we have done before working on the, on the new mechanic book and sending that out statewide to, to all those contacts that we had, um, been working on for over a year. Um, you know, it just, wasn't something that happened over over a Friday, Saturday. Um, you know, it, it, it, you know, it took some trust, uh, throughout the month, you know, ISTEP on baka from Santa Fe, you know, was a really big part and, and, uh, sending out weekly quizzes last, uh, regular season.

Dennis Barela (19m 22s):

And so when we reached out to everybody, we just kind of said, Hey, let's expand what we had been doing and get everybody else involved. And this is how we want to do it. And in fact, we want to bring in some, some guest speakers to teach us. And so when we started reaching out to these New Mexico Officials, they said, Hey, I know Brad Rogers, you know what? I can get a hold of Sarah Thomas. I could get ahold of, you know, I New I'm Scott Novak from the clinic.

Dennis Barela (19m 53s):

Um, Leonard from Farmington, his mentor was Frank philosopher from the PAC 12. So, you know, everybody was this one person away. And so I think the trust that we've built over the last year in this group had a big part of us being able to make this, um, webinars work so quickly and everybody being on the same page, because we had already been talking for a long time.

Nate Acosta (20m 19s):

You know, I, I really think the most impressive thing is, is all this stuff is going on behind the scenes and Dana, and I really know very little about it. And absolutely we love that because any time, you know, Officials are working together, you know, um, when Officials are working together and, and doing things to better their groups, you know, and don't have to do anything, you know, and it's not that we don't want to do anything.

Nate Acosta (20m 51s):

It's just, it's nice to know that...