It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of Ray Davis. Ray died of a massive heart attack early Saturday morning. All of us knew Ray to be not only a very good official, but a kind and gentle soul who handled everything thrown at him with exceptional class and dignity. If you were lucky enough to work a game or two with Ray, it was always a joyful event. He embodied the very philosophy we as members of RVOA endeavor to exhibit. When the whistle blew he was all about the game and the kids.

If you school has a girls lacrosse program and your in need of officials, please contact: Helder Weil Email: helderweil@gmail.com or CarolLynn Ellison Email: carollynn.ellison@gmail.

RVOA is presenting an IHSA-Certified Level 2 Football Officials Clinic as part of our regular meeting schedule for the 2011 football season on Thursday, July 28th. The clinic will be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Grace Roper Lounge located in the Burpee Center on Rockford College’s main campus at 5050 E. State Street. Use Parking Lot A. This convenient four-hour session will fulfill IHSA clinic requirements and impart vital information from experienced state finals and collegiate officials on how to improve on-field performance.

Attention Lacrosse officials, past and future: Rock Valley Officials Association proudly announces our partnership with True Lacrosse, Lacrosse America & New Wave Lax, beginning with the current indoor league season. RVOA will be training and assigning all officials at all levels for all games throughout the year, including this spring and summer tournaments.

Rock Valley Officials Association, a mere five years old, is now the largest officials’ association in northwest Illinois with over 300 members! RVOA is now recognized by the IHSA as an association representing football, lacrosse, baseball, and softball officials. Pete Ducato and RVOA currently assign for the NIFC junior tackle football, high school lacrosse leagues across northern Illinois and Chicago Public Schools, Raptors Indoor Youth Football League, Rockford Christian H.S. football, and the Roy Gale youth baseball and softball league.

Rock Valley Officials Association typically meets for football training/meetings the beginning of July through the end of September, all meetings will be held on Wednesdays each week. We currently meet at the follwoing location, please contact Pete Ducato-President at peteducato@comcast.net or 815-560-2748 or 708-508-7383 for further information. Location: Harlem High School Room W145 1 Huskie Circle Machesney Park, IL 61115 Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Meeting dates for the 2011 season will be posted by July 11, 2011.

The RVOA will again assign football officials for the N.I.F.C. junior tackle league for the 2011 season. The N.I.F.C. was created in 2006 from teams leaving the local Rock Valley Junior Tackle. The N.I.F.C. and R.V.O.A. worked hard to encourage good sportsmanship and fair play for all in attendance. Teams from Roscoe/Rockton, Belvidere, Burlington, Christian Life, Dakota, KeKalb, Genoa, Kaneland, Rockford Christian, Rockford Lutheran, Sycamore, Win-Du-Pec & Winnebago will compete in three divisions: flyweight, lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight.

Several members have expressed concerns about accepting games from the RVOA for the NIFC season, specifically rumors of repercussions from other assignors. This topic was covered by Dave Gannaway at the 2006 IHSA convention in Peoria. Here is a summary of Mr. Gannaway's comments: First, no assignor can dictate what games an official may or may not accept. The decision must be free of coercion (implicit or explicit) and made only by the official. Second, an assignor cannot force attendance at assignor preferred meetings, clinics, or camps as a lure for future considerations.