As part of an effort to both attract and train officials, the Minnesota State High School League will sponsor a third series of free football mechanics clinics this fall. Newly registered officials and other interested individuals are invited to observe and/or participate in one of these clinics.

League rules clinicians and veteran officials from local officials’ associations will conduct the clinics and teams will be scrimmaging at each site. Officials are encouraged to wear their uniform, with shorts being optional for hot weather.

The football clinics will be held at 10 sites on Saturday, Aug. 24 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the following high schools: Benilde-St. Margaret’s in St. Louis Park, Byron, Crosby-Ironton, Detroit Lakes, Esko, Hopkins, Mahtomedi, Mankato West, Murray County Central in Slayton, and Sartell. An additional clinic will be held Monday, Aug. 26, at Deer River High School, starting at 7 p.m., with registration at 6:30.

Information about how to become a registered official and how to join local associations will also be available. To register in advance for a clinic, go to the MSHSL web site www.mshsl.org and click on the “Officials” button on the home page to find a registration form. You may also call the league office at 763-560-2262.

All clinics are free and open to the public, and similar clinics for other sports will be offered in the future.

The recruitment and training of officials continues to be a challenge and a high priority for the league and its member schools. More teams and more games have led to a shortage of registered officials in most sports.