JOHN WALTERS, SSFLOA Supervisor of Officials

John Walters

A Florida native, John Walters serves as the SSFLOA Supervisor of Officials.
Walters began his officiating career in Miami as a member of the Greater Miami Athletic Conference. Twenty-Eight years of officiating on the high school, college and minor league levels have given him great insight into evaluating and recruiting solid talent.

In 1984, he took over as the Commissioner of the Greater Miami Athletic Conference Officials Association and found his passion. He was the supervisor of officials for the South Florida Football Officials Association, assistant commissioner of the West Coast Officials Association, and has been an evaluator and observer on both the NCAA and NAIA levels.

In 1997, he became the first and only supervisor the Southern Independent Conference Officials Alliance has ever known. This conference officiates youth, high school, college and women’s football games state wide. Walters is responsible for the overall training, evaluations and bookings for over 140 officials. He is also the Florida coordinator of officials for the National Indoor Football league.

“It’s really about quality in officiating,” Walters said. “People feel that I have a knack for finding talented officials and grooming them to work at the highest levels.”

John was selected as the Supervisor of Officials for the Southern States Football League in 2004.  Commissioner, Dave Rice

states, "John has done a masterful job in selecting, training and evaluating our leagues officials.  His procedures for communicating with team owners and coaches is direct and congenial.  His love of football and football officiating can never be questioned".

That could not be any better demonstrated as his SICOA collegiate group has turned two more officials in 2006 over to major collegiate conferences. The SICOA collegiate group officiates NAIA and small NCAA college contests. So Walters feels that any official working in the SSFL has a great opportunity to advance.

“It’s all about getting snaps,” Walters said. “The SSFL is a great tool to give officials games during the winter and spring that they would not normally see. It’s no different than the players hoping to get a look from the professional levels themselves.”