One of three CFL league officials have been selected to work the NFL pre-season games as part of an interleague development program. This will be the first time that a Canadian has ever officiated in the NFL.
Dave Foxcroft, a CFL referee, will be officiating Saturday for the San Francisco 49ers when they kick off against the Denver Broncos. He will have a few tasks such as monitoring the sideline from the defensive backfield and counting defensive plays.
This program aims at improving officiating through training and on-field experience. Mini camps, training camps, and pre-season games will provide the Canadians with an opportunity to get much more time on the field then they would have otherwise had with just the CFL season alone.
In a time when officiating is on the decline with the younger population, this could help to boost the profession within Canada. Amidst severe criticism from players, coaches, and fans alike, the CFL can only get better at its officiating from participating in programs such as this.
Foxcroft will have completed the program for this year on Saturday, but he will return to the U.S. following the CFL season to shadow an NFL crew and continue his professional development.
Source and photo: Brent Just | Getty Images
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