QUALIFICATIONS

·          Must be a high school student or older.

·          A thorough understanding of the sport you wish to officiate.

·          The ability to interpret and apply rules.

 POLICIES

·          High school students are eligible to obtain a license and officiate junior high school (7^th or 8^th graders) contests, but may not officiate senior high (grades 9-12) games (with soccer as an exception).

·          An official is required to have a valid IHSAA license to officiate grades 7-12 between member schools in the sports of baseball, basketball, football, cross country, soccer, swimming, wrestling, track and field, and baseball.

·          All officials’ licenses expire annually on May 31 and are renewable for one year.

·          The required uniform is mandatory for officials working any interscholastic contest between IHSAA member schools.  Officials’ uniforms may be purchased at The Graphic Edge (1-800-747-9744 or www.thegraphicedge.com). Refer to the National Federation Rules Book for your sport to determine the specific uniform needs.

 EXAMS AND RULES MEETINGS

·          Persons seeking to become licensed must score 75-percent or above on an open-book exam in the sport(s) for which they intend to officiate.

·          If you fail that exam, you may retake it two more times.  If you fail all three, you must wait until the following year to try again. Failing in one sport does not disqualify you from officiating another.

·          All officials are required to attend a rules interpretation meeting in their sport(s) once every three years.  If the official wants to be considered for a tournament assignment in their sport they need to attend a rules meeting for that year.  It is highly recommended that a first-year official attend a rules meeting.

·          All officials are required to complete Part II sports rules exam (if offered) in each sport for which they are registered sometime in the first 3 years of being an official or before officiating a fourth year.

 HOW TO REGISTER

·          Click here for a registration form to be sent to you or call the IHSAA office.

·          Complete and return the form along with the required registration fee to IHSAA.  Fees include rules books, case books, Part I exam, liability insurance, and other publications.

·          Fees-

       One sport: $40

       Full-time college student or high school student: $15

       Each additional sport: $10

 ONCE YOU’RE AN OFFICIAL…

·          Directly contact the athletic directors at area schools for game contracts.

·          You are strongly encouraged to become a member of a local officials’ association where you can receive training, mentoring and assistance in obtaining game contracts.  A list of associations is on the IHSAA web site and in the back of your Guide to Registered Officials in All Sports.

·          Member schools set the officiating fees you receive based on the level of competition, distance to and from the contest, number of contests officiated, and number of officials needed to work the game.

 QUESTIONS

    Your questions are always welcome. Just give us a call at 515-432-2011.