IHSAA OFFICIALS
BECOME AN OFFICIAL
Have you thought about becoming an IHSAA official?
Officials are an essential part of high school athletics and a required role in the staging of competitions. They provide leadership and guidance to participants, and ensure that competition is conducted in a safe and fair manner. Officials demonstrate a positive outlook on sports through integrity, honesty, and respect.
Becoming an official is a unique opportunity to stay involved with athletics and influence student-athletes and communities.
HOW TO BECOME AN IHSAA OFFICIAL
STEP 1:
Create an account and register through DragonFly.
STEP 2:
Select your preferred IHSAA sports and pay the associated registration fees.
STEP 3:
Complete required rules exam and rules meeting with selected sports, when available.
STEP 4:
Attend IHSAA approved rules clinic for varsity and postseason eligibility, if interested.
STEP 5:
Contact local schools, officials associations, and/or area officials assignors to obtain contests.
OFFICIALS ASSOCIATIONS & ASSIGNORS
| ORGANIZATION | CONTACT | CITY | PHONE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algona Officials Association | Fred Perkins | Emmetsburg | [email protected] | (712) 490-4061 |
| Black Hawk Officials Association | Robert Smith Jr. | Waterloo | [email protected] | (319) 230-7917 |
| Cedar Rapids Athletic Officials Association | Chris Heidelbauer | Marion | [email protected] | (319) 533-0292 |
| Cedar Valley Soccer Officials Association | Phil Watson | Cedar Falls | [email protected] | (319) 230-9148 |
| Central Iowa Wrestling Officials Association | Jesse McCrady | Ankeny | [email protected] | (641) 780-4618 |
| Clarinda Officials Organization | Keith Brothers | Clarinda | [email protected] | (712) 303-0025 |
| Des Moines Officials Association | Larry Jacobus | Des Moines | [email protected] | (515) 490-0779 |
| Dubuque Area Soccer Officials Association | Paul Lassance | Dubuque | [email protected] | (563) 590-0487 |
| East Central Iowa Soccer Officials Assoc. | Brian D. Cohen | Robins | [email protected] | (319) 294-8863 |
| Eastern Iowa Wrestling Officials Assoc. | Chris Meinecke | Maquoketa | [email protected] | (319) 480-3377 |
| Fort Dodge Officials Association | Jim Bice | Fort Dodge | [email protected] | (515) 571-3191 |
| Greater Des Moines Umpires Association | George Davis | Des Moines | [email protected] | (515) 979-9291 |
| Grundy County Officials Association | Charles McCauley | Reinbeck | [email protected] | (832) 434-8996 |
| I.O.W.A (Iowa Officials Western Assoc.) | Chris Girres | Council Bluffs | [email protected] | (402) 657-2905 |
| Iowa City Athletic Officials Association | John Mathias | Iowa City | [email protected] | (319) 430-5100 |
| Mahaska County Wrestling Officials Association | Lanny Brand | Altoona | [email protected] | (515) 975-9602 |
| North Iowa Area Soccer Officials Association | Charlie Ramsay | Mason City | [email protected] | (641) 420-8345 |
| North Iowa Officials Association | Ken Robbins | Mason City | [email protected] | 515-571-2390 |
| Northwest IA Wrestling Coaches & Officials Assoc | Mike Winklepleck | Sioux City | [email protected] | (712) 870-4682 |
| Premier Sports Officials Association | Sean Johnston | Bennington | [email protected] | (402) 319-8413 |
| Quad City Officials Association | Jon Clark | Moline | [email protected] | (309) 945-8119 |
| Red Rock Officials Association | Craig Van Vark | Pella | [email protected] | (641) 628-9179 |
| Saylorville Officials Association-BASKETBALL | Dan Bruns | Ankeny | [email protected] | (515) 724-4278 |
| Saylorville Officials Association-FOOTBALL | Bill Prange | Ankeny | [email protected] | (515) 210-4167 |
| Siouxland Officials Association | Kevin Eekhoff | LeMars | [email protected] | (712) 548-2722 |
| Siouxland SOCCER Officials Association (SSOA) | Patrick Wiltgen | South Sioux City | [email protected] | (402) 987-7719 |
| Siouxland Umpires Association | Grant Thompson | Sioux City | [email protected] | (712) 301-3905 |
| Southeast Iowa Soccer Officials Association | Daniel Lopez | Tiffin | [email protected] | 563-506-3263 |
| Southeast Iowa Officials Association | Joshua Ragar | West Point | [email protected] | (309) 371-5020 |
| Tri-State Officials Association | Al Stoltz | Dubuque | [email protected] | (563) 451-8352 |
| Twin Lakes Area Officials Association | Fred Perkins | Emmetsburg | [email protected] | (712) 490-4061 |
| Wapello County Officials Association | Bill Owens | Ottumwa | [email protected] | (641) 814-2271 |
| Waterloo Area Officials Association (WAOA) | Terrance Campbell (TC) | Cedar Falls | [email protected] | (319) 504-2940 |
| Webster City Officials Association | Chris Hansen | Webster City | [email protected] | (515) 851-1973 |
WHO CAN BECOME AN IHSAA OFFICIAL
Anyone high school aged or older may become a registered official with the IHSAA.
Officials should have a thorough understanding of the activity for which they are officiating and possess the ability to interpret and apply the game rules. Officials who register with the IHSAA should have an enjoyment for high school activities and a desire to give something back to others who are now involved in those activities.
Refer to DragonFly for registration procedures.
DISCOUNTED REGISTRATION RATES
Students
College: Full-time college students, currently enrolled, may register as officials for an annual fee of $20 for one sport and $12 for each additional sport. This fee is intended for students coming from high school and going into college, not former college students going back to school to take additional hours.
High School: High school students may register as officials for an annual fee of $20 for one sport and $12 for each additional sport.
Armed Forces
Current and former: Current and former military personnel may register as officials by waiving the basic registration fee and the sport fee for two years. This offer is extended to those current and former military personnel who are registering as an IHSAA sport official for the first time. The current registration fee is a basic fee of $50 for one sport, and an additional cost of $12 for each additional sport. These fees will be waived for military personnel registering for the first time (for their first two years).
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE BECOMING AN IHSAA OFFICIAL
Notable Policies
- Officials are considered independent contractors.
- Officials from out-of-state must obtain a valid IHSAA license to officiate within Iowa.
- All licenses expire annually after the state baseball tournament and must be renewed within one year of expiration.
- High school students are eligible to obtain a license and officiate sub-varsity and junior high contests.
- Armed Forces personnel will have licensing fees waived for their first two years of officiating.
- High school and college students receive a discounted rate for licensing fees.
Official Exams and Rules Meeting Requirements
- All officials must score 75 percent or higher on an online open-book exam in the sport(s) for which they intend to officiate. Exams may be retaken twice if necessary.
- All officials are required to view an online rules interpretation meeting pertaining to their sport(s) before the season begins.
- To become varsity eligible, new officials of football, basketball, baseball, and wrestling must attend a clinic within the first three years of registration.
- Exams and rules meetings may be found through DragonFly (ICOS).
Sports Information
