The By-Laws of the FHSAA authorize the Board of Directors to provide for the registration and regulation of contest officials, for the cancellation of such registration and for setting the registration fees. The Deputy Commissioner is designated as the administrator of the FHSAA contest officials program.
1.102
Individual officials or local officials associations which violate the policies expressed in this Officials Guidebook are subject to reprimand and/or monetary penalties and/or suspension or expulsion as an official or officials association by the FHSAA
1.200 Registration of Officials
1.210 REGISTRATION IS MANDATORY
1.211
An individual who intends to officiate as either a baseball umpire, basketball official, football official or clock operator, soccer official, softball umpire, volleyball official and/or wrestling referee in an interscholastic athletic contest involving an FHSAA member school must register with the FHSAA Office before he/she officiates.
1.212
An application for registration as an FHSAA official must be made on the printed application form provided by the FHSAA each year. Applications for the upcoming school year will be sent to each sanctioned local officials association in mid-May of the current school year. Individual officials must obtain an application form from their local officials association.
1.213
The application for registration must be RECEIVED in the FHSAA Office by the following deadlines each school year:
Fall Sports (fall soccer, football, volleyball) - July 13
Winter Sports (basketball, winter soccer, wrestling) - September 28
Spring Sports (baseball, softball, track & field) - January 4
A $10 late fee will be assessed an applicant whose application for registration is received after the appliciable deadline. The FHSAA shall not assume responsibility for any delays caused by either the U.S. Mail or applications returned to the applicant due to insufficient information.
1.220 REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION
1.221
To be registered as an official an individual must:
Be 18 years of age or older;
Submit to the FHSAA Office a valid FHSAA Application for Registration form which has been obtained from a local officials association;
Pay the appropriate non-refundable registration fee, as well as any assessed late fees and any outstanding fines and/or penalty fees for all previously registered sports;
Join and maintain membership in a local officials association which has been sanctioned by the FHSAA Office;
Certify that he/she has never been arrested for or convicted of a felony; or any crime or offense which involved dishonesty or any crime or offense which involved possession, use or distribution of any illegal substance; or any crime or offense which involved any immoral conduct, regarlesss of the punishment therefor; or has never been denied registration to officiate by the FHSAA or a high school association in any other state; and
1.222
Effective with the 1999-00 school year, high school seniors who are least 17 years of age may register as an official and be assigned to a "mentor" official for training. Information pertaining to this program will be distributed during the 1999-00 school year.
1.223
The FHSAA Office reserves the right to reject any application for registration as an FHSAA official. Local officials association officers and/or boards of directors are required to report criminal misconduct on the part of any member of their association to the FHSAA Office for investigation.
1.224
An FHSAA official renewing his/her registration must join and maintain membership in a local officials association which has been sanctioned by the FHSAA Office. The individual must indicate on his/her registration application the name of the association of which he/she is a member. An individual who is not a member of a sanctioned local officials association will have his/her application for registration returned. An individual cannot contract with or otherwise offer his/her services to a member school as an independent official.
1.225
A first-time applicant or official transferring from another state must join and maintain membership in a local officials association which has been sanctioned by the FHSAA Office. A local association must grant such an individual conditional membership until such time as the individual is registered with the FHSAA Office. The individual must indicate on his/her registration application the name of the association of which he/she is a conditional member. An individual who is not a conditional member of a sanctioned local officials association will have his/her application for registration returned.
1.226
An individual may join and maintain membership in more than one local officials association. However, for administrative purposes, the individual must designate one local officials associatoin as his/her "primary" association for each registered sport. Individuals may join additional local associations on a secondary basis as they see fit. However, the individual official is responsible for providing any associations of which he/she is a member on a secondary basis with information regarding clinic attendance, exam grades and current status with the FHSAA. The individual official is also responsible for providing his/her primary association with the number of varsity games worked as assigned by his/her secondary association(s) prior to the deadline for filing that report with the FHSAA.
1.230 TERMINATION DATE OF REGISTRATION
1.231
All registrations terminate June 30 each year regardless of the date the application for registration is made and accepted.
1.232
Applications for registration for the current year will not be accepted in the FHSAA Office after the administration date of the make-up examination in the sport for which application is being made.
1.240 OFFICIALS ARE NOT EMPLOYED BY FHSAA
Individuals registering as FHSAA officials do so as independent contractors, and not as employees of either the member schools or the FHSAA. Schools must contract with local officials associations for officials as individual contractors and not as school or FHSAA employees.
1.250 REGISTRATION FEES FOR CURRENT YEAR
1.251
Registration fees, as well as all outstanding monetary penalties, must be paid at the time the application for registration is submitted to the FHSAA Office. Registration fees for the 1998-99 school year are as follows:
First Sport - $27
Each Additional Sport - $22
The discounted $22 registration fee for each additional sport after the first sport is available only to those individuals who register for more than one sport on the same application form. The full fee of $27 per sport will be assessed an individual who registers for more than one sport on multiple applications throughout the school year.
1.252
Registered officials will receive an FHSAA Officials Guidebook; one FHSAA insignia; National Federation rules book; National Federation case book; National Federation officials manual; National Federation illustrated rules book (in basketball and football only); sample rules examination, where available; and National Federation insurance.
1.253
Registration fees are non-refundable.
1.260 FEE ASSESSED FOR RETURNED CHECKS
1.261
An individual will be assessed a $30.00 administrative fee for all checks returned by the bank due to "insufficient funds" or for any other reason.
1.300 Clinics and Examinations
1.310 ATTENDANCE AT RULES CLINICS IS MANDATORY
1.311
With the exception of Football Clock Operators, each FHSAA official must attend a minimum of one FHSAA rules clinic in the sport(s) in which he or she is registered each year.
1.312
At the end of the clinic cycle in each sport, officials who fail to attend a mandatory FHSAA rules clinic in the sport(s) for which they are registered shall be suspended, effective immediately, from officiating at any FHSAA sanctioned contest, in any sport, at any level. This suspension shall be lifted upon payment of a rules clinic non-attendance fine in the amount of $50.00 and the clearance of any other financial obligations to the FHSAA that may be outstanding.
1.320 RULES EXAMINATION IS MANDATORY
1.321
With the exception of Football Clock Operators, each FHSAA official must take the supervised, closed-book FHSAA rules examination in the sport(s) in which he or she is registered each year.
1.322
At the end of the examination cycle in each sport, officials who fail to take the mandatory FHSAA rules examination in the sport(s) for which they are registered shall be suspended, effective immediately, from officiating at any FHSAA sanctioned contest, in any sport, at any level. This suspension shall be lifted upon payment of a rules examination non-participation fine in the amount of $50.00 and the clearance of any other financial obligations to the FHSAA that may be outstanding.
1.323
The local officials association which each official designates as his/her primary local association will be notified of the official's grade by the FHSAA Office after all rules examinations have been graded. Grades will not be given out to individual officials over the phone.
1.324
An official who is found guilty of cheating on rules examinations will receive a grade of zero on the examination, placed on probation for one year and receive a minimum fine of $100.00.
1.330 MAKING UP THE RULES EXAMINATION
1.331
Officials who fail to take the rules examination on its first administration or who fail to score "75" or better on the initial attempt will be given one opportunity to retake or make up the examination on a date to be announced by the FHSAA Office. Officials who score a "75" or better on the initial exam will not be permitted to retake the exam. Officials retaking the exam because of a score lower than "75" on the initial exam will not receive a score higher than "75" on the retake regardless of the number of correct answers recorded.
1.332
Prior to requesting a seat at a make-up examination site, individual officials must be registered in the sport for which a make-up exam seat is being requested. Both the Application for Registration as a Contest Official and the request for a seat at the make-up exam site must be RECEIVED by the FHSAA Office prior to the deadline date for make-up exam requests. Make-up examination requests must be made in writing and include the official's name, Social Security number, the sport in which a make-up exam is being requested and the preferred exam site. Confirmation letters will be sent to those officials requesting a seat at a make-up exam site who meet the requirements for participation.
1.340 "75" REQUIRED ON EXAM TO OFFICIATE VARSITY CONTESTS
1.341
In order for an FHSAA official to officiate varsity level contests, the official must receive a grade of 75 or higher on the current year FHSAA rules examination in the applicable sport. Any official who does not take either the regularly scheduled FHSAA rules examination of the make-up examination will be assigned a grade of zero and will be ineligible to officiate a varsity level contest during the current school year. Local officials associations may not assign officials who are not in compliance with this provision to officiate varsity level contests.
1.342
If for any reason, the FHSAA Office is unable to grade the current year rules examination prior to the start of a sports season, the grade an official received on the previous year's rules examination will be used to determine his/her eligibility to officiate a varsity level contest until such time as the current year grades become available.
1.343
An official who fails to take the rules examination on its first administration is not eligible to officiate varsity contests in that sport until the make-up examination has been taken and a score of "75" or better has been awarded, unless a waiver in writing has been granted by the FHSAA.
1.344
Individual officials and officials associations which violate the provisions of Items 1.341, 1.342 or 1.343 will be subject to monetary penalties, possible denial of registration or sanction or both for the following school year until all monetary penalties have been paid.
1.350 FIELD CLINICS
1.351
The FHSAA each year will conduct two-day weekend field clinics for FHSAA officials on a regional basis throughout the state. These clinics provide in-depth classroom instruction in the mechanics of officiating, as well as an opportunity for on-the-field training. Attendance at these field clinics is strongly encouraged, but is not mandatory.
1.352
Ten (10) supplemental points on the promotional scale will be awarded each official who attends a Field Clinic. These points will be credited as follows: Three (3) points for attendance at the Friday evening session and seven (7) points for attendance at the Saturday session.
1.353
An FHSAA administrator will conduct the mandatory FHSAA Rules Clinic during each Field Clinic. Officials who attend this rules clinic and complete the proper rules attendance data card will receive credit for mandatory rules clinic attendance for the school year. This rules clinic will be available only to officials who register for and attend the Field Clinic. Officials who do not attend the Field Clinic will not be admitted to this mandatory rules clinic.
1.354
Field Clinic registration fees for the 1998-99 school year are as follows:
Advance registration fee - $30
On-site registration fee - $50
1.355
Prior to registering for a Field Clinic, individual officials must be registered in the sport for which a Field Clinic site is being requested. Both the Application for Registration as a Contest Official ad the Field Clinic Registration Form must be RECEIVED by the FHSAA Office 15 days prior to the date of the Field Clinic. Field Clinic Registration Forms must be properly completed in order to be processed. Officials who do not meet the 15-day deadline and who wish to attend a Field Clinic must register on site. Confirmation letters will be sent to those officials registering to attend the Field Clinic prior to the 15-day deadline who meet the registration requirements.
1.400 Membership in Other Organizations
The FHSAA does not require its registered officials to join or maintain membership in any organization other than a sanctioned local officials association. However, membership in such outside organizations is permissible provided:
The organization does not have guidelines, regulations, policies or procedures which conflict with those of the FHSAA; and
The organization does not practice discrimination.
1.500 Cancellation of Registration
An official who registers with the FHSAA and who, during the same school year, is unable to continue to work as a contest official, may cancel that registration without penalty as long as any financial obligations to the FHSAA outstanding at the time of cancellation are cleared. Officials cancelling their registration WILL NOT receive credit for experience or games officiated in the sport in which registration is being canceled. Application fees for cenceled registrations WILL NOT be refunded. Officials canceling their registrations in a given year are encouraged to register again in subsequent years as their individual situations permit. Officials are not required to register with the FHSAA in a given year if they do not intend to officiate during that year.
1.600 Rules of Conduct
The following provisions are rules of conduct by which all FHSAA officials are expected to abide. A violation of any one of these provisions may subject an offending official to a monetary penalty, suspension as an official, or both.
1.601
All FHSAA officials must conduct themselves on and off the athletic field in a manner conducive to the best interests of the FHSAA, its member schools, and the interscholastic athletic program in general. No FHSAA official may pursue a course of action which is detrimental to the welfare of the FHSAA or its member schools.
1.602
All FHSAA officials must comply with all FHSAA guidelines, regulations, policies and procedures as contained in this Officials Guidebook.
1.603
All FHSAA officials must be neatly dressed in the appropriate uniform as prescribed in this Officials Guidebook, and project a physically fit appearance, when officiating a contest involving an FHSAA member school.
1.604
All FHSAA officials must arrive on time for the contest as required by the rules of the applicable sport.
1.605
All FHSAA officials should be in good physical condition, mentally ready to work the best possible contest and be fully cognizant of the sport's rules. Officials are expected to make each call as they see it without fear or favor, regardless of the score, and to hustle at all times.
1.606
No FHSAA official may officiate a contest involving a school at which his/her child currently attends, a relative currently works, or from which the official himself/herself attended or graduated within the last seven (7) years. Additionally, no FHSAA official who is employed by a member school may officiate a contest involving a team from that school except as provided in Article 17-4-1 of the FHSAA By-Laws which states, "Coaches or other persons connected with competing schools shall not officiate in contests except with the consent of all competing schools."
1.607
No FHSAA official may cancel a contract made between his/her local officials association and a member school or violate any provisions thereof without a satisfactory reason.
1.608
No FHSAA official may arrive or appear at the contest site with the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his/her breath.
1.609
No FHSAA official may use tobacco or tobacco-like products during the contest or in the vicinity of the athletic court or field.
1.610
No FHSAA official may engage in unsportsmanlike conduct.
1.611
No FHSAA official may refuse to officiate any contest with another FHSAA official because that same other FHSAA official is or is not also a registered member of a national or international officials organization.
1.612
No FHSAA official may officiate a contest or part of a contest which is classified as an "exhibition" or "practice game" between two or more member schools. Such games are prohibited by FHSAA By-Laws. This provision, however, does not preclude an FHSAA official from officiating an intra-squad contest or scrimmage in which all participants are students at the same one school.
1.613
No FHSAA official may publicly criticize or berate a coach or other employee of a member school. Professional ethics require that officials use proper channels to report their problems rather than airing them publicly.
1.700 Athletic Injury Guidelines
The following guidelines are to be followed in the event an athlete is injured during a contest. These guidelines are for the protection of the injured athlete and the official(s).
1.701
Coaches and medical personnel must be aware that some sports rules will require officials to charge the injured athlete's team with a time out.
1.702
Coaches and medical personnel should be allowed to enter the field or court and should be given unlimited time to evaluate an injury and give emergency care. Officials should not request that coaches move an injured athlete.
1.703
The officials' only role in dealing with athletic injuries is to stop play as soon as possible so that the injured athlete can receive attention as soon as possible. Officials must not offer medical advice or take any action to manage or treat any injury.
