Page 68 - 2021-22 By-Laws

Rule 14 - Officials
Officials association and who has occupied Two (2) of the following positions in his/
her Officials association: an officer, a rules interpreter, a clinician, has conducted
an association meetings in that IHSAA Recognized Sport, a sports chairperson, a
mentor for a younger official, an attender at meetings in that IHSAA Recognized
Sport.
The certification process is administered on Two (2) year cycles by the IHSAA.
Q. 14-4 Can a member School participate in an Ohio based Contest against an Ohio School
without having IHSAA licensed Officials officiating? What about an Ohio based
Contest between Two (2) IHSAA member Schools?
A. Yes, it is the policy of the IHSAA to permit member Schools to participate in out-of-
state Contests against out-of-state Schools with Officials who are not licensed by
the IHSAA, provided the Officials who do officiate are licensed by the local state
athletic association. If the out-of-state Contest is between Two (2) IHSAA member
Schools, the Contest can be officiated by the Officials who are licensed by the local
state athletic association. (rule 14-1)
Q. 14-5 Is an Official who is just licensed in another state qualified to officiate a Contest, in
an IHSAA Recognized Sport, which involves an IHSAA member School?
A. No, anyone who officiates an Indiana Contest involving an IHSAA member School
must have a current IHSAA Official’s license. (rule 14-1)
Officials’ Contracts and Fees

Q. 14-6 What procedure should be followed when an approved IHSAA Offi cials’ Assignor
is used to assign umpires to a baseball Contest or softball Contest and no contract
has been signed?
A. Regardless of how an umpire is assigned to a Contest, there must be an IHSAA

Contract For Contest Offi cial Contract for Athletic Contests between the host School

and the Offi cial, and therefore, prior to the Contest being played, the host School

must secure a signed IHSAA Contract For Contest Offi cial. (rule 11-2)

Q. 14-7 Does the IHSAA regulate the pay of Offi cials for the Tournament Series in a sport?

A. Yes. The fee for Offi cials in all IHSAA Tournament Series is set by the Executive
Committee. However in Season Contests, the fee for Offi cials is set by the host

School.

Contest Officials
Q. 14-8 Must member Schools use IHSAA contracts when hiring offi cials?

A. Yes, member Schools must use the IHSAA Contract For Contest Offi cial form when

hiring Offi cials. (rule 11-2)
Q. 14-9 How many licensed Offi cials are recommended to be hired for Varsity Season

Contests?
A. The number of Offi cials for a Season Contest may be addressed by the playing

rules of the sport (which controls); however the IHSAA would recommend that the

number of offi cials for Varsity Contests is:
Cross Country – 1 Basketball – 3 Baseball – 2
Volleyball – 2 Swimming – 1 Wrestling – 1
Soccer – 3 Gymnastics – 2 Softball – 2
Football – 5 Track and Field – 1
Regardless of the level of competition, IHSAA licensed Officials must be used for
all Season Contests conducted in Indiana, whether it is a Varsity Contest, a junior
varsity Contest or a freshman Contest.
Q. 14-10 May a student member of a School team officiate a Non-School contest, i.e., an
independent or club game?
A. Yes. While a high school student may not become a licensed IHSAA Official (rule
14-8), and therefore cannot officiate a Contest involving a member School in an
IHSAA Recognized Sport, the IHSAA rules do not prohibit a high school student
from officiating Non-School contests.
Q. 14-11 If it is recommended that a Season Contest have more than One (1) Official (e.g.,
baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, soccer, softball or volleyball), and only
One (1) IHSAA licensed Official shows up, what procedure should the Schools
follow?
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