Page 70 - 2022-23 By-Laws

Rule 14 - Officials

Q & A
Officials - Generally
Q. 14-1 Who can be an IHSAA licensed Official?
A. Any individual who is not a high School student and who has not had his/her IHSAA
Official’s license revoked may seek an IHSAA Official’s license after completing the
Official’s application, after successfully passing the Official’s test, and after paying
a licensure fee. (rule 14-2)
Q. 14-2 Must an Official renew the Official’s IHSAA license each year?
A. Yes. All IHSAA Officials must renew their Official’s license each year by completing
the annual registration and paying the licensure fee. (rule 14-9)
Q. 14-3 What is the difference between a Registered Official, a Certified Official and a
Professional Official?
A. A Registered Official is an Official who has been licensed by the IHSAA for less
than Two (2) years, or who has been licensed for Two (2) or more years, but who
has not received a Certified rating or did not score Ninety (90) or above on an
exam. A Certified Official is an Official in an IHSAA Recognized Sport who has
completed an IHSAA sponsored certification clinic, who has completed an IHSAA
sponsored rules interpretation meeting in the IHSAA Recognized Sport and who has
scores Ninety (90) or above on written test(s). A Professional Official is a Certified
Official in an IHSAA Recognized Sport who has been assigned to work in Three
(3) or more Tournament Series in that IHSAA Recognized Sport, who has been an
active, participating member in an IHSAA recognized Officials association, who
is recommended for this classification in that IHSAA Recognized Sport by his/her
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 Officials’ 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 Official Contract for Athletic Contests between the host School
and the Official, and therefore, prior to the Contest being played, the host School
must secure a signed IHSAA Contract For Contest Official. (rule 11-2)
Q. 14-7 Does the IHSAA regulate the pay of Officials for the Tournament Series in a sport?
A. Yes. The fee for Officials in all IHSAA Tournament Series is set by the Executive
Committee. However in Season Contests, the fee for Officials is set by the host
School.
Contest Officials
Q. 14-8 Must member Schools use IHSAA contracts when hiring officials?

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