Page 72 - 2023-24 By-Laws

Rule 14 - Officials

14-8 Provisional Licensed Officials
High school students are not eligible for licensing as Association officials. This includes high
school students who have acquired a provisional license through the IHSAA. High school
students who have a provisional license may officiate any contests other than contests at the
high school level (grades 9-12).
14-9 Official’s License Annual Renewal
All licenses shall expire annually on June 30. Licenses may be renewed ONLY April 1 to
July 31 without penalty. Principals should use only those officials whose names appear in
the current year Officials Directory or who show license issued in the required sport for the
current Membership year.
14-10 Use of Assigners when securing Officials
A School may use the services of an Assigner to schedule Officials for Contests. If a paid
Assigner is used by a School, the paid Assigner must be approved by the IHSAA, the School
and the Assigner must execute an IHSAA approved Assigner’s contract and the Assigner’s
contract must be on file with the IHSAA and with the School, prior to any Contest assignment.
If a School uses a paid Assigner who is not approved by the IHSAA, the School shall pay a
fine of $500 and the Assigner will lose the Assigner’s assigning privileges and any Officials
License held by the Assigner.
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)
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