WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

WRITTEN BY: DON MUENZ DIRECTOR OF SOCCER OFFICIATING DEVELOPMENT NFHS STATE TRAIN-THE-TRAINER FACULTY

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW   WHAT IS OHSAA?   WHAT OHSAA DOES   ASSIGNERS: GAMES & CONTACT   LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS: GETTING ALONG   MEETINGS: STATE & LOCAL   RENEWALS & UPGRADING: DOING IT   OFFICIAL REPORTS: THE FINAL DUTY   myOHSAA AND CONTRACTS

OHIO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION   FOUNDED IN 1907   833 MEMBER HIGH SCHOOLS   832 MEMBER MIDDLE SCHOOLS   ALL 88 COUNTIES  6 DISTRICTS   TOURNAMENTS IN 25 SPORTS   PRIVATE, NONPROFIT CORP.

THE DISTRICTS

OHSAA’S MISSION   REGULATE & ADMINISTER COMPETITION   FAIRNESS   PROMOTION OF PARTICIPATION VALUES   RECOGNIZE & PROMOTE: ACADEMICS, SAFETY, GOOD CITIZENSHIP & LIFELONG VALUES

DISTRICT ATHLETIC BOARDS   ORGANIZE SECTIONAL AND DISTRICT TOURNAMENTS   PERFORM OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED BY OHSAA

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS OFFICIALS’ CODE OF ETHICS:   WE PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATION   WE MUST EXERCISE GREAT SELF- DISCIPLINE   MASTER RULES & MECHANICS   WE WORK WITH OHSAA   BE HONORABLE IN ALL DEALINGS

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS   PREPARE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY   DRESS APPROPRIATELY   BE ON TIME   BE PROFESSIONAL   WE INFLUENCE PARTICIPANT CONDUCT   ENFORCE THE RULES

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS   MAKE CONTEST SAFE   SAFE PLAYING FIELD & EQUIPMENT   BE AWARE OF POSSIBLE EMERGENCIES

OHSAA’S COVENANT 1. NONDISCRIMINATORY, PERFORMANCE- BASED ASSIGNMENTS & ADVANCEMENT 2. EFFECTIVE SECURITY AT CONTESTS 3. SUPPORT DIMINISHING LIABILITY 4. ADVANCE NOTICE OF WHAT IS EXPECTED OF OFFICIALS 5. FAIR TREATMENT DURING INVESTIGATION

CRIMINAL CONDUCT NO LICENSE WILL ISSUE:   UNREVERSED CONVICTION OF SEXUAL OFFENSE INVOLCING A MINOR   CONVICTION INVOLVING ILLEGAL DRUGS UNTIL FIVE YEARS AFTER COMPLETION OF SENTENCE, COMMUNITY CONTROL SANCTION AND POSTRELEASE CONTROL   CURRENTLY ON PAROLE OR POSTRELEASE CONTROL FOR OTHER THAN SIMPLE TRAFFIC VIOLATION   SEE HANDBOOK FOR CURRENT LICENSEES

OTHER UNETHICAL CONDUCT EXAMPLES: FAILURE TO FILE OFFICIAL REPORT UNAPPROVED UNIFORM WORN CONFLICT OF INTEREST TOBACCO USE UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT TOWARD PARTICIPANT OR SPECTATOR

ANNUAL RENEWAL   WITHOUT PENALTY: JUNE 1-30   $50 PENALTY: JULY 1-31   NO RENEWAL AFTER JULY 31   ONLINE RENEWAL SAVES $$$

ANNUAL MEETINGS   YEAR OF ADULT EDUCATION CLASS (INCLUDING BRIDGE COURSE): NO STATE OR LOCAL MEETINGS   SUBSEQUENT YEARS: ONE STATE RULES MEETING FOUR LOCAL RULES MEETINGS

ANNUAL MEETINGS   YEAR OF USSF RECIPROCITY (GRADES 1-7): FOUR LOCAL MEETINGS NO STATE MEETING   SUBSEQUENT YEARS: ONE STATE RULES MEETING FOUR LOCAL RULES MEETINGS

ANNUAL MEETINGS   YEAR OF OTHER STATE RECIPROCITY: 4 LOCAL MEETINGS, NO STATE MEETING   SUBSEQUENT YEARS: ONE STATE RULES MEETING FOUR LOCAL RULES MEETINGS

ASSIGNERS   ONLINE LIST AT myOHSAA.ORG   CONTACT EACH ONE IN YOUR AREA   INTRODUCE YOURSELF   YOUR EXPERIENCE AS OFFICIAL, COACH, PLAYER, COLLEGE, REC, USSF   WHEN YOU ARE AVAILABLE   CAN FILL IN AS EMERGENCY SUBSTITUTE?   HOW FAR CAN YOU DRIVE?   ASK HOW MATCHES ARE ASSIGNED

myOHSAA   KEEP PERSONAL INFO CURRENT   RATING & VOTING   TOURNEY ASSIGNMENTS   TOURNEY CONTRACTS   COACHES MUST RATE   SCHOOLS MUST DO THEIR PART

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myOHSAA Log-in Page Username  Password

PERSONAL PROFILE   YOUR CONTACT INFO   COACHES’ RATINGS   myOHSAA MANUAL   CALENDAR & SCHEDULE   LOCAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP   STATE & LOCAL MEETING ATTENDANCE   PASSWORD & USERNAME

myOHSAA   CONTACT: KERRI HUDSON    

  WHERE, WHEN, WHO, FEE   OFFICIAL AGREES TO: 1) BE LICENSED 2) SHOW UP AND OFFICIATE 3) PAY FOR NOT SHOWING UP UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED 4) SUFFER OTHER DISCIPLINE FOR A NO-SHOW THE CONTRACT

5) PAY DAMAGES FOR RELEASE TO DO ANOTHER MATCH &/OR DISCIPLINE 6) SCHOOL NOT REQUIRED TO PAY IF CANCELLED PRIOR TO ARRIVAL FOR WEATHER, EPIDEMIC OR OTHER EMERGENCY THE CONTRACT

7) OFFICIAL DOES NOT HAVE TO OFFICIATE IF TEAMS NOT THERE WITHIN 30 MINUTES, UNLESS NOTIFIED OF LATE ARRIVAL 8) CUTOFF DATE FOR ACCEPTANCE 9) OFFICIALS ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS 10) USE RULES ADOPTED BY OHSAA + OHSAA REGULATIONS THE CONTRACT

11) HONOR EACH CONTRACT ACCEPTED, EXCEPT FOR ILLNESS, INJURY, FAMILY EMERGENCY BEYOND CONTROL 12) EXEMPLARY CONDUCT CLAUSE 13) FAILURE TO HONOR CONTRACT WITHOUT JUST CAUSE  DISCIPLINE THE CONTRACT

OFFICIALS REQUIRED   VARSITY: MINIMUM OF TWO CLASS 1, TWO CLASS 2 OR A COMBO   RESERVE OR JV: SAME   FRESHMAN OR MIDDLE SCHOOL: TWO CLASS 1, 2 OR 3   IF ONLY 1 OFFICIAL IS PRESENT, CONTEST MAY BE PLAYED IF BOTH COACHES + THE OFFICIAL AGREE   CLUB LINES NOT PERMITTED!

REQUIRED UNIFORM   PRIMARY: GOLD WITH BLACK STRIPES   WEAR GOLD UNLESS CONFLICT WITH FIELD PLAYERS…..PERIOD!   ALTERNATES WITHOUT PRIORITY: RED OR BLACK WITH STRIPES   ALL WEAR SAME SLEEVE LENGTH

REQUIRED UNIFORM   BLACK SHORTS, SHOES & SOCKS   WEAR OHSAA PATCH ON LEFT BREAST POCKET   NO JEWELRY EXCEPT MEDICAL I.D., WEDDING BAND AND WATCH

MORE ON UNIFORM   BLACK BASEBALL CAP OPTIONAL   JERSEY MAY CONTAIN USSF LOGO   USSF BLUE AND GREEN JERSEYS ILLEGAL

LIGHTNING SAFETY RULES TO LIVE BY: LIGHTNING & INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

OHSAA   ALL STORMS ARE DANGEROUS…………   DEATH CAN LURK TEN MILES AWAY   PERMANENT DISABILITIES OR DEATH   DARK CLOUD BASES + INCREASING WIND

SEE IT? HEAR IT? CLEAR IT!   BLUE SKIES NO GUARANTY   SEE IT? OR   HEAR IT? THEN, IMMEDIATELY,   CLEAR IT!

PREMATCH: WEATHER   MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS   AWARENESS OF POTENTIAL STORMS   SCAN THE SKY   HAVE ADMINISTRATOR ASSIST   CLOSEST SAFE SHELTER POSTED

BAD NEWS……   WE SHOULD NEVER SEE …..

MORE ON LIGHTNING   HAIR STANDS ON END?   SEE IT? HEAR IT? ► CLEAR IT!   DO NOT WAIT FOR IT TO RAIN

MANAGING A SUSPENSION   SEE IT? HEAR IT? ► CLEAR IT!   EVERYONE TO SAFE SHELTER   EVERYONE: PLAYERS, COACHES, SPECTATORS, REFEREE TEAM

SAFE SHELTER PLAYERS, COACHES, REFS AND SPECTATORS  SAFE SHELTER WHAT IS SAFE SHELTER? NOT: TREES, TENTS, CONVERTIBLE CARS, NOT NEAR SOCCER GOALS, IN THE WATER

MORE ON SAFE SHELTER   DON’T STAND IN AN OPEN AREA   IF UNCERTAIN, GO TO CAR WITH HARD ROOF, NOT A CONVERTIBLE   ROLL WINDOWS ALL OF THE WAY UP   HANDS OFF OF ALL METAL

HOW LONG DO WE WAIT, REF? 30 MINUTES, MINIMUM, BUT: IF MORE THUNDER AND/OR LIGHTNING RESTART THE 30 MINUTES!

ADVISING COACHES   FIND OUT WHERE THEY WILL BE   KEEP THEM ADVISED   LET BOTH KNOW   RESTART?

WEATHER REVIEW   SEE IT OR HEAR IT  CLEAR IT!   SAFE SHELTER….EVERYONE   DON’T MESS WITH BAD WEATHER   30-MINUTE RULE OF LIFE

TOO MANY HALVES HALVES PER SEASON HALVES PER DAY 3. 3.HOW TO HANDLE FOURTH HALF 4. 4.PLAYER IS RED-CARDED 5. 5.TEAM PLAYS SHORTHANDED 6. 6.FILE OFFICIAL REPORT

EJECTED PLAYER   EJECTED STUDENT: UNDER SUPERVISION OF SCHOOL PERSONNEL:   CANNOT SEND STUDENT AWAY

EJECTED COACH   MUST BE OUT OF SIGHT AND SOUND OF PLAYING FIELD   CANNOT COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY WITH TEAM OR STAFF   CANNOT GO TO SPECTATOR AREA   PENALTY = FORFEITURE

EJECTED COACH   TEAM MUST BE SUPERVISED BY PERSON AUTHORIZED BY BOARD OF EDUCATION, OR FORFEITURE: GENERAL SPORTS REG. 10   AUTHORIZED PERSON = ASST. COACH FOR THAT TEAM, A.D., PRINCIPAL OR ASST. PRINCIPAL

OFFICIAL REPORTS   FOR EJECTIONS, EQUIPMENT, UNIFORMS, SEVERE INJURY, GOOD OR POOR SPORTSMANSHIP   INCLUDES RTP FROM CONCUSSION   ORIGINAL TO OHSAA   OHSAA WILL SEND COPY TO SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, ALONG WITH SCHOOL RESPONSE FORM   MAKE SCHOOL CONTACT NEXT SCHOOL DAY OR AT CONTEST   SEND REPORTS WITHIN 48 HOURS

OFFICIAL REPORTS   USE ONE FORM PER SCHOOL   READ REVERSE SIDE OF FORM FOR FURTHER REQUIREMENTS

LEAVING CONTEST A TEAM LEAVING BEFORE END OF CONTEST IN DISSATISFACTION WITH OFFICIATING  COACH DISCIPLINE

LEAVES TEAM AREA MEMBER OF SQUAD WHO LEAVES TEAM AREA & ENTERS SPECTATOR AREA TO ENGAGE IN ANY TYPE OF CONFLICT  INELIGIBILITY OF STUDENT FOR REMAINDER OF SCHOOL YEAR SCHOOL ON PROBATION PENDING INVESTIGATION

UPGRADING TO CLASS 1   WHY BOTHER?   TOURNAMENT ELIGIBILITY   YOU WILL KNOW MORE   YOU WILL GET BETTER ASSIGNMENTS

UPGRADING TO CLASS 1   2 YEARS’ SUCCESSIVE EXPERIENCE   SUBMIT APPLICATION THROUGH LOCAL ASSOCIATION   LOCAL ASSOCIATION RECOMMNEDS

UPGRADING TO CLASS 1   DONE IN SAME CALENDAR YEAR   PASS TWO ON-FIELD OBSERVATIONS   80% ON CLOSED-BOOK RULES   80% ON CLOSED-BOOK MECHANICS

TOURNAMENT ELIGIBILITY BOYS’ OR GIRLS’ TOURNAMENT, 2011: 1) 1)10 REGULAR SEASON VARSITY AS REFEREE OR A.R. 2) 2)PLUS 10 IN 2010 REGULAR SEASON

TOURNAMENT ELIGIBILITY 2011 BOYS’ OR GIRLS’ TOURNAMENT: 1) 1)QUALIFY FOR BOTH IF YOU OFFICIATE 8 BOYS’ AND 8 GIRLS’ REGULAR SEASON VARSITY 2) 2)PLUS 8 OF EACH IN 2010 REGULAR SEASON

TOURNAMENT ELIGIBILITY   CLASS 1 PERMIT CURRENT YEAR   CLASS 1 PREVIOUS YEAR   STATE RULES MEETING   4 LOCAL RULES MEETINGS   PHYSICALLY FIT

TOURNAMENT SELECTION   THESE VOTE: OHSAA, DISTRICT ATHLETIC BOARD, ASSIGNERS, LOCAL ASSOCIATION, ATHLETICS DIRECTORS   VOTES MULTIPLIED BY AVERAGE COACH’S RATING = POOL POINTS

TOURNAMENT SELECTION   TOTAL POOL POINTS PLACE YOU IN SECTIONAL, DISTRICT, REGIONAL OR STATE POOL   NO DIFFERENTIATION BY POINTS WITHIN EACH POOL   EACH POOL = 300% OF OFFICIALS NEEDED FOR THAT TOURNAMENT

LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS   BEST TO JOIN AT LEAST ONE   LOCAL MEETINGS COST $10   ADVISES YOU OF WHAT IS GOING ON   HELPS YOU WITH ASSIGNMENTS   HELPS YOU WITH TRAINING   BANQUETS, ETC. GETTING YOURSELF KNOWN   LOCAL SECRETARIES KEEP YOUR MEETING ATTENDANCE

UNSATISFACTORY OFFICIATING   REPORT BY ATHLETICS ADMINISTRATOR, ASSIGNER OR BOARD OR STAFF MEMBER   OHSAA CAN REQUEST OBSERVATION, ALONG WITH OTHER REPORTS   CAN INSTRUCT AND/OR DISCIPLINE

INSURANCE   CHECK ONLINE VERSION OF LATEST OFFICIALS’ HANDBOOK   LIABILITY: $1,000,000   FEE LOSS: PURCHASE SEPARATELY   ACCIDENTAL DEATH   EXCESS MEDICAL   NO DIRECTORS’ & OFFICERS’ BUT MAY BE SEPARATELY PURCHASED

OHSAA BYLAWS   BYLAWS AND SPORTS REGS CANNOT BE WAIVED, MODIFIED OR AMENDED BY MUTUAL CONSENT OR AMONG CONTESTING SCHOOLS:   THIS INCLUDES OFFICIALS!   OHSAA CHOOSES PLAYING RULES: 1-4-3

INTERSTATE PLAY PLAY IN OHIO, FOLLOW OHSAA REGULATIONS AND NFHS RULES ~ OHSAA BYLAW 9-2-5

OHSAA BYLAWS 1. 1.GIRLS AS MEMBERS OF BOYS’ TEAM: BOYS AS MEMBERS OF GIRLS’ TEAM: MIXED GENDER CONTESTS PROHIBITED: TH GRADER CANNOT PLAY BELOW 9 TH GRADE LEVEL: 2-2-3

OHSAA BYLAWS   OFFICIAL’S DECISION IS FINAL, NO MATTER HOW WRONG!   NO PROTESTS ALLOWED:   COMMISSIONER CANNOT ORDER REPLAY OR OVERTURN DECISION

WE ARE FINAL… “WE ARE NOT FINAL BECAUSE WE ARE INFALLIBLE, WE ARE INFALLIBLE, BECAUSE WE ARE FINAL.” ~CHIEF JUSTICE OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES