Officiating 101
Without Officials, There Aren’t High School Sports.
Learn how we can work together to ensure the second classroom for generations
According to the NFHS, the number of registered high school officials has dropped 20% (from approximately 250,000 officials to 200,000) over the past three years. Many officials exiting the profession cite lack of support and lack of standardized training and expectations as primary reasons.
In partnership with RefReps, the IHSAA and IHSAA Foundation are proud to present the Officiating 101 program to provide resources to combat this trend by growing the number of officials and prepare them for success through resources and early access to training materials.
Implementing Officiating 101 in Your School
An approved course by the Indiana Department of Education, the Officiating 101 program presents students with an opportunity to develop communication, management and leadership skills while providing an avenue for employment during high school as well as post-secondary graduation. This program is designed specifically for IHSAA member schools, providing resources and teachings to prepare our next generation of officials.
Schools who are participating in this program will receive digital officiating curriculum including:
- Video interaction with explanation of rule/concept.
- Video library arranged by sport and topic.
- Curriculum of at least four sports per year (delivery is conducted in advance of the IHSAA season)
Once students have completed the course and accompanying exam, they are eligible to receive a Provisional Officials License once registered in myIHSAA.
Make the Call
Interested schools should have their principal or athletic director reach out to Assistant Commissioner, Brian Lewis, at blewis@ihsaa.org or (317) 846-6601, for next steps.
Need Help With Funding?
Apply for Officiating 101 Grant
Principals and Athletic Directors from IHSAA member schools can reach out to IHSAA Foundation Director, Trip Lukemeyer, at tlukemeyer@ihsaa.org or (317) 846-6601, to receive an application for the Officiating 101 Grant.
Grant Details
All funding awarded to IHSAA member schools will be in the form of licenses through RefReps. Implementation and activation of licenses will be communicated once grant recipients have been selected and notified. Failure to utilize these licenses within a timely manner will result in forfeiture of the licenses.
The Grant application is now open and submissions are reviewed throughout the year.
Recruit More Officials
Donate directly to the Officiating 101 Program
Your donations will help grow the amount of funding available to member schools and increasing the resources for the next generation of officials.
2023 Grant Recipients
Boonville High School
Boonville, IN
Concord High School
Elkhart, IN
Triton High School
Bourbon, IN
Mooresville Christian Academy
Mooresville, IN
Mount Vernon High School
Mt. Vernon, IN
Tell City High School
Tell City, IN
Tri High School
Straughn, IN
Westfield High School
Westfield, IN
Across every one of our sports, we are seeing a shortage of officials and we need to start figuring out how to be part of the solution... By offering this program and trying to get younger people involved, we felt it was vitally important.
Dave Preheim
Athletic Director, Concord High School
Want to become an official?
Use the link below to register and learn about the benefits of officiating high school sports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes; interested schools should have their principal and/or athletic director reach out to Assistant Commissioner, Brian Lewis, at blewis@ihsaa.org or (317) 846-6601, for more information.
Regardless of your age, an IHSAA License is not obtainable until after high school.
The cost is $17 per student. Schools may cover the cost or charge the student. The IHSAA and IHSAA Foundation do not dictate how the fee is paid.
All provisional officials receive insurance through the NFHS, access to myIHSAA officiating resources, and ease of transition to becoming a fully licensed IHSAA Official.
Additionally, provisional officials will gain access to EventLink, a scheduling software that schools utilize to hire officials and staff events.