1. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME AN MPSSAA OFFICIAL?
Officials for MPSSAA-sponsored athletic contests, both regular and postseason, are to be certified and registered with the MPSSAA office. The MPSSAA coordinator of officials will facilitate this process with all local officials' boards. Registration and certification requirements are as follows:
A. Be at least 18 years of age and a high school graduate.
B. Be a member in good standing with a local MPSSAA recognized official's association.
C. Attend an MPSSAA sponsored rules interpretation clinic for the current year.
D. Pass the National Federation written rules examination (75% is passing).
E. Pay the MPSSAA registration fee (through the local official's association)
2. HOW DO I CONTACT THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION?
A listing of the local official's associations, by sport, is available. Contact Bill Burroughs, MPSSAA Coordinator of Officials, at 410-767-0375 or email Bill Burroughs for the name and telephone number of the association(s) in your area.
3. WHERE/WHEN ARE THE RULES INTERPRETATION CLINICS?
Attendance at an MPSSAA rules interpretation clinic is an annual certification requirement. An assigned interpreter will conduct the clinics for local associations in each sport prior to the start of each season. The dates, time, and location of all clinics is disseminated to all currently registered officials and published in the MPSSAA newsletter, SCOUT. For additional questions and/or to verify dates/times/location, contact the Coordinator of Officials (410-767-0375) or the MPSSAA OFFICE (410-767-0555).
4. WHAT IS THE REGISTRATION FEE?
The MPSSAA official's registration fee is $27 per sport with the exception of swimming and track and field whose registration fee is $20.
As part of membership, each official will receive a National Federation of State High School Associations rule book in the sport, the State rules interpretation clinic, National Federation rules examination, and membership in the National Federation Officials Association. (Members of NFOA are provided with a one million dollar liability insurance policy and a subscription to OFFICIALS QUARTERLY.)
5. WHERE CAN I GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?
For additional information about becoming an official and or the schedule or rules interpretation clinics, call or e-mail Bill Burroughs, MPSSAA Coordinator of Officials at (W) 410-767-0375 or (H) 301-884-3371.
