Resources for Officials

Upcoming Clinics for Officials (posted April 15, 2024)

Click here for a list of up-coming clinics by sport in Illinois.  Individuals with questions can contact either the IHSA Office or the contact information for the individuaal(s) listed as clinician(s) for the event.

Join Our Team!

The IHSA is looking for individuals of all ages who want to return something to their communities, their local high school, and any sport they enjoy by becoming a licensed athletic official.  Candidates can be as young as 15 years old, in good physical condition, and able to make decisions on their feet and stick to them.

In accordance with plans approved by the IHSA Board of Directors, 15- and 16-year olds can register as provisionally licensed officials, while those 17 and older can register as fully licensed officials.  Those officials with provisional licenses are considered “officials in training” and can work local youth league, junior high level, and 9^th grade level contests.  To work 9^th grade contests, however, the provisionally licensed official must work the contest with a fully-licensed IHSA Official.  Those officials who are 17 and older and fully licensed to officiate may work contests at any level, including IHSA post-season events.

The IHSA currently licenses officials in 16 different sports:  baseball, basketball, competitive cheer, competitive dance, football, boys’ gymnastics, girls’ gymnastics, boys’ lacrosse, girls’ lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.

To become an IHSA official, an individual will need to submit an online application, and, after receiving a rule book from the IHSA, take an online, open-book rules examination.  In an individual’s first season of being licensed, the individual will also need to watch an online rule presentation that will introduce you to the latest rule changes and interpretations and attend a clinic that will teach you the fundamentals of good officiating.

Calendar

• 2024-25 IHSA Officials Calendar (PDF)

Lists

• Clinics for Officials
• Registered Clinicians
• Officials Associations

Forms & Documents

• Officials Code of Ethics
• Sports Official Handbook, 2024-25
• Schools' Responsibilities Toward Hosting Officials (PDF)
• Certified Clinic Application Form (PDF)

Links

• Delegate Meeting Presentation - 2024 Officials Conference
• New Officials Presentation
• NFHS Officials Education Center
• National Association of Sports Officials (NASO)

Officials Conference

• 2024 Officials Conference Agenda
• 2024 Officials Conference Program

ArbiterPay

• ArbiterPay Sign-up Instructions for Officials