H-10. IHSAA Selection of Soccer Officials for Tournament Series Policy

1. To be considered for a Tournament Series assignment, the following criteria must be met.

a. Must be an IHSAA licensed soccer official.

b. Must have worked a minimum of Ten (10) varsity games in the current season.

c. Must have attended an IHSAA Certification Clinic within the last two years.

d. Must hold membership in an IHSAA approved officials association.

e. Must have received a score of Ninety percent (90%) or above on the open book NFHS Part II soccer exam.

f. Must have filed a Soccer Tournament Series Application with the IHSAA Office by the designated date.

g. Must have attended an IHSAA Soccer rules interpretation meeting.

h. Receipt of at least Ten (10) school votes on the IHSAA Officials Rating is preferred; the ratings system for Tournament Series officials is posted on the home page of the IHSAA Central Hub, on www.ArbiterSports.com.

2. Soccer Officials

a. When applying for the Tournament Series, soccer officials should apply as individuals; Coaches’ votes will be tabulated for each individual.

b. Officials must work each contest assigned. Assignments are by progression, that is, you must work a sectional to be assigned a regional, work a regional to be assigned a semi-state, etc.

3. System for Selecting and Assigning Tournament Officials for Soccer (64 Sectional Sites – Boys, and 48 Sectional Sites – Girls: Approximately 336 Officials). Unless geographically impossible, assignments shall follow the following criteria.

a. Shall be an IHSAA certified official.

b. The officials with the top ranking will be assigned.

c. A crew of Three (3) will be assigned to each site with the IHSAA determining the head referee.

d. The strength of the rating received through the annual coaches' vote.

e. The strength of the schedule worked.

f. Assignments are by progression where an official must work a sectional to be assigned a regional, must work a regional to be assigned a semi-state, etc. And under all circumstances, officials must work each contest assigned.

4. Advancement from Sectional to Regional (16 Sites - Girls and 16 Sites - Boys). Regional assignments shall follow the following criteria:

a. Shall be an IHSAA certified official.

b. An official must have worked at least Two (2) sectionals (Not required to be consecutive).

c. The officials will be assigned to a regional as determined by the sectional pre-tournament vote rankings.

d. A crew of Three (3) will be assigned with the IHSAA determining the head referee.

5. Advancement from Regional to Semi-State (8 sites – 32 Officials). Semi-state assignments shall follow the following criteria:

a. An official shall be an IHSAA certified official.

b. An official must have worked at least Two (2) regionals (not required to be consecutive).

c. The officials will be assigned to a semi-state site as determined by the sectional pre-tournament vote rankings.

d. A crew of Four (4) will be assigned to each semi-state site with the IHSAA determining the Head Referee.

e. The top Eight (8) officials will be assigned as the head referees at the Eight (8) semi-state sites.

f. The next Three (3) positions at each site are based on rankings.

6. Advancement from Semi-State to State (16 Officials). State finals assignments shall follow the following criteria:

a. An official shall be an IHSAA certified official

b. An official must have worked at least Two (2) semi-states (not required to be consecutive).

c. An official must have worked a semi-state within the past Four (4) years.

d. The top Sixteen (16) officials with the highest ranking will be assigned to the state finals in the following manner:

(1.) Top Eight (8) officials, who have previously worked the state finals, with the best sectional level ranking will be assigned to the state finals.

(2.) The next Eight (8) officials, who have not previously worked the state finals, but who have previously worked two semi-states and meet all other criteria, with the best sectional level ranking will be assigned.

(3.) After working the state finals, an official may not advance beyond the REGIONAL level for the ensuing year.

(4.) An official, who has previously worked the state finals, will not be assigned to work the state finals again for at least Three (3) years. Example: 2012 - State Finals; 2013 - Regional; 2014 - Semi-State; 2015 - State Finals. This process allows for a Three (3) year rotation.

(5.) Once an official works the state finals, the official will be assigned at the regional level the following year. There will be no limit on the number of times an official could work the state finals, but he/she could reach that level once every Three (3) years. If their ratings warrant, the official may return to the state finals by working each level of the tournament prior to returning to the state championship.

(6.) Officials’ ratings shall rank within the top One Hundred (100) to work the state finals.

7. Additional Criteria. Selection of an official by the IHSAA to officiate a Tournament Series contest is a privilege, not a right, and the IHSAA, in its sole, unfettered discretion may assign, may choose not to assign, may reassign, or may un-assign any official to any Tournament Series contest, all as it deems expedient, appropriate, and in the best interest of the Tournament Series and the IHSAA.

412439 (H10) (8.2014)