G-11.IHSAA Selection of Softball Officials for TournamentSeries Policy

  1. Tournament Series assignment. To be considered for a Tournament Series assignment, the following criteria must be met:
  1. Must be a licensed IHSAA certified softball umpire.
  2. Must have at least Two (2) years of experience in the sport of Softball.
  3. Must have umpired a minimum of Ten (10) varsity games in the current season; one of the School at a game must be an IHSAA member and a scrimmages or jamboree may not be counted as a varsity game.
  4. Must have received a score of Ninety percent (90%) or above on the open book NFHS Part II exam.
  5. Must have attended an IHSAA softball rules interpretation meeting.
  6. Must have attended an IHSAA Certification Clinic within the last Two (2) years.
  7. Must have filed a Softball Tournament Series Application with the IHSAA Office by the designated date.
  8. Must have received a minimum of Ten (10) School votes on the IHSAA Official’s Rating; the ratings system for Tournament Series Officials is posted on the home page of the IHSAA Central Hub, on
  1. Sectional Assignments
  1. Unless geographically impossible, Officials will be assigned in the following positions regardless of the classification of Schools.

(1.)The #1-#64 Official are assigned in the #1 position.

(2.)The #65-128 Officials are assigned in the #2 position.

(3.)The #129 - ? Officials (depending on numbers needed) (are assigned in the #3 position.

  1. An umpire must have received a minimum of Ten (10) School votes.
  2. All umpires will be ranked and assigned based on the School rating Fifty percent (50%) and professional development Fifty percent (50%).
  1. Advancement From Sectional to Regional (Total Ninety-six (96) Officials) . Regional assignments shall follow the following criteria:
  1. An umpire must have worked at least Three (3) sectionals (not required to be consecutive).
  2. An umpire must have received a minimum of Ten (10) School votes.
  3. The top Ninety-six (96) rated umpires meeting these criteria will be assigned a regional so long as approximately Fifty percent (50%) of those umpires have never umpired the state finals.
  4. Unless geographically impossible, Officials will be assigned in the following positions regardless of School classifications:

(1.)The #1-#32 Officials are assigned to the #1 position.

(2.)The #33-64 Officials are assigned to the #2 position.

(3.)The #65-96 Officials are assigned to the #3 position.

  1. Advancement From Regional to Semi-State (Total Twenty-four (24) Officials). Semi-state assignments shall follow the following criteria:
  1. An umpire must have worked at least three (3) regionals (not required to be consecutive);
  2. An umpire must have received a minimum of Ten (10) School votes;
  3. The top Twenty-four (24) rated umpires meeting this criteria will be assigned a regional so long as approximately Fifty percent (50%) of those umpires have never umpired the state finals;
  4. Unless geographically impossible, Officials will be assigned in the following positions regardless of School classifications:

(1.)The #1-#8 Officials are assigned to the #1 position.

(2.)The #9-#16 Officials are assigned to the #2 position.

(3.)The #17-#24 Officials are assigned to the #3 position.

  1. Advancement From Semi-State to State Finals (Total Twelve (12) Officials ). State assignments shall follow the following criteria:
  1. An umpire must have worked at least Three (3) semi-states (not required to be consecutive). If there are less than Four (4) Officials who have not worked the semi-state level for the past Three (3) years among the top Four (4) ranked regional level Officials, the next highest ranked regional level Official who has worked the semi-state level for Two (2) years will be assigned.
  2. An umpire must have received a minimum of Ten (10) School votes.
  3. The Four (4) highest rated Officials who have previously worked the state finals will be assigned to the state finals. The Four (4) highest Officials who have never worked the state finals will be assigned to the state finals. The next Four (4) highest rated Officials will be assigned to the state finals.
  4. Once an Official works the state finals, he/she will be assigned at no higher than the sectional level the following year. There will be no limit on the number of times an Official could work the state finals, but the Official could reach that level once every Four (4) 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.
  1. Selection of Officials. 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.

413977 (G11) (10.2017)