Officiating Regulations

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OFFICIATING REGULATIONS

In order to supervise and improve the officiating program for our high schools, it has been necessary to adopt certain rules and regulations which entail requirements by the schools involved, the coaches and officials.

It is requested that all parties concerned cooperate in carrying out the following regulations, as adopted by the North Carolina Athletic Officials Association and approved by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

Officiating fees for postponed games.

For games postponed after officials leave home: One-half fee for the game is to be paid each official in contests which are postponed after an official leaves for the contest. Once the game is underway and is for any reason postponed, officials shall be paid the full amount. If school neglects to advise officials and/or booking agent of postponed contest, full game fee will be paid.

Suspended baseball/softball games.

When baseball and softball contests are postponed and replayed under the suspended game rule, officials who work the continuation of the suspended contest are entitled to a full game fee when suspended game is only one being played.
Note: The NCHSAA Supervisor of Officials will be assign officials to the state championship in the following sports: football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, baseball and softball. Neutral crews are to be used when possible in these sports in postseason play.

Coaches

The head coach must attend one of the NCHSAA clinics in football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, swimming and wrestling (attendance at football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, swimming and wrestling rules sessions of the N.C. Coaching Clinic is acceptable in lieu of NCHSAA clinics in these sports). For failure to comply, see Penalty Code.
* Coaches shall not approach the officials for complaints before the game, between halves or immediately after the game.
* Coaches entering an official's dressing room for the purpose of complaints are in violation of state regulations.
* Any complaints with the officiating are to be filed first with the booking agent making the assignment.
* Coaches, participants and school officials are also prohibited from making public statements to the news media criticizing the officials. (See Penalty Code.)
* Coaches in violation of the alcohol/tobacco/other drugs policy will be ejected from the contest in state playoff competition.

Schools

Are to use only NCHSAAregistered officials working through an approved officials' association for jv and varsity football, soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, basketball and wrestling.
* Should greet the officials upon arrival.
* Have a place to park for the officials.
* Escort the officials to their dressing room.
* Work toward improving dressing facilities for officials, especially in the area of privacy.
* Pay the officials based on local fiscal policy as soon as possible after the game.
* Provide the officials with an escort off the field and court.
* Must have plan to create alcohol/tobacco/other drug free zones around athletic events.

Officials

JV and varsity football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, baseball, softball, and lacrosse officials must be registered with the NCHSAA.

* Must be 18 years of age and out of high school to officiate a varsity or JV high school game.
* Are required to be dressed and on the field a minimum of 20 minutes prior to game time in football and on the court when the teams take the floor for warm-ups in basketball.
* When an official is reported as being late for a contest and is at fault, he shall be fined by the NCHSAA.
* The referee is responsible for giving the visiting and the home coaches cards with the first and last names along with the position of each official working a varsity football game. In basketball, the officials are responsible for signing both scorebooks (home and visitor) in all men's and women's varsity contests.
* Officials should report any unusual occurrences in a contest (teams leaving bench area, etc.) to the booking agent with a copy to the NCHSAA.
* Officials using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs in and around an athletic event will be suspended.

Booking Agents

Shall develop contracts to be used between the association and the schools it serves.
* Shall supply schools with a composite list of officials, including addresses and telephone numbers (both home and business).
* Each association is required to develop a mark-off system to be used prior to the beginning of the season.
* Once the season begins, assignments are to be made by the booking agent based on the qualifications and merit of the officials.
* Mark-offs during the season are not allowed unless agreed upon by the booking agent because of extenuating circumstances in an individual situation.
* Preferential lists are not to be used.
* Each association is to have a local Board of Directors composed of officials and school people with at least one school administrator.
* For playoffs, tournaments and all-star games, only Class 1 and 2 officials shall be used.
* Shall report any unusual occurrences in a contest, as reported by officials to the NCHSAA, and also shall file appropriate ejection reports.
* Shall enforce alcohol/tobacco/other drug policy.

* Shall not officiate any NCHSAA athletic contests in the sport they are assigned to book, except under emergency conditions. Approval to work emergency games must be given in writing by the Supervisor of Officials prior to the game assigned.