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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 31, 2002
Contact: John Johnson or Randy Allen
517.332.5046 or www.mhsaa.com
Following Record-Setting Year, Officials
Registration For 2002-03 Begins
EAST LANSING, Mich. - May 30 -- Individuals interested
in becoming a high school athletic game official for the 2002-03
school year may now register with the Michigan High School Athletic
Association.
From now until July 1, Michigan's 11,000-plus game officials
in 14 sports are urged to submit their applications. The July
date is an important one, as it is the deadline for officials
who wish to be listed in the MHSAA's annual printed Officials
Directory.
"We always encourage officials to register before July 1,
so they can be listed in the MHSAA Official's Directory,"
said Bill Bupp, MHSAA supervisor of officials. "That is
very beneficial for officials looking for work and schools looking
for officials. Officials listed in the directory are also more
visible candidates for approved association membership. Approved
association benefits are numerous, so we encourage officials
to either seek membership or be asked to join a local group well
before the new school year begins."
While early registration is heavily encouraged, Bupp added that
new officials are free to register with the MHSAA any time during
the year. MHSAA registration fees are among the lowest in the
nation. A $10 fee is charged for each sport an official wishes
to work, and the processing fee is $18. Officials registered
in 2001-02 will be assessed a late fee of $20 for registration
after July 1. The processing fee includes liability insurance
coverage of up to $1 million for officials while working contests
involving MHSAA schools.
Registration for the upcoming school year begins as the Association
finishes compiling its statistics for the 2001-02 campaign, which
saw a marked increase in registrations.
As of April 15, a total of 11,746 registrations had taken place,
the highest number ever (the previous record was 11,454 in 1980-81);
and an increase of 469 registrations over the previous year,
the highest one-year jump in history. The sports showing the
largest increases were basketball, up by 234 to 5,058; football,
up by 126 to 2,704; girls volleyball, up by 117 to 2,198; baseball,
up by 100 to 2,698; and soccer, up by 93 to 1,214. The only
sport in which a decrease occurred was girls gymnastics, down
six from 2000-01 to 103 registrants.
"We're excited about the increase in registered officials,
and feel that it is the cumulative effort of many different parties
to promote the need for more individuals to become involved in
officiating," Bupp
said. "We plan to do some analysis of the numbers so that
we can find out what contributed to this increase, because it's
a trend that needs to continue."
The MHSAA will continue to emphasize its efforts that allow
high school students to become officials. Last year, the Legacy
program was changed to allow 11th graders, 16 years of age and
older, to officiate sub-varsity and junior high/middle school
games with an approved official. Previously, the Legacy program
was available only to 12th graders.
A second change will allow 12th graders, 17 years of age and
older, to officiate sub-varsity and junior high/middle school
contests without a mentoring official. The changes made in response
to the concern that not enough high school students are being
recruited into the officiating field through the Legacy Program,
and that those who enter at that age tend to leave officiating
shortly after graduating. The 2002-03 school year will be the
11th for the Legacy program. Last year, 46 high school juniors
took part.
Student officials will benefit from a waiver of the standard
$18 processing fee. Registration of $10 per sport will be the
only requirement.
"We hope that more young people will look into officiating
as a way to stay active in sports beyond the high school playing
days, and that more officials and school administrators will
take it upon themselves to recruit a young person they know to
become involved," Bupp said. "The other important
thing we have to remember is that once we've recruited these
people into the officiating ranks, everything that can be done
must be done to retain them, and that includes coaches and spectators
treating these young officials - in fact, all officials - with
respect."
There is an officials' registration test, which is for first-time
officials and officials not registered in the past year. The
test consists of 75 questions derived from the MHSAA Officials
Guidebook, which may be used during the open book test.
"The guidebook is a good reference that can answer many
questions about the way the MHSAA operates," Bupp said.
"We implemented this test as a way of insuring familiarity
with the guidebook and to assure that new registrants are aware
of the policies, practices and protocols expected of MHSAA officials."
More information about officials registration may be obtained
by contacting the MHSAA at 1661 Ramblewood Drive, East Lansing,
MI 48823. Telephone: 517/332-5046. E-Mail: [email protected]
The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary
membership by over 1,300 public and private senior high schools
and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common
rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government
funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such
association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament
entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these
rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which
attract approximately 1.6 million spectators each year.
Farm Bureau Insurance is a year-round
MHSAA Corporate Partner
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