Officials

• Licensing for the 2020-21 school year is available. No late fees will be charged for the 2020-21 school year.
• Submit the online licensing application and pay fees. To access the online application, go under the Officials and select Online Licensing. Note: If you will be a high school student for the 2020-21 school year, you do not have to pay any licensing fees but you must license through your high school athletic director.
• Once the application is received you will receive an email from the WIAA indicating if you you need to complete the Authorization Form for a Background Check (there will be a link in the email to this form). Background checks are only required for those individuals that are new officials or those that were not licensed for past two years.
• If a background check is needed, once the WIAA receives the background check results, the application will be processed. If no background check is needed, your application will be processed immediately.
• Rules books and exam/video information will be sent about 6-8 weeks prior to the start of the season.
• Online rules exams and videos will be available on the WIAA website about 6-8 weeks prior to the start of the season.  In order to advance in classification, officials need to complete the exam by indicated date (and score the required percentage) and watch the rules video by indicated deadline date every year. In order to advance to L5 and Master officials need to have the required amount of varsity contests listed in their profile. 
• A detailed description of all classification advancement requirements can be found in the Guide for Officials - click here to access the Guide.
• An officials license is good from August 1 to July 31.  The renewal period for the next year starts May 1.  
• Once you are licensed you should contact your local high school athletic director and conference commissioner to let them know you are licensed with the WIAA and ready to be assigned contests.
• If there is an official's association in your area, it is highly recommend you join the association.
• Officials are independent contractors and not employees of the WIAA or its member schools.

Wisconsin River Officials Association Virtual Basketball Clinic
Two total required session using ZOOM (you will get the ZOOM link when you complete registration)
Jan. 10, 2021 – 6:30 pm to 9 pm
Jan. 17, 2021 – 6:30 pm to 9 pm
Registration URL - https://sites.google.com/view/wisconsin-river-officials-asso/2021-bb-3-person-clinic-newer-officials?authuser=0
Questions contact Brian Kenney - briankenney98@gmail.com    608-448-9034

2021 Football Clinic (Virtual)
4 total required sessions using ZOOM (you will get the ZOOM link when you complete registration)
March 24– 7 pm to 8:15 pm
April 7 – 7 pm to 8:15 pm
April 14 – 7 pm to 8:15 pm
April 28– 7 pm to 8:15 pm
Registration URL - https://tinyurl.com/springclinic2021
Questions contact Brian Kenney - briankenney98@gmail.com    608-448-9034

Volleyball Clinic
Date:  August 21, 2021 -- 7:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
Site:  Sparta High School
Contact:  Francis Schelfhout fmisch@gmail.com

NOTE:  L0, L1, L2 and L3 officials will be allowed to advance two levels in classification per sport, per year, when credited for attending a WIAA approved officiating clinic or by completing a NFHS officials training video for the sport(s) official is licensed in. Official must meet all the criteria for the new level (maximum one clinic or video per sport/year). Note: Clinic attendance or training video viewing does not eliminate the WIAA rules video requirement. L4, L5 and Master officials attending a WIAA approved clinic, conducting a WIAA approved clinic or viewing a NFHS training video will be given credit for one varsity contest on their schedule of varsity games. ALL criteria for advanced classification must be met.  See Pages 3-4 of the Guide for Officials (found on the Officials Center) for details regarding classification advancement requirement.

 

NFHS - Officials' Considerations for Returning to Officiate
As state associations are formulating plans for restarting sports this fall, there have been requests for sport-specific rules and officials considerations that might help to reduce the potential spread of the virus. The NFHS Officials Advisory Committee has worked to develop the Officials Considerations for states to utilize as they formulate their own plans.  These suggestions have been approved by the NFHS SMAC. Since the Guidance for Opening Up High School Athletics and Activities document addresses general principles related to practices, locker rooms and equipment, these sport-specific suggestions focus on potential rules considerations during actual competition. The NFHS understands that additional considerations to the playing and administrative rules may be applied by state associations during the 2020-21 school year to minimize risk.  To access these Guidelines click here.

Entering Schedule
A few reminders for officials when entering varsity schedules into your profile information:
1.  Only enter varsity schedules (non-varsity events cannot be entered).
2.  Scheduled events should be entered before the contest takes place so that coaches are able to rank you on a timely basis. Games cannot be entered once the season is over. 
3.  In a multi-school event, do not guess what teams are participating based on prior participants.  If you do not know all the teams at the time you receive your contract, you can still enter the event but please go back in and add the participating teams within 12 hours after the event.

W-9 Forms Required by Officials
Officials are required to have on file a W9 form with all schools they are contracted to officiate at.  It’s the law.  When asked to complete this form please comply with the request of the school business office.  If you do not comply, payment may be withheld or delayed.  In discussions WIAA Executive Director Dave Anderson has had with Mr. Woody Wiedenhoeft, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials, Mr. Wiedenhoeft stated “the official is breaking the law” by not submitting a W9 upon request.