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Michigan High School Athletic Association seeking officials

EAST LANSING — The Michigan High School Athletic Association is looking for more than a few good men and women. And even a number of teens, too, for a special program.

The MHSAA is accepting registration online and by mail for game officials for the coming school year.

The governing body for high school and middle school sports in the state annually receives registrations from more than 9,000 officials. In the 2019-20 school year, they had 9,256, with the most in basketball with 3,960, followed by football with more than 2,000.

For both new and returning officials, registering online nets a $5 discount on processing fees. The fee is $16 per sport, with the online processing fee of $40, and by mail or walk-up in East Lansing of $45.

In addition, there is a late fee of $30 for 2019-20 officials who register after Aug. 14 for the 2020-21 season.

These fees include liability insurance coverage of up to $1 million for officials while working contests involving MHSAA schools.

To register online, visit the MHSAA website at www.mhsaa.com and click on “Officials” on the home page. This site includes forms that can be printed and mailed if that option is chosen. For more information, contact the MHSAA at 517-332-5046 or email register@mhsaa.com.

For new officials or those not registered in 2019-20, there is an officials’ registration test required, which is derived from the MHSAA Officials Guidebook, also available at the MHSAA website.

Additional exams must be taken by those registering for football or basketball for the first time or those not registered in that particular sport during the previous school year. Manuals for each of those sports are available on the Officials page.

New officials and those who didn’t officiate during 2019-20 also must complete the online MHSAA Principles of Officiating course, also available on the MHSAA website.

For students ages 14 and older and in grades 9-12, there are opportunities to officiate through the MHSAA Legacy Program. Juniors and seniors may officiate sub-varsity contests, while freshmen and sophomores can officiate contests at the middle school or junior high levels. Mentor officials will work events with Legacy participants to provide guidance and support.

More information on the Legacy Program is available at “Register Now” on the Officials page of the MHSAA website.

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by more than 1,500 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

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