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.