Thank you for your interest in high school sports! Being an official is a highly rewarding way to stay active with high schools sports and to earn some extra money doing something you love! The following information is a guide to help you register as an official.
Registration Details
Registration opens June 1, 2022 and closes on:
October 31, 2022 – Football
March 13, 2023 – Competitive Cheer, Gymnastics and Ice Hockey
May 15, 2023 – All other sports
Registration applications (football and volleyball) received after August 16, 2022 will incur a $30.00 late fee.
• All winter sport registration applications (basketball, competitive cheer, gymnastics, ice hockey, swimming & diving, & wrestling) received after November 11, 2022 will incur a $30 late fee.
• All spring sport registration applications (baseball, lacrosse, softball, soccer, track/xc) received after March 17, 2023 will incur a $30 late fee.
• Registration is for the current school year only and runs from June 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023.
Hard copy applications can be found online. These may be printed and submitted by mail (with a check or money order for the appropriate fees) to our office at:
MHSAA
1661 Ramblewood Dr.
East Lansing, MI 48823
THE MHSAA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MAIL OR DELIVERY DELAYS OR FAILURES.
Applications for registration may also be submitted online with the fees being paid by credit card or debit card.
Registration Fees (all fees are non-refundable and non-transferable so make certain you are applying for registration in the correct year)
Standard Officials Registration
$70.00 for two (2) sports (+$5.00 if applying with a hard copy form) and $16.00 per sport after that.
Student Legacy Officials Registration
38.00 (for two sports) and $16.00 per sport after that.
Preliminary Requirements
- Registration application submitted by the official and accepted by the MHSAA; and
- At least 18 years of age, graduated from high school or no longer attending a high school (see Student Legacy Program Requirements for an exception); and
- Submit to criminal history check; and
- Completion of the Principles of Officiating online course and quiz, achieving a minimum score of 70% in three (3) opportunities (for new registrants only); and
- Completion of the Officials Guidebook test with a minimum score of 70% (for new registrants only); and, if applicable,
Basketball and Football Only – Completion of the mechanics exam with a minimum score of 70% (for first time registrants or for those not registered in the sport during the previous season)
o Mechanics manuals (where applicable) can be found on the sport’s corresponding tab of the MHSAA’s Officials page.
Unless the preliminary requirements, including any mandatory exams, have been completed, officials will not be eligible to officiate in any sport. Emblems, rule books and case books will not be sent to officials until registration has been completed. Officials shall not officiate any contest(s) involving an MHSAA member school (grades 7-12) until all requirements of the registration have been completed, and no official may officiate a sport for which registration has not been approved. An official determined to have worked unregistered or in sports which registration has not been approved may be subject to denial/withdrawal of registration status in all sports, probation and/or financial penalties.
Student Legacy Program Requirements
- A currently-enrolled high school student (9th-12th grades) at least 14 years of age.
o 9th and 10th grade students may officiate contests at the middle school/junior high school level only while working with a mentor official.
o 11th and 12th grade students may officiate any sub-varsity contests while working with a mentor official.
Officiating Regular Season Contests
MHSAA Registered officials are independent contractors and determine for themselves what schools and dates they work. Most MHSAA member schools utilize the services of third-party assigners for hiring officials to work their contests. Officials may contact Registered Assigners and Local Approved Associations though the MHSAA Officials page. These are the best resources for new officials to begin receiving games. For those schools that do not use an assigner, officials may inquire about receiving contests from the school’s athletic administrator directly.
MHSAA Postseason Tournament Opportunities
At minimum, all officials desiring postseason assignment consideration must complete the current year online rules meeting (some sports may offer in-person opportunities to meet this requirement). Additional requirements specific to the sport and/or round of the tournament can be found in the Officials Guidebook. These requirements might include a minimum number of ratings (or rating score), a minimum number of games worked and the submission of a season schedule, the successful completion of a rules test and/or membership with a Local Approved Association.
Student Legacy officials are ineligible for postseason consideration, and reciprocal officials from other states are only eligible to officiate the first round of any sport’s tournament as long as they meet all other requirements.
If you have any further questions regarding the officials registration process, please call the MHSAA office at (517)332-5046 or email Laura Roberts, [email protected].