Getting Started – New Football Officials – Athletic Officials Service

Yes — we need you!

Without officials, games are only practice. As veteran officials retire, new officials have an opportunity to make a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of young people every year. There are some upfront costs for registration and uniforms, but you recover those quickly once you start working games. And you’re never alone — there are plenty of resources and people ready to help.

Getting started — step by step

First priority

Register with the IHSA

All officials working Middle School and High School games must be licensed by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Registration opens May 1st each year.

Visit the IHSA website and select “Officials” from the top menu. There’s also a helpful short video walkthrough of the registration process.

Required

Complete IHSA requirements

After registering, you’ll need to complete a few mandatory items before the season starts:

Concussion protocol and exam

Hate speech awareness video

Rules video (sent closer to season)

Rules exam

The IHSA will mail you a rule book and a case book. Don’t be overwhelmed — help is available for all of this.

Required

Get your uniform and equipment

The IHSA has specific uniform requirements for football officials. Here’s what you need:

Shirt — Black & white vertically striped knit shirt (long or short sleeve) with 1″ stripes, black knit cuffs, and Byron collar

Pants — White stripe down the leg; entire crew must wear matching pants. (Shorts with white stripe down the leg can also be worn for underlevel games if approved by the league assigner)

Socks — All black, crew type sock; no other color showing

Shoes — Black with black shoelaces (shined before each game)

Cap — Black baseball cap with white piping; the Referee wears a white cap

Belt — Black leather, 1¼” to 2″ wide

Jacket — Black (not worn during the game)

Flag & equipment — Yellow penalty flag, bean bag, down indicator, whistle, game card, and pencil

Crew uniformity: All officials in a game must wear the same shirt type and matching pants. Uniforms must be clean, neat, and properly fitted. No watches or jewelry may be worn.

Important: Look for the “Shop by Association → IHSA” section on these sites to ensure your uniform includes the required IHSA patches, which must be properly worn. Some sites offer starter packs — a great option for new officials.

Must do

Attend a football clinic

The best way to learn is by doing. Assigners — the people who put you on games — host clinics throughout the summer and fall. These cover rules, mechanics, positioning, and crew communication, and typically include live scrimmages where new officials get on the field.

Attending a clinic is a must. Use the Assigners menu at the top of this site to find and contact assigners directly.

Recommended

Take a new officials class

Two organizations offer excellent classes for new officials:

IACO (iaco-official.org) — Free classes starting late September. Check the site for the “New Officials Football Class” section and materials. You may receive an email invite after IHSA registration, but check the site directly to make sure you get signed up.

MIBT (mibt.org) — Also offers classes for new officials; membership is required to attend.

Helpful

Join an officials association

We would love to have you join AOS. We meet prior to the season at Hoffman Estates High School on Monday Nights. The information on how to join is on the front page of this website. Local associations meet regularly and include veteran officials, newer officials, and assigners. Being a member can significantly accelerate your career — assigners are key to getting you on the field. If AOS is not in your area, the IHSA maintains a full list of recognized associations in Illinois:

ihsa.org/officials/officials-association →

Extra resource

Explore the NFHS

The National Federation of State High School Associations is a valuable optional resource. Membership includes online rule books and other learning materials. You are not required to join, but many officials find it worthwhile.

nfhs.org/sports/football →