{"id":2515,"date":"2026-08-11T11:33:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T16:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aosweb.org\/?page_id=2515"},"modified":"2026-08-11T11:36:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T16:36:07","slug":"getting-started-new-tackle-football-officials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aosweb.org\/index.php\/football\/tackle\/getting-started-new-tackle-football-officials\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Started &#8211; New Tackle Football Officials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- ============================================================\n     CHSBA New Football Officials Guide \u2014 WordPress Page Content\n     Site colors: Dark Blue #142d53 | Light Blue #9cc3e6\n                  Button Blue #3180c2 | Light Gray #f0f0f0\n     Paste into a \"Custom HTML\" block in the WordPress block editor.\n     ============================================================ -->\n\n<style>\n.nof-wrap * { box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0; padding: 0; }\n.nof-wrap { font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, \"Segoe UI\", Roboto, sans-serif; max-width: 820px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 1.5rem 0.5rem 2rem; }\n\n\/* Hero \u2014 dark blue banner *\/\n.nof-hero { background: #142d53; border-radius: 12px; padding: 1.75rem 2rem; margin-bottom: 2rem; }\n.nof-hero h2 { font-size: 24px; font-weight: 600; color: #ffffff; margin-bottom: 0.5rem; }\n.nof-hero p { font-size: 15px; color: #c8ddf0; line-height: 1.75; }\n\n.nof-section-label { font-size: 11px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 0.08em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #3180c2; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; }\n\n\/* Step number circles \u2014 button blue *\/\n.nof-step { display: flex; gap: 1rem; margin-bottom: 0; }\n.nof-step-num { flex-shrink: 0; width: 32px; height: 32px; border-radius: 50%; background: #3180c2; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; color: #fff; margin-top: 3px; }\n\n\/* Step cards *\/\n.nof-step-body { flex: 1; background: #ffffff; border: 1px solid #d8e4f0; border-radius: 12px; padding: 1rem 1.25rem; }\n.nof-step-body h3 { font-size: 15px; font-weight: 600; color: #142d53; margin-bottom: 0.4rem; }\n.nof-step-body p { font-size: 14px; color: #444; line-height: 1.75; margin-bottom: 0.75rem; }\n.nof-step-body p:last-child { margin-bottom: 0; }\n.nof-step-body a { color: #3180c2; text-decoration: none; }\n.nof-step-body a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }\n\n\/* Tags *\/\n.nof-tag { display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 600; padding: 2px 9px; border-radius: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.6rem; }\n.nof-tag-required { background: #142d53; color: #ffffff; }\n.nof-tag-mustdo   { background: #3180c2; color: #ffffff; }\n.nof-tag-tip      { background: #9cc3e6; color: #142d53; }\n\n.nof-connector { width: 2px; background: #9cc3e6; height: 14px; margin-left: 15px; }\n\n\/* Lists *\/\n.nof-list { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 6px 12px; margin: 0.6rem 0 0.75rem; }\n.nof-list-item { font-size: 13px; color: #444; display: flex; align-items: flex-start; gap: 7px; line-height: 1.5; }\n.nof-dot { width: 6px; height: 6px; border-radius: 50%; background: #3180c2; flex-shrink: 0; margin-top: 5px; }\n\n\/* Alert boxes *\/\n.nof-alert { background: #f0f0f0; border-radius: 8px; padding: 0.65rem 0.9rem; font-size: 13px; color: #142d53; margin-top: 0.75rem; line-height: 1.6; border-left: 3px solid #142d53; }\n.nof-alert-note { background: #edf4fb; border-radius: 8px; padding: 0.65rem 0.9rem; font-size: 13px; color: #1a3a5c; margin-top: 0.6rem; line-height: 1.6; border-left: 3px solid #9cc3e6; }\n\n\/* Vendor cards *\/\n.nof-vendors { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(140px, 1fr)); gap: 8px; margin-top: 0.75rem; }\n.nof-vendor { background: #f0f0f0; border: 1px solid #d0dce8; border-radius: 8px; padding: 0.6rem 0.75rem; text-align: center; }\n.nof-vendor a { font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; color: #3180c2; text-decoration: none; }\n.nof-vendor a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }\n\n\/* Footer *\/\n.nof-footer { margin-top: 2rem; padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem; background: #142d53; border-radius: 12px; text-align: center; }\n.nof-footer p { font-size: 14px; color: #c8ddf0; line-height: 1.7; }\n\n@media (max-width: 540px) {\n  .nof-list { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }\n  .nof-hero { padding: 1.25rem; }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"nof-wrap\">\n\n  <!-- Hero -->\n  <div class=\"nof-hero\">\n    <h2>Yes \u2014 we need you!<\/h2>\n    <p>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&#8217;re never alone \u2014 there are plenty of resources and people ready to help.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <p class=\"nof-section-label\">Getting started \u2014 step by step<\/p>\n\n  <!-- Step 1 -->\n  <div class=\"nof-step\">\n    <div class=\"nof-step-num\">1<\/div>\n    <div class=\"nof-step-body\">\n      <span class=\"nof-tag nof-tag-required\">First priority<\/span>\n      <h3>Register with the IHSA<\/h3>\n      <p>All officials working Middle School and High School games must be licensed by the <strong>Illinois High School Association (IHSA)<\/strong>. Registration opens <strong>May 1st<\/strong> each year.<\/p>\n      <p>Visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ihsa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IHSA website<\/a> and select &#8220;Officials&#8221; from the top menu. There&#8217;s also a helpful <a href=\"https:\/\/web.enable.us\/content-link\/47059b89-d696-4e1c-8abd-32b9322321b6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">short video walkthrough<\/a> of the registration process.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"nof-connector\"><\/div>\n\n  <!-- Step 2 -->\n  <div class=\"nof-step\">\n    <div class=\"nof-step-num\">2<\/div>\n    <div class=\"nof-step-body\">\n      <span class=\"nof-tag nof-tag-required\">Required<\/span>\n      <h3>Complete IHSA requirements<\/h3>\n      <p>After registering, you&#8217;ll need to complete a few mandatory items before the season starts:<\/p>\n      <div class=\"nof-list\">\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span>Concussion protocol and exam<\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span>Hate speech awareness video<\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span>Rules video (sent closer to season)<\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span>Rules exam<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <p>The IHSA will mail you a rule book and a case book. Don&#8217;t be overwhelmed \u2014 help is available for all of this.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"nof-connector\"><\/div>\n\n  <!-- Step 3 -->\n  <div class=\"nof-step\">\n    <div class=\"nof-step-num\">3<\/div>\n    <div class=\"nof-step-body\">\n      <span class=\"nof-tag nof-tag-required\">Required<\/span>\n      <h3>Get your uniform and equipment<\/h3>\n      <p>The IHSA has specific uniform requirements for football officials. Here&#8217;s what you need:<\/p>\n      <div class=\"nof-list\">\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span><span><strong>Shirt<\/strong> \u2014 Black &amp; white vertically striped knit shirt (long or short sleeve) with 1&#8243; stripes, black knit cuffs, and Byron collar<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span><span><strong>Pants<\/strong> \u2014 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)<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span><span><strong>Socks<\/strong> \u2014 All black, crew type sock; no other color showing<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span><span><strong>Shoes<\/strong> \u2014 Black with black shoelaces (shined before each game)<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span><span><strong>Cap<\/strong> \u2014 Black baseball cap with white piping; the <em>Referee<\/em> wears a white cap<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span><span><strong>Belt<\/strong> \u2014 Black leather, 1\u00bc&#8221; to 2&#8243; wide<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span><span><strong>Jacket<\/strong> \u2014 Black (not worn during the game)<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span><span><strong>Flag &amp; equipment<\/strong> \u2014 Yellow penalty flag, bean bag, down indicator, whistle, game card, and pencil<\/span><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"nof-alert-note\"><strong>Crew uniformity:<\/strong> 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.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"nof-alert\"><strong>Important:<\/strong> Look for the &#8220;Shop by Association \u2192 IHSA&#8221; section on these sites to ensure your uniform includes the required IHSA patches, which must be properly worn. Some sites offer starter packs \u2014 a great option for new officials.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"nof-vendors\">\n        <div class=\"nof-vendor\"><a href=\"https:\/\/purchaseofficials.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Purchase Officials<\/a><\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-vendor\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gerrydavis.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gerry Davis Sports<\/a><\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-vendor\"><a href=\"https:\/\/honigs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Honig&#8217;s<\/a><\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-vendor\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ump-attire.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ump-Attire<\/a><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"nof-connector\"><\/div>\n\n  <!-- Step 4 -->\n  <div class=\"nof-step\">\n    <div class=\"nof-step-num\">4<\/div>\n    <div class=\"nof-step-body\">\n      <span class=\"nof-tag nof-tag-mustdo\">Must do<\/span>\n      <h3>Attend a football clinic<\/h3>\n      <p>The best way to learn is by doing. Assigners \u2014 the people who put you on games \u2014 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.<\/p>\n      <p>Attending a clinic is a <strong>must<\/strong>. Use the Assigners menu at the top of this site to find and contact assigners directly.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"nof-connector\"><\/div>\n\n  <!-- Step 5 -->\n  <div class=\"nof-step\">\n    <div class=\"nof-step-num\">5<\/div>\n    <div class=\"nof-step-body\">\n      <span class=\"nof-tag nof-tag-tip\">Recommended<\/span>\n      <h3>Take a new officials class<\/h3>\n      <p>Two organizations offer excellent classes for new officials:<\/p>\n      <div style=\"margin-top:0.5rem; display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:8px;\">\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iaco-official.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IACO (iaco-official.org)<\/a> \u2014 Free classes starting early July. Check their website for the &#8220;New Officials Football Class&#8221; section and materials. You may receive an email invite after IHSA registration, but check the site directly to make sure you get signed up.<\/span><\/div>\n        <div class=\"nof-list-item\"><span class=\"nof-dot\"><\/span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/mibt.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MIBT (mibt.org)<\/a> \u2014 Also offers classes for new officials; membership is required to attend.<\/span><\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"nof-connector\"><\/div>\n\n  <!-- Step 6 -->\n  <div class=\"nof-step\">\n    <div class=\"nof-step-num\">6<\/div>\n    <div class=\"nof-step-body\">\n      <span class=\"nof-tag nof-tag-tip\">Helpful<\/span>\n      <h3>Join an officials association<\/h3>\n      <p>Local associations meet regularly and include veteran officials, newer officials, and assigners. Being a member can significantly accelerate your career \u2014 assigners are key to getting you on the field. The IHSA maintains a full list of recognized associations in Illinois:<\/p>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ihsa.org\/officials\/officials-association\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ihsa.org\/officials\/officials-association \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"nof-connector\"><\/div>\n\n  <!-- Step 7 -->\n  <div class=\"nof-step\">\n    <div class=\"nof-step-num\">7<\/div>\n    <div class=\"nof-step-body\">\n      <span class=\"nof-tag nof-tag-tip\">Extra resource<\/span>\n      <h3>Explore the NFHS<\/h3>\n      <p>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.<\/p>\n      <p><a href=\"https:\/\/nfhs.org\/sports\/football\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nfhs.org\/sports\/football \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <!-- Footer -->\n  <div class=\"nof-footer\">\n    <p>Thank you for your interest in becoming a football official. Questions? Reach out to an assigner using the menu above \u2014 we&#8217;re here to help you get started.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<!-- end new football officials guide -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yes \u2014 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":139,"featured_media":0,"parent":2502,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2515","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aosweb.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2515","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aosweb.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aosweb.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aosweb.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/139"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aosweb.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2515"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/aosweb.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2515\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2518,"href":"https:\/\/aosweb.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2515\/revisions\/2518"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aosweb.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aosweb.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2515"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}