IHSAA Scholarship Program for Officials

[cbarnett]

Due to the on-going shortage of IHSAA licensed officials in many sports, including Wrestling, the IHSAA has implemented a scholarship program in which each of the 24 athletic officials associations will be granted ten scholarships as a means to motivate the recruitment of new officials. Currently, the licensing fee to become a first time IHSAA officials is $50 for up to three sports, while the relicensing fee each year after that is $67. This program was designed to help offset the initial cost of becoming licensed, and thus attract some new and prospective officials to the fold.

 

In addition, many of the athletic officials associations will also waive the local association fees to further ease the financial burden of getting started. I can speak specifically for the Calumet Athletic Officials Association in NW Indiana, as we implemented our own scholarship program a few years back in which we paid the IHSAA dues for 11 new officials each year, as well as waiving their local association dues of $30 per year. The IHSAA was impressed by our local program, and decided to follow suit.

 

A complete list of the 24 athletic officials associations, as well as the President, Secretary, and Sports Chairpersons for each association is available via the IHSAA and Asst Commissioner Sandra Walter. You may find the information at www.ihsaa.org , on the Arbiter at http://ihsaa.arbitersports.com/front/103543/Site/Area/ASOA1, or by contacting Asst Commissioner Walter at swalter@ihsaa.org

 

Please keep in mind that the ten scholarships per association are intended for all sports, and not just wrestling. It is also my understanding that those scholarships not used by a particular association can be transferred and used by other associations, as some of the larger associations may have a greater need than the smaller associations. Regardless, let's not let them go unused... if you have contemplated getting your license, take advantage of the free licensure and give it a try!

 

Thanks,

Chuck Barnett, IHSAA Official

Secretary and Wrestling Chairman, Calumet Athletic Officials Association