[JRutledge]

The Illinois High School Association is an association of schools that adhere to the same rules all over the state. From an officiating standpoint, all the IHSA does for us is license us so that we can do High School games from one part of the state to another. The IHSA is the only body that promotes officials (using their ranking system) and hands out playoffs. Our local Official's Associations, play no part in the actual assignments given by the state. There is and evaluation process that can include the local official's associations, but it is very minor in the bigger picture.

I belong to an Association called the Athletic Official's Association (not the only one I am a member of btw). We have what we call divisions. We have a football division, basketball, baseball and softball division. Each division in this particular association you have to pay dues to for membership. I personally belong to the Basketball and Baseball Divisions of this association. These divisions do not give out games at all. They might have assignors who are members, but the mission of this association is to train and make officials better who happen to be members. For basketball, I belong to 3 other associations currently. Two of the associations have a basketball division, one association is only a basketball group. These associations do not test us or have much to do with what we do as a whole. It is not unusual for me to work conferences over the area and not work at all with folks that belong to any one association. So following one doctrine or one philosophy is not likely unless it comes from the IHSA or IHSA Clinicians.

Our camps are run by the IHSA and can only be sactioned if IHSA Clinicians are present and participating. IHSA Clincians are fellow officials that have been trained to run camps and follow a standard that is throughout the state. An Official's Association might have more than one Clinician in their association and might run a camp that has no affiliation to any association. Now many associations might have a camp sometime during the summer or off-season, but they all do not have camps. For licensing purposes, we have to attend a IHSA camp every 3 calender years. What they call a 4 hour camp can serve this purpose, but it only has a classroom portion to it. If you want to do playoffs, you are required to have a 6 hour camp within those 3 years, which has classroom and floor time appart of that camp. Six hour camps are much more geared toward 3 Person mechanics, which all state playoff games are officiated under.

Now the IHSA does have an individidual that oversees the "Official's Department," which a few years ago was Mary Struckoff, now Editor over the NF Basketball Rulebook. Now that person is Dave Gannaway, who happens to be on the NF Football Committee. Gannaway is the person that implements all the policies that the IHSA wants all officials to adhere to during the licensing, promotion and playoff processes. So this is one reason IHSA Officials do not refer to the IHSA as their association. For one it is not unique to an official to be a member of the IHSA, but it might be unique that I am a AOA or COA member. This is why many refer to the IHSA from the Chicagoland area as "The State." Because when the "State" says something, we have to adhere to it. And the main way we know what the "State" wants us to do, is we have to attend IHSA Rules Meetings to maintain our licenses every year and stay in good standing for the playoffs. These particular meetings are only run be IHSA Rules Interpreters (about 6 individuals) to go across the state and hold about 25-30 meetings. And in these meetings all the new rules, POE and IHSA policies are discussed. All officials have to attend and all schools have to have a representative in attendences as well.

To make a long story short, the IHSA is to the schools and officials, like the NCAA is to colleges all over the country. They are the body that regulates everyone and sets standards across the entire state.

As it relates to testing (NF Tests) the IHSA gives and administers those test only. Our local Associations have no role in that at all, whatsoever. All officials have to take the Part 1 every year no matter what to maintain their current license. We take the Part 2 Exam only if we are going for promotion. Last year I reached the highest ranking of "Certified Official," so I will no longer have to take the Part 2 for the rest of my career. As long as I pay my dues or do not go on probation or get suspended, I will maintain my "Certified" status as an official. Only Certified Officials are the ones that go "downstate" or do the State Finals in their respective sports. Certified Officials also get higher consideration for playoff assignments. It is not impossible for lower ranked officials to get playoffs, but less likely and sometimes down right unsual.

Peace