[JRutledge]

I am a representative of IACAO for one of my associations. So we tend to hear the information from very "knowledgable" officials and leaders.

The story is that an unnamed association sent out an email to all their members, urging for all Certified Officials in the association to give all 1s to their membership. Well because this was email, it got circulated to the IHSA and on April of this year the right of Cerified Officials rating official was taken away in all sports.

Dave Gannaway was appartently very upset about this and did not understand why more ratings from officials had more of a "bell curve" as did the coaches overall ratings. And it was expressed to him by other very prominant and experienced officials, that it was an accepted practice for Certified Officials to rate fellow officials a 1 or 2 and nothing else. If you were to give an official a rating higher than a 2, then you would tell that official what they need to improve on yourself. I agreed with this "unofficial policy" and did not give an official lower than a 1 all year (first year certified). Also the issue was that Gannaway was going to investigate whether officials were rating officials on the same night they worked a game. So for example if I have a game at Naperville North, how can a rate a fellow official if I am at Rock Island Alleman that same night. Everything I am saying is what was said at the Delegates Meeting during the IHSA Official's conference.

My understanding is that the right of C Officials to rate fellow officials will be restored by the time football season starts. At least that is what they say. We will see, but that is what was said after they have fully investigated the situation.

Peace