Officiating High School Playoffs

[phatneff]

This is a question regarding how officials are chosen in each state to officiate high school playoff games. What is the criteria, if any, and how are they chosen?

In Ohio, it used to be that you get granted to officiate playoff games based on coaches voting for you. This was always a political topic because you would have the "good 'ol boys" using politics to get these games even though they aren't the best referees. They would become "buddies" with coaches because they have been around for so long. Many times you'll see the results of these votes and notice that there are referees that get votes and they are retired!

Of course, these votes are for the next school year's playoffs and not the current year's.

Beginning this year, it not only takes the coaches votes into consideration, but also the Athletic Director of each school and the officiating assignor to suggest who should be more qualified than others to do these higher level games. It should be interesting to see this year how the results change, if at all.

I'm 32 years old, and I'm honestly one of the youngest officials in the Southwest Ohio District, and maybe even in the state. Fortunately, I've been selected in the previous years to do the Regional Final games (one step away from State). I pride myself on that and am wondering if the "good 'ol boy" scenario exists in other states?