The 2025 SSOA Football All Officials Meeting is THIS MONDAY, July 21st at South View High School. The meeting will begin at 6:00PM. Please be on time!

LB Officials Apparel will also be on-site before the meeting to handle any equipment needs. If you plan to shop PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY to give yourself time to browse their merchandise.

You may also order online with GeaRef as they are also a vendor for NCHSAA branded items. Gearef also has starter kits that will save you some money if you are a new official!

Source: NFHS

NFHS High School Girls Lacrosse Rules Changes Now Available! Improving game flow and pace of play are the primary focuses of the 2026 changes. Full article

https://nfhs.org/stories/five-rules-changes-approved-for-2026-high-school-girls-lacrosse-season #GirlsLacrosse #PlayPerformCompeteTogether

The 2025 SSOA Volleyball All Officials Meeting is THIS MONDAY, July 14th at Fayetteville Academy. The meeting will begin at 6:00PM. Please arrive and be seated by 5:55PM! If you are new and wish to officiate the 2025 High School volleyball season this meeting is for YOU!

Just a note: You may order volleyball supplies and apparel from LB Officials Apparel or GeaRef as they are the vendors for NCHSAA branded items. However Gearef has starter kits that will save you some money if you are a new official!

Source: NFHS

The NFHS High School Softball Rules Changes are Now Available! Effective for the 2026 season, no player shall be allowed to transmit or record audio or video from the playing surface in high school softball.

https://nfhs.org/stories/electronic-communication-by-players-clarified-in-high-school-softball #HighSchoolSoftball #NFHS

Source: NFHS

NFHS HS Boys Lacrosse Rules Changes Now Available! Among the 12 changes for 2026, no defensive player other than a properly equipped goalkeeper can enter the team’s own crease with the perceived intent of blocking a shot or acting as a goalkeeper.

https://nfhs.org/stories/12-rules-changes-approved-ahead-of-2026-high-school-boys-lacrosse-season

Source: NFHS

The NFHS High School Baseball Rules Changes are now Available! Beginning with the 2027 season, a double first base will be required in high school baseball games to minimize the risk of collisions by runners and fielders.

https://nfhs.org/stories/double-first-base-introduced-into-high-school-baseball

The Fall Exam Period is NOW OPEN! Football, Volleyball, and Men's Soccer exams are available for you to take. The exam period is open until September, however your Regional Supervisor may want you to complete this requirement earlier for assigning purposes! Make sure you follow their instructions on deadlines to complete your test.

You can access your test in DragonFly where you registered. You have three attempts to take the exam. Scores of 70 or better are passing but you must score at least an 80 to be eligible to receive playoff assignments.

Also, NCHSAA Fall clinics are now open in the NFHS Learn portal. Once you complete your clinic, log into DragonFly to make sure that you received credit for the clinic.

Have a safe and Happy Fourth Of July from the SSOA!

If you are interested in officiating high school sports for the 2025-26 sports season, registration IS NOW OPEN!

If you have any questions before you register, please do not hesitate to contact the Regional Supervisor Of Officials for the sport(s) you are interested in officiating. They will give you information on registration, clinics, scrimmages, and where to purchase referee equipment. Clinics begin in July for Fall Sports (Football, Volleyball and Men's Soccer) so don't delay! Contact us TODAY!

Source: NFHS

A trio of changes to address when goaltending and basket interference are called are among the changes to high school basketball rules for the 2025-26 season.

These revisions to the NFHS Basketball Rules Book are among the six changes recommended by the Basketball Rules Committee during its April 28-30 meeting in Indianapolis – all of which were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Rule 4-22-3 has been added to indicate that a ball is considered to be on its downward flight once it contacts the backboard on a legitimate shot attempt. Therefore, it is goaltending if a defensive player touches the ball after it contacts the backboard. Prior to this change, an official determined if a shot attempt was still ascending and out of the cylinder before goaltending could be called.

“By establishing that a ball is considered to be on its downward flight upon contacting the backboard, this rule change introduces a clear and objective standard,” said Monica Maxwell, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Basketball Rules Committee. “It significantly reduces the need for officials to make subjective judgments regarding the trajectory of a shot, thereby enhancing consistency and accuracy in goaltending calls.”

Rules 4-22-1 and 4-22-2 were amended to indicate that only a defensive player can commit goaltending, eliminating the possibility of an offensive goaltending violation. The change removes the need to determine whether a ball in flight is a field-goal attempt or a pass. Any alteration of a shot attempt with contact to the basket or backboard by an offensive player would be considered basket interference.

Additionally, the act of intentionally slapping or striking the backboard during a shot attempt will now result in basket interference and not a technical foul. This addition of new Rule 4-6-2 and corresponding removal of Rule 10-4-4b from the “Player Technical” section aims to standardize officiating and remove intent from the decision.

Similarly, it is a violation for a player to purposely or deceitfully delay a return to the court after being out of bounds and be the first to touch the ball in new language added in Rules 9-2-12 and 9-3-4. This change removes the act from Rule 10-4-2, which called for a technical foul and lessens the penalty to a violation.

In a change to Rule 4-34-1, all players in the game will be considered bench personnel once an official signals for a time-out. This change ensures consistent enforcement of penalties for unsporting conduct by allowing officials to issue technical fouls to bench personnel during time-outs. Prior to this change, if a player warranted a penalty for unsporting conduct during a time-out, an official was required to determine if the player had been in the game or on the bench.

“One of the points of emphasis this year will be bench decorum,” said Billy Strickland, executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association and chair of the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee. “How can we help coaches and officials know that communication is a two-way street? It just needs to be done a proper manner.”

The determination of the location for a throw-in after a stoppage of play was adjusted in Rule 7-5-4 using the three-point line. If a violation occurs on or within the three-point line, the designated spot will be on the end line. A throw-in will be on the sideline if the violation occurs outside the three-point line. This rule change eliminates the use of the imaginary line to determine a throw-in spot. Therefore, if there is a violation in the frontcourt or backcourt, the violation is administered, and the ball is made available for a throw-in at one of the four designated spots based on the location of the throw-in violation in relative to the 3-point arc.

According to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, basketball is the third-most popular sport for boys with 536,668 participants in 18,587 schools, and the fourth-most popular sport for girls with 367,284 participants at 18,090 schools.

If you are interested in officiating high school sports for the 2025-26 sports season, registration IS NOW OPEN!

If you have any questions before you register, please do not hesitate to contact the Regional Supervisor Of Officials for the sport(s) you are interested in officiating. They will give you information on registration, clinics, scrimmages, and where to purchase referee equipment. Clinics begin in July for Fall Sports (Football, Volleyball and Men's Soccer) so don't delay! Contact us TODAY!

Registration is NOW OPEN for the NCHSAA 2025-26 Sports Seasons! Fall sports (Football, Volleyball, and Men's Soccer) are up first! Those seasons are quickly approaching! Make sure to sign up early to ensure that you have your rule books prior to the state clinics and the NFHS Exams which begin around mid July. Be sure to check the specific sports section on our website for all the dates pertaining to your sports season!

NCHSAA REGISTRATION LINK: http://www.nchsaa.org/officials

Source: NFHS

In an effort to minimize risk of injury in high school wrestling, a revision in the leg block or cut-back maneuver was recommended by the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee at its April 6-8 meeting in Indianapolis.

This revision to Rule 7-1-5n of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Book was one of eight changes recommended by the committee – all of which were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Although the leg block/cut-back maneuver already was an illegal move, the committee added “when leaving the feet and using the foot or leg to ‘cut out’ an opponent’s leg, to include from the rear-standing position.”

Elliot Hopkins, director of sports and student services and editor of the NFHS wrestling rules, said the committee added language about leaving the feet to help ensure that this move is not attempted because of the significant risk of injury.

In other rules changes, near-fall criteria language was added to the Technical Fall section in Rule 5-11. In Rules 5-11-2c and 5-11-4b, the following statement was approved: “If the near fall creates a 15-point advantage, the match shall continue until the near-fall criteria is no longer met. Conclusion of the near-fall criteria is immediate.”

“This change defines when a technical fall shall be awarded and eliminate any confusion between a pinning situation and near-fall criteria,” Hopkins said. “It also will make the technical fall consistent with the takedown or reversal that creates the 15-point advantage.”

Two changes were approved regarding equipment and uniforms. While wrestlers cannot wear wristbands, sweatbands, bicep bands or arm sleeves that do not contain a pad, they now will be able to wear leg sleeves that do not contain a pad. Since wrestlers are allowed to wear tights on both legs, the committee agreed that wearing leg sleeves would be no different.

In addition, effective July 1, 2027, the school’s name, school nickname, school logo, school mascot, weight classification and/or the wrestler’s name are permitted on the uniform top and/or bottom. Aside from the wrestling-specific terms, this is standard language approved for all NFHS sports rules publications.

The final changes approved by the committee included another option for conducting dual meets and a revision in the Technical Violation section. In Rule 1-2-2 regarding dual meets, the committee approved an option of conducting dual meets in order of lowest weight classes to the heaviest classes.

In Rule 7-3-3 regarding technical violations, “arm” was replaced with “extremity.” The committee noted that locking hands and including a leg in the clasp around the trunk of the body is the same as locking hands with an arm included.

A complete listing of the wrestling rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on the “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Wrestling.” The print version of the 2025-26 Wrestling Rules Book will be available for purchase in July at www.NFHS.com, and the digital version will be available in the same timeframe via NFHS Digital at www.NFHS.org.   

According to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, spirit is the sixth-most popular sport for boys with 291,874 participants in 11,149 schools nationwide. In addition, 64,257 girls are now competing in the sport at 7,138 schools.

Source: NCHSAA

SSOA Official Brad Allen was inducted into the NCHSAA Hall Of Fame on Wednesday, April 23rd. Brad was presented his NCHSAA Hall Of Fame plaque by NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker below.

Brad was a Southeastern Athletic Officials Association member and served as president of the organization (now known as the SSOA) for two terms, Brad has officiated multiple State Championships as a NCHSAA Official and is currently a NCHSAA Board Member. Brad officiated multiple NCAA bowl games and is a current NFL official (#122). Brad has officiated in the NFL for eleven seasons and will begin his twelth season this year. Brad is the first official in the super bowl era to lead a crew in his first season and has officiated multiple NFL playoff games. Congratuations Brad!

If you are interested in officiating high school sports for the 2025-26 sports season, registration will open up in mid May! In the meantime, if you have any questions before you register, please do not hesitate to contact the Regional Supervisor Of Officials for the sport(s) you are interested in officiating. They will give you information on registration, clinics, scrimmages, and where to purchase referee equipment.

Join us in celebrating Spring sports officials appreciation week April 6-12, 2025. Let's thank the over 50,000 high school officials who make our spring games happen. Spread the word – Please share to show support for officials in your school! #OfficialsAppreciation #PlayPerformCompeteTogether

Source: NFHS

Four revisions dealing with player equipment in high school football were among the eight changes recommended by the NFHS Football Rules Committee at its January 12-14 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

The Football Rules Committee is composed of one member from each NFHS member state association that uses NFHS playing rules, along with representatives from the NFHS Coaches Association and NFHS Officials Association. 

One of the equipment changes next year will permit some additional electronic communication with players during games; however, in-helmet communication is still not allowed. A change in Rule 1-5-3c(2) will permit fixed electronic signs with play signals as well as non-audio methods. However, players between the numbers still are not permitted to watch video.

In the same Rule 1-5-3c(3), another new item was added to the illegal equipment listing. Any audio (microphone) or video (camera) device worn by a player during the game is not permitted. No player participating in the game is allowed to wear any device that would record or transmit audio or video. 

The remaining player equipment changes focus on tooth and mouth protectors and arm sleeves. The committee approved two new additional requirements in Rule 1-5-1d(5) for tooth and mouth protectors, which are required in high school football. Tooth and mouth protectors a) shall not include any attachment(s) that do not serve a purpose and function in protecting the teeth or mouth, and b) shall not include anything that is a health or risk issue and could pose danger to themselves or other players.

A new item was added to Rule 1-5-2d regarding a change in arm sleeve specifications. The new language, effective with the 2027 season, states that “arm sleeves, whether attached to a shirt or unattached, manufactured to enhance contact with the football or opponent, must meet the SFIA specification at the time of manufacture. Arm sleeves must have a permanent, exact replica of the SFIA arm sleeve seal (meets SFIA specification), that must be visible and appear legibly on the exterior of the arm sleeve.”

The Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), in working with football arm sleeve manufacturers and the NFHS, has developed the new football arm sleeve performance specifications to be effective with the 2027 season. The new specifications closely align with the current NFHS rules for football gloves.     

"One of our responsibilities is to properly respond to advancements in equipment and technology. Through deliberate research, debate and input from the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) and engineers, we are confident the rule changes regarding equipment are a positive move for our game," said Steve Roberts, chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and associate executive director of the Arkansas Activities Association.

In other changes approved by the Football Rules Committee, a new exception was added to Rule 4-3-1 regarding when a loose ball goes out of bounds. Previously, the out-of-bounds spot was the yard line where the foremost point of the ball crossed the sideline. Now, when a forward fumble goes out of bounds or is ruled out of bounds between the goal lines, the ball shall be returned to the spot of the fumble.

Bob Colgate, editor of the NFHS Football Rules Book and director of sports and sports medicine for the NFHS, said the committee made the change because the previous rule potentially provided an unfair advantage to the fumbling team.

The committee also approved a deletion in Rule 10-4-4b which continues the committee’s revisions in the penalty enforcement rules to ensure consistency, particularly among illegal participation fouls.

Finally, the rules committee made a revision in the Six-Player Football Rules that clarifies that as long as there is a change of possession from the snap receiver to another player on offense, the ball can be advanced beyond the line of scrimmage.

A complete listing of the football rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Football.” The print version of the 2025 Football Rules Book will be available for purchase in May at www.NFHS.com, and the digital version will be available in the same timeframe via NFHS Digital at www.NFHS.org. 

Beginning next school year, soccer head coaches may be warned, cautioned or ejected for misconduct committed by bench personnel in the team area. The increased responsibility of head coaches for team conduct highlights the 2025-26 high school soccer rules changes.

In all, six rules changes were recommended by the NFHS Soccer Rules Committee at its February 10-12 meeting in Indianapolis. All rules changes were reviewed and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Rule 12-4-4 was amended to support positive bench decorum and reinforce the head coach’s responsibility for the conduct of their team and bench personnel within the team area. The new language allows officials to take action against the coach in addition to any cautions or ejections issued to the sanctioned offender.

 "The 2025-26 rules changes emphasize accountability and sportsmanship, reinforcing the head coach’s responsibility for team conduct," said Gibby Reynolds, chair of the Soccer Rules Committee and an administrator with the Oregon School Activities Association. "Head coaches have a high degree of responsibility for their team areas and bench behavior and are to be held accountable now that officials are allowed to warn, caution or eject head coaches for misconduct committed by bench personnel. This change promotes a culture of respect and positive behavior on the sidelines. These updates, along with the other approved changes, continue our commitment to improving the high school soccer experience for players, coaches and officials."

The committee also addressed behavior toward officials aiming to reduce unnecessary confrontations. Rule 7-2-4 was added and stipulates that no coach, player, substitute or other team personnel other than the team captain can approach or speak to officials during the interval between periods, unless beckoned by the official. This action will now result in a yellow card to the offending individual.

A change to Rule 3-3-2 clarifies that if an official beckons a coach or appropriate health-care provider for an injured player – including the goalkeeper – that player must leave the field regardless of the reason the clock is stopped.

Teams will now be allowed to substitute when a game is temporarily suspended thanks to a change to Rule 3-3-2. Often games are paused for water breaks in hot weather. Teams will now be permitted to make substitutions during these stoppages.

Rule 4-1-2 was edited to clarify that the number required on the front of the uniform may be on the jersey and/or the shorts.

Finally, Rule 18, which listed definitions, has been eliminated from the NFHS Soccer Rules Book. All relevant definitions were relocated to their corresponding rules, and redundant or outdated terms were removed. In addition, the index was expanded to better serve as a reference tool.

"Over the past few years, the rules committee has been committed to streamlining the rules book for greater clarity and ease of use” said Julie Cochran, NFHS Director of Sports and liaison to the Soccer Rules Committee. “By integrating Rule 18’s terms and definitions directly into their corresponding rule sections, we continue this effort – eliminating redundancy, resolving potential conflicts and ensuring consistency.  The result is a more intuitive and efficient resource for all users."

A complete listing of the soccer rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Soccer.” The print version of the 2025-26 Soccer Rules Book will be available for purchase in late May at www.NFHS.com, and the digital version will be available in May via NFHS Digital at www.NFHS.org. 

According to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, soccer is the fifth-most popular sport for boys with 467,483 participants in 12,754 schools nationwide. For girls, it ranks third with 383,895 participants at 12,307 schools.

Officials, the spring sports exams period closes in just TWO DAYS! If you haven't taken your Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, or Women's Soccer exam, you should take the time to do it NOW. The Spring sports exams are available on the DragonFly Max website until Sunday, March 09, 2025 according to the NCHSAA website.

There is a link to the Dragonfly Max exam site at the top of each sports section for your convenience.

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Source: NFHS

Multiple contacts by one player attempting to play the ball will now be allowed on second contact if the next contact is by a teammate on the same side of the net. This elimination of a judgment call by officials highlights the 2025-26 high school volleyball rules changes.

In all, six rules changes were recommended by the NFHS Volleyball Rules Committee at its annual meeting January 12-14. All rules changes were reviewed and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Rule 9-4-8c was added to the section on multiple contacts, adding second contact to the list of permitted instances, joining a team’s first contact and after a player touches the ball on a block. In addition to eliminating an official’s judgment call, the change allows for play to continue and does not create an advantage for the offending team.

“In addition to the impact this judgment call has had on the flow of the game, the multiple contact fault has consistently been a point of contention between coaches and officials,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS Director of Sports and liaison to the Volleyball Rules Committee. “It is the committee’s belief that the elimination of this fault will contribute to less disputes between coaches and officials and ultimately benefit the overall environment of the match.”

Another major revision involves the addition of Rule 3-2-1 NOTE and the use of a textured ball. Beginning in 2026-27, state associations will be permitted to adopt the use of a textured ball – commonly utilized in boys volleyball – for boys or girls matches. This state association adoption would also remove restrictions on color and shape of panels for a textured ball. Rule 3-2-1 panel color, number and shape requirements for a smooth ball remain.

Two rules regarding uniforms were modified to address undergarments and number placement. Rule 4-2-4 was amended to note that, beginning in 2029, uniform numbers must simply be centered on the upper half of the uniform. This removes the requirement for the number to be 5 inches from the top and bottom of the garment and the need for officials to measure the distance.

Undergarments were addressed in a change to Rule 4-2-1, which now allows players to wear solid black, white or gray undergarments under the uniform top or bottom if the predominant color of the team uniform cannot be matched. However, all team members, other than the libero, must still wear the same color undergarment.

Officials will no longer be required to carry a lineup card as part of their uniform/equipment thanks to edits to Rule 5-3-2b and 5-5-3b(9). The lineup card could still be used by newer officials as a training tool, while veteran officials may use the coaches’ submitted lineup sheets to check the starting lineup.

In a change to Rule 10-4, the penalty for an illegal libero replacement will be determined before or after the contact for serve. If identified before contact, an unnecessary delay is administered. If identified after service contact, an illegal alignment results in a loss of rally/point. Prior to this change, the penalty was determined whether the official had signaled for a serve.

A complete listing of the volleyball rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Activities & Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Volleyball.” The print version of the 2025-26 Volleyball Rules Book will be available for purchase in late April at www.NFHS.com, and the digital version will be available in April via NFHS Digital at www.NFHS.org. 

Officials, it's that time again! I'm talking about Spring sports exams! If you are a Baseball, Softball, Lacrosse, or Women's Soccer official, the Spring sports exams will be available on the DragonFly Max website from Monday, January 20, 2025 - Sunday, March 09, 2025 according to the NCHSAA website.

There is a link to the Dragonfly Max exam site at the top of each sports section for your convenience.

This week is Winter Officials Appreciation Week! Join us in thanking SSOA Officials along with over 99,000 high school winter sports officials around the nation! These men and women dedicate their time to making competition a SAFE & FAIR experience for our school communities #becomeanofficial

NO high school officials....means NO high school sports! It's as simple as that! Join us during Officials Appreciation Week in thanking every official for making your game possible! Then, suit up alongside them by signing up to #BecomeAnOfficial today!

We would like to wish all of you a safe and Happy 2025 from SSOA!