If you are interested in officiating high school sports for the 2024-25 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.

The Spring Sports exams (Baseball, Softball, Men's/Women's Lacrosse, and Women's Soccer) period is quickly coming to a close! The Deadline is Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 11:59pm!!! Exams are available on the DragonFly Max website. If you are having trouble finding your exam, See the SSOA "Resource" page for information on how to access your exams.

The 2024 NCHSAA Basketball Regionals and State Championships will be held this week at Lawerence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem. Basketball Officials with their 2023-24 NCHSAA Basketball Officials Card will be admitted FREE to the contests. You may obtain your officials card through the DragonFly website or App.

For those unable to attend the Regionals/State championships in person, they will also be broadcast live on the NFHS Network and available on-demand following the contests. (requires a subscription)

Source: NFHS

4-1-4d: Clarifies there is not a limitation on the color of tape or sock worn at or below the ankle.
Rationale: Athletes have the flexibility to modify socks within the existing regulations. Frequently, they remove the foot of one sock to layer another underneath, enhancing comfort or grip inside their shoes and fastening the top sock around the ankle. Any tape or similar material used above the ankle must match the sock's color, while at or below the ankle, any color is allowed. Referees are no longer required to oversee socks below the ankle.

Rule 12: Reorganized the rule for clarity and consistency.
Rationale: The Fouls and Misconduct rule has been revised to eliminate duplicate language and improve usability. The main changes involve reorganizing the existing rule for clarity. Sections have been rearranged to enhance ease of reference, and a new section addressing Stopping a Promising Attack (SPA) has been included. Certain general language in the rule has been modified to align with other rules codes. Section 6, Ejections, provides an ordered list of offenses by severity to allow associations more flexibility for determining post-game sanctions for misconduct. Additionally, an article has been added to clarify that all necessary conditions must be met for DOGSO (Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity) to be applicable.

2024-2025 Editorial Changes
3-4-3, 6-2-3, 12-9-1g

2024-2025 Points of Emphasis

1. Official’s Toolbox for Game Management
2. Stopping a Promising Attack
3. After a Goal

Source: NFHS

1-5-1b(3): Clarified Home Team Uniform Requirement For Each Player — The jerseys of the home team shall all be the same dark color(s) that clearly contrasts with white.

2024 EDITORIAL CHANGES

1-3-1b; 1-3-1i(5); 1-5-1a(1); 1-5-1d(5)a; 1-5-2b; 1-5-3b(6); 1-5-3c(6); 2-8; 2-32-16b, f; 9-5-1g; 9-8-1j; 9-8-3 PENALTY; 10-3-1c NOTE; 10-4; 10-5; NFHS OFFICIAL FOOTBALL SIGNALS; PENALTY SUMMARY; INDEX.

2024 POINTS OF EMPHASIS

1. Sportsmanship and Altercation Prevention and Protocol
2. Player Equipment and Enforcement
3. Formations

Source: NFHS

Language in the 2024 NFHS Football Rules Book will be changed in an effort to ensure consistent interpretation of the rule regarding requirements for home team uniforms in high school football. Next season, all home team jerseys must be the same dark color(s) that clearly contrasts with white. 

This uniform change in Rule 1-5-1b(3) was recommended by the NFHS Football Rules Committee at its January 14-16 meeting in Indianapolis and 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.

Previously, the rule regarding home team jerseys stated that the jerseys of the home team “shall be a dark color that clearly contrasts to white.” The revised rule will state that the jerseys of the home team “shall all be the same dark color(s) that clearly contrasts to white.” 

“We kind of had a loophole in the rule that we didn’t specify that everyone on the home team had to wear the same color dark jersey,” said Richard McWhirter, chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee and assistant executive director of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. “Even though you didn’t see a major issue with it, it was a loophole in the rule that could possibly be a major issue in the future if it wasn’t corrected.”

McWhirter noted that while this was the only rules proposal that was approved by the committee, there was considerable discussion related to the other eight proposals that advanced to the full committee. He said there was considerable discussion dealing with sportsmanship, particularly unsporting acts in dead-ball situations.

“There was solid agreement by the committee that the rules of the game are in good shape,” McWhirter said. “There was great discussion regarding the need for consistent enforcement of the existing rules specifically in regard to equipment and sportsmanship. Several proposals garnered substantial interest and discussion and may merit further consideration in future committee meetings.”

Three Points of Emphasis were identified by the committee for the 2024 season, including Player Equipment and Enforcement, Sportsmanship and Protocols, and Formation Requirements.

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.”

According to the 2022-23 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, 11-player football is the most popular high school sport for boys with 1,028,761 participants in 13,670 schools nationwide. In addition, there were 35,301 boys who participated in 6-, 8- and 9-player football, along with 3,838 girls in all four versions of the game for a grand total of 1,067,900. There also were 20,875 participants in girls flag football in 2022-23.

The 2024 NCHSAA Wrestling Individual and Dual Team State Championships will be held at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro. The Wrestling Individual State Championships are February 9-10, 2024 and the Wrestling Dual Team State Championships will be held February 15-17, 2024. Wrestling Officials with their 2023-24 NCHSAA Wrestling Officials Card will be admitted FREE to the contests. You may obtain your officials card through the DragonFly website or App.

For those unable to attend the State championships in person, they will also be broadcast live on the NFHS Network and available on-demand following the contests. (requires a subscription)

Source: NFHS

4-2-3a, 7-1-1 NOTE: Allows a player to change uniform numbers without penalty when a uniform is damaged in addition to when a unform has blood on it.

Rationale: Adds language to Rule 4: Uniforms regarding the proper procedure for a legal uniform number change and expands to include a damaged unform as a legal reason for changing a uniform number. Aligns language in Rules 4 and 7.

5-4-3c(1): Allows all players on the roster, not just starting players, to stand on their respective end lines prior to the first set.

Rationale: Encourages the inclusion of all players in the prematch announcements.

5-9-2b NOTE (NEW), State Association Adoption Chart: Requires line judges to switch sides of the court between sets when, by state association adoption, teams remain on the same benches throughout the match.

Rationale: Aligns with the original intent of the rule allowing line judges to alternate between each set to promote fair officiating.  

11-4-1b: Allows teams to substitute during an injury time-out for the libero replacement if the libero is injured or ill.

Rationale: Allows for the immediate substitution of the libero replacement who may be playing out of position due to the injury to the libero.

 
2024-25 Volleyball Major Editorial Changes

Suggested Prematch Protocol (NEW) - Provides guidance for establishing standardized prematch protocols as well as timed warm-ups.

2024-25 Volleyball Editorial Changes

4-1-7a,b; 5-4-3c(5); 9-5-1a(2); 9-5-1a(4); 9-5-1b(1); 9-5-1b(4); 9-5-6b; 12 NOTES 1

2024-25 Volleyball Points of Emphasis

1. Ball Handling
2. Scoring Best Practices
3. Host Management Best Practices

Officials, it's that time again! I'm talking about Spring sports exams! If you are a Baseball, Softball, or Women's Soccer official, the Spring sports exams will be available on the DragonFly Max website from Sunday, February 4, 2024 - Sunday, March 17, 2024 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.

Source: NFHS

Line judges will be required to change sides of the court between sets when teams remain on the same bench. The change in officiating procedure highlights the 2024-25 high school volleyball rules changes.

In all, four rules changes were recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Volleyball Rules Committee at its annual meeting January 7-9. All rules changes were reviewed and approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Rule 5-9-2b, which outlines line judge responsibilities, includes the new note requiring that they switch sides of the court when, by state association adoption, teams remain on the same bench throughout the match. The corresponding item on the state association adoption chart was also amended to add the requirement, which was added to promote fair officiating.

“Since the pandemic many state associations have adopted the rule to require teams to remain on the same bench throughout the match,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS Director of Sports and liaison to the Volleyball Rules Committee. “The unintended consequence of this adoption is that the same line judge officiates the same lines for the same teams throughout the match. This change allows teams to see both line judges and promote equity in officiating.

In other rules changes, Rule 11-4-1b now allows teams to substitute for a replacement player during a referee’s time-out when the libero is injured or ill, allowing the team to avoid playing the replacement out of position.

Two rules dealing with uniforms and rosters were amended to address when a uniform is damaged or has blood on it. Rule 4-2-3 Note was added to allow a player to change uniforms and for the roster to be adjusted accordingly with no penalty when a uniform is bloodied or damaged. Rule 7-1-1 Note was also changed to specify that blood on or damage to the uniform are acceptable reasons to change uniforms.

The first referee’s responsibilities were modified in Rule 5-4-3c(1) to direct players to the end lines prior to the first set and then direct starting players onto the court for play. Previously, only starting players were directed to the end lines for prematch announcements. The rule now allows but does not require teams to include more team members in the prematch ceremony.

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.”

According to the most recent NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, volleyball is the second-most popular sport for girls (trailing track and field) with 470,488 participants in 16,610 schools nationwide. In addition, there are 77,287 boys participating in the sport at 3,376 schools.

Hey Baseball Officials, take the Referee Magazine Baseball Rules Challenge! It's a good way to sharpen your rules knowledge as you prepare for your NFHS exams in a couple of weeks! If you dont have an account the link to create one is near the bottom of the page. If you aren't able to finish the Rules Challenge in one setting, you can resume where you left off.

Link: Referee Magazine 2024 Baseball Rules Challenge

Lacrosse Officials, it's that time again... Exam time! The exams will be available on the DragonFly Max website from Sunday, January 21, 2024 - Sunday, March 17, 2024 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.

Hey Softball Officials, take the Referee Magazine Softball Rules Challenge! It's a good way to sharpen your rules knowledge as you prepare for your NFHS exams in a couple of weeks! If you dont have an account the link to create one is near the bottom of the page. If you aren't able to finish the Rules Challenge in one setting, you can resume where you left off.

Link: Referee Magazine 2024 Softball Rules Challenge

If you are interested in officiating Baseball, Softball, Men's/Women's Lacrosse, or Women's Soccer for the 2024 sports season, the Spring sports seasons are quickly approaching! 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.

Hey Soccer Officials, take the Referee Magazine Soccer Rules Challenge! It's a good way to sharpen your rules knowledge as you prepare for your NFHS exams in a couple of weeks! If you dont have an account the link to create one is near the bottom of the page. If you aren't able to finish the Rules Challenge in one setting, you can resume where you left off.

Link: Referee Magazine 2023-24 Soccer Rules Challenge

We would like to wish all of you a safe and happy 2024 from SSOA!