OHSAA officials training moves online
Online and In-School Education Boosting Number of New OHSAA Officials
COLUMBUS–Facing a growing shortage of interscholastic sports officials across Ohio, the Ohio High School Athletic Association has moved all classroom instruction for new officials to the convenient virtual platform RefPrep and is also asking member schools to offer the online officiating curriculum during the school day for students to begin the process of becoming a licensed official. A number of schools across Ohio have already begun offering the RefPrep class.
As always, adults are encouraged to consider becoming a licensed sports official, but the OHSAA believes that getting high school students interested in officiating will help quickly replenish the number of officials in the near future.
Persons interested in becoming an official should first create a profile at: https://officials.myohsaa.org/Logon.
The online education platform is available at: https://www.refreps.com/refprep.
“We are doing something to attack this issue and our member schools have said they want to help,” said Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director. “If there are no officials, there are no games. RefPrep is a good online tool to learn the basics of officiating and it’s available anytime, so in addition to being available to use within schools, it’s also available for adults who otherwise couldn’t get to an in-person class.”
Schools are encouraged to provide credit options for students who take an officiating course, such as physical education or work force development. The OHSAA also plans to work more with Ohio colleges and universities to offer officiating classes, as many already have done so for years.
“This is work force development and instant employability,” said Ute. “A licensed official can begin working games and earning money almost right away, and there are many other benefits of being an official, such as staying involved in sports, staying physically active and being a part of a team.”
More information about OHSAA officiating is available at: https://www.ohsaa.org/Officiating
Stories Posted This Week
Monday, April 28, 2025
- Anabel R. McBride worked for Ada Exempted Village Schools
- Trash to Treasure STEAM program on May 3
- Student entrepreneurs compete in 2025 Polar Innovation Exchange
- Lifesaving AED installed at One More gym on E. Buckeye
- St. Mark Community Meal is April 30
- Alfes wins Medalist honors at OAC golf championships
- Wilma A. Willeke worked at Ohio Northern
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Friday, April 25, 2025
Thursday, April 24, 2025
- UPDATED Ada Police Department assists U.S. Marshal's Service with April 21 arrest
- Honda honors Ada Technologies, Inc. for performance
- Meet the 2025 Ada High School Prom court
- Bad Dreams: Health implications
- Bulldog softball run-rules Van Buren
- Bulldog baseball loss to unbeaten Van Buren
- Ada Board of Education to meet May 15
- ONU sports roundup, April 16-22
- Garage Sale season has started on the Icons!
- Ada Gators summer swim registration is open