OHSAA

Ohio High School Athletic Association is in need of Soccer Officials!

Become an OHSAA Official!

STEPS

  1. Create profile at http://officials.myohsaa.org/Register
  2. Take OHSAA Officiating Class ($70). Once registered, complete your profile and contact information. Select Soccer from the Choose Sports menu. Click on the Official profile and Select a Course to review the information and register for a class.
  3. Take Officiating Exam. The class concludes with the officiating exam. Applicants must receive a passing score of 75% on the mechanics and rules exams and pass the proficiency portion in order to be a licensed OHSAA official.  
  4. Complete Concussion Training. Applicants must complete a course on concussion training and enter their concussion certificate number on their myOHSAA profile prior to officiating. Complete the free NFHS Online Concussion in Sports class (renew every 3 yrs)
  5. Receive Officiating Permit. Applicants with a passing score and completed myOHSAA profile will receive their officiating permit on their myOHSAA dashboard within three weeks from their test date. If you do not receive your permit within this time frame, contact the OHSAA officiating department at officiating@ohsaa.org.
  6. Register your NWOSOA Membership for High School so you can be assigned games.
  7. Questions? Contact:
    • Karen Raszka
      OHSAA Assignor
      rasassign@gmail.com
    • Terry Konz
      OHSAA Instructor
      tasko26@msn.com

Returning OHSAA Referees

  • Register your NWOSOA Membership to include OHSAA.
  • Create your new DragonFly account and download the DragonFly MAX app to your phone.
  • Renew your OHSAA Permit June 1-30 in your MyOHSSA Profile ($60). You can renew July 1-15 with an additional $50 late fee.
  • Check your concussion certificate expiration date in your MyOHSAA Profile. Concussion certificates can be renewed by completing the free NFHS Online Concussion in Sports class.
  • Study the rules changes and points of emphasis that are sent in early July
  • Sign up to ref the July pre-season tourneys and events to get acclimated to the new rules, heat and conditioning so you’re ready for the season.

Post-Season Info

Tourney Regulations (2023)

Start on page 3 #10

Meetings Requirements

To access the online local meetings:
1) Log into myOHSAA
2) Select the orange “Official” icon
3) Near the bottom of the left column, select “Special Presentations” under the orange section header labeled “OHSAA Resources”
4) Select the meeting by selecting the “View” button for soccer
5) The meeting will not be available after Oct 18.
6) You must watch the soccer presentation to gain credit
7) Your attendance credit is not uploaded automatically upon completion like the online state rules meeting.

Check your State Rules Meeting Attendance:

  • Login to your myOHSAA account
  • Click on the “Rules Meetings” icon (upper right)
  • Click on “My State Meeting Attendance” (left-side menu)

OHSAA Switch from Arbiter to DragonFly

WORKING IN DRAGONFLY

Resources for the season

OHSAA – Soccer
OHSAA Soccer Officials’ 2023 Manual
Uniform Regulations

2023 OHSAA Tournament Regulations
2023 Pre-Match Protocol

Emphasis on Safety

Lightning: SEE it or HEAR it, you must CLEAR it!

Concussion: Players who exhibit concussion symptoms may not return to play the same day. Medical staff/Trainers may not clear them until the next day. This is Ohio Law and OHSAA Guidelines.

Key Rule Changes

Study ALL of the changes, but spend extra time to learn these:

3-3-2b (2,3) (NEW): Permits the referee to stop the clock to review game situations at any time without negatively impacting a player’s ability to remain in the game.

4-2-12 (NEW): Defines how wearable technology devices may be worn.

11-1-5 (NEW): Defines deliberately playing the ball to clarify the existing rules.

12-1-1 thru 3 (NEW), 18-1-1: Clarifies various foul categories and defines the seven direct free kick fouls to provide consistency.

12-3-2, 3 (NEW): Clarifies that neither accidental nor deliberate hand/arm contact can result in a goal.

12-8-5 (NEW): Offers clarity regarding goalkeeper handling not permitted outside and inside the penalty area.

12-9-4(NEW), 12-8-1f(14, 15), 12-8-2d (3,4): Defines considerations of denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO).

NFHS Points of Emphasis 2023-24

Wearable Technology

While there are many different types, styles, and functions, the technology can only be worn as a part of the shoe and/or under the uniform and not worn on the arm or below the level of the shoulder.

Coaching and Team Area Decorum

Good sport conduct is the behavior appropriate of coaches, players and bench personnel. This includes every individual who is in the team area during a game. Coaches set the tone for the contest with their display of sportsmanship. Officials should focus on the actions of players, coaches and other bench/sideline personnel. A positive, open line of communication between officials and coaches ultimately results in a better contest for everyone involved. Inappropriate bench behavior shows a clear lack of respect.

Examples of inappropriate bench decorum include but are not limited to:

  • Kicking or throwing objects in reaction to a decision.
  • Entering the field of play to dissent a call or confront an official or player.
  • Acting in a provocative or inflammatory manner.
  • Arguing calls consistently.
  • Engaging in a verbal or physical confrontation with the opposing coaching staff or players.
  • Confronting or arguing with spectators.
  • Referees are reminded that they are expected to manage this type of behavior.

Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO)

For a player to be sent off for denying and obvious goal-scoring opportunity the following four criteria must be present: (the 4 D’s)

  • Distance between the offense and the goal (the offense must be near the goal).
  • General direction of play (the attacking players are generally headed toward the goal).
  • Likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball (the player must have or been able to control the ball in order to score, i.e., distance to ball).
  • Location and number of defenders (If another defender, including the goalkeeper is in a closed enough position to make a lawful tackle or attempt a save then this criteria is not met).

If any element is missing, the player cannot be sent off for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. When you are considering the criteria above here are some questions to ask yourself.

  • What is the distance between the offence and the goal?
  • Does the player have control of the ball?
  • Can the player gain control of the ball?
  • What is the direction of play?
  • How many defenders are involved in the situation?
  • Where are the defenders located?
  • Does the offence lead to a direct free kick or an indirect free kick?
  • If no offence were to occur, would the player have an obvious opportunity to score a goal?
  • Does the player deliberately handle the ball to deny the opposing team a goal?
  • If the offense occurred inside the penalty area, was the offence an attempt to play the ball?
  • Offenses which deny a goal-scoring opportunity are not limited to those punishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick.
  • Referees are reminded that these offenses may include fouls for which the restart is an indirect free kick.

Substitutions

Managing substitutions is one of the many tools an official has to manage the game. Generally, substitutions are made prior to a throw-n, a corner kick, after a goal, at halftime or because of an injury. If a player is being replaced, the player shall exit the field on their bench side unless the player is injured and unable to exit to that side of the field. By exiting on their team bench side, the player does not have to walk in front of stands, or behind opponent’s goal, or an opponent’s bench.

If a player is injured and a team elects to play shorthanded while the injured player is being evaluated this is a coach’s choice. Injured players may be attended to anywhere off the playing field but if the player is cleared to play they must re-enter from the official’s area on the bench side of the field when beckoned by the referee.

Looking forward to a great High School season!