Officiating

Adapted Floor Hockey, Adapted Soccer, Adapted Softball, Baseball, Basketball, Dance Team, Football, Girls Gymnastics, Hockey,  Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Soccer,  Girls Softball, Swimming and Diving, Girls Synchronized Swimming, Track and Field, Volleyball, and Wrestling.

Registration is generally open for both the current and upcoming school years.   The payment portal and eligibility (modules, exams, etc.) will remain open until the deadline for each sport.  The deadline to complete these items is the day before the first varsity competitions in that sport.  

First (new) and second-year officials pay a registration fee of $30 for the first sport and $15 for each additional sport.

Returning officials pay a fee of $70.00 for the first sport and $20.00 for each additional sport. These fees continue to be well below most other states.

Returning officials must register/pay before July 1 (for fall activities), September 1 (for winter activities), and February 1 (for spring activities) to avoid a $40.00 late fee.  New officials do not have a late fee and can register (pay) up to the deadline for each sport.

Registration fees cover the cost of rules books, mechanics manuals, case books, pre-season information, testing, rules modules, officials training clinics, in-season training & development, observation program, officials awards, liability insurance, and supplemental medical insurance. 

You must be 18 years of age or a high school graduate to serve as an MSHSL varsity official. Students who are 18 and under may register as a student/minor official.  Student/minor officials have the same requirements and benefits as fully varsity eligible officials, except for the background check, which will be completed once they turn 18.

Background checks will be conducted on officials.  All officials will be required to consent to this process.  Officials will consent to a background check on Arbiter, with the actual check being conducted by PeopleTrail. Select the link for a copy of the background check policy. There is not a separate charge for the background checks as it is part of your registration fee.  All new officials will be background-checked in their initial year of registration.  Returning officials will have a background check completed once every five years.  Background Check Policy

Officiating pay varies by the sport and the area of the state. Check with an Officials Association or Rules Coordinator in your sport for more information specific to your area. Typically, pay in Minnesota is fairly competitive when compared to other states.

Training clinics will be available in Baseball, Basketball, Boys Lacrosse, Football, Gymnastics, Hockey, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Track and Field, Volleyball, and Wrestling at locations throughout the state. 

Attendance at an in-person training clinic or Zoom clinic is required once every 2 years if you wish to be considered for post-season assignments. 

Many Associations provide additional training every year that is designed for newer officials and veteran officials.

The Minnesota State High School League requires eligibility to officiate varsity contests.  We do not certify or license officials.  If officials complete the requirements, they are "Eligible" to officiate varsity contests in Minnesota.  Requirements vary by Eligibility Tier and Sport.  Officials who wish to officiate regular season assignments typically must complete payment, a concussion module, consent to a background check, general and sport-specific online modules, and pass the exam with a score of 80% or higher.  Officials who wish to be post-season eligible there are additional requirements that vary by sport.

Uniforms and equipment needed to officiate varies by sport. Most equipment and uniforms can be purchased from General Sports in Edina (generalsportsmn.com) or from various outlets online.  Many outfitters have affordable starter packages for new officials. 

Several sports (adapted soccer, volleyball, football, soccer, swimming & diving, basketball, wrestling, adapted floor hockey, baseball, and softball) have apparel agreements with Smitty Apparel.  Smitty shirts with the MSHSL logo must be worn in these sports. 

Check with an Association member or Rules Coordinator in your sport for more information.

Officials must contract for contests/games with member schools - either directly or through an officials association.  Officials are considered independent contractors.  The Minnesota State High School League does not schedule regular season contests. To be scheduled for games you can either contact schools directly or join a local officials association. All officials are encouraged to join an officials association to receive training, mentorship and assignments that match up with ability.  Officials Associations are groups of officials that cover contests in sports in a specific area of the state or metro area.

Officials from other States-Reciprocity Officials

The following policy includes the six states of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota that have developed a reciprocity agreement with MSHSL.  This policy allows an official who is fully eligible in one of the above states to be registered/eligible to officiate regular season contests in a neighboring state. 

The basic requirements of this agreement are:

1. Officials must register and complete eligibility requirements with their home state association, contact the state association of the state in which reciprocity is desired, and provide a copy of their current registration documents.

2. Each state association will send the official whatever material is pertinent to their state, avoiding duplication of rules books, rules examinations, or online rules modules.

3. The reciprocity fee will be $15.00 and will include chosen sports that both state associations offer.  The fee is to be paid directly to the state in which reciprocity is requested.

4. Officials must consent to a background check and complete concussion training with the MSHSL.

5. Any individual who officiates a contest in a neighboring state without reciprocity will be subject to consequences as determined by both associations.

6. An individual must be eligible and in good standing with their home state association to receive reciprocity in another state.

7. Note: Reciprocity officials are not eligible for post-season contests.

Reciprocity officials should register through Arbiter.