6/02 NEBRASKA SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION

8230 Beechwood Drive, Post Office Box 5447

Lincoln, Nebraska 68505-0447

402-489-0386

Fax: 402-489-0934

Dear Official:

An official must make application, pay the application fee, attend a 2002-2003 NSAA sponsored rules interpretation meeting, and score the required percentage on the open book test EACH YEAR for each sport in which he/she wishes to officiate in order to officiate high school varsity football, volleyball, softball, basketball, wrestling, swimming, baseball or soccer in Nebraska.

APPLICATION DATES AND DEADLINES

Officials are urged to return the NSAA official’s application card and application fee as early as possible to insure receiving the materials in sufficient time. Materials are mailed at bulk rate, and delivery sometimes takes longer than first class mail.

Sport	Registration Fee	Open Book Test, Rules Books, and other info mailed	Registration Deadline for New Officials	Registration Deadline for Officials previously registered	Late Registration for Previously Registered Officials (Add $5.00 Late Fee)	Open Book Test Due
Football	$25.00	July/August	August 30	July 31	Aug. 1-Aug. 30	August 30
Volleyball	$20.00	July/August	August 30	July 31	Aug. 1-Aug. 30	August 30
Softball	$20.00	July/August	August 23	July 31	Aug. 1-Aug. 23	August 23
Basketball	$25.00	Oct./Nov.	November 26	October 31	Nov. 1-Nov. 26	November 26
Wrestling	$20.00	Oct./Nov.	November 26	October 31	Nov.1-Nov.26	November 26
Swimming	$20.00	Oct./Nov.	November 26	October 31	Nov. 1-Nov.26	November 26
Soccer	$20.00	Jan./Feb.	March 12	March 12	No Late Fee	March 12
Baseball	$20.00	Jan./Feb.	March 12	March 12	No Late fee	March 12

STEPS FOR COMPLETING THE OFFICIALS’ REGISTRATION PROCESS

q Step 1: Pay registration fee and return completed registration card or registration form printed from the NSAA website.

q Step 2: Receive packet containing open book test and rulebook(s) in the mail. This information will be sent during the months

o indicated in the above table.

q Step 3: Attend an NSAA rules meeting. The rules meeting schedule is listed for all activities on the enclosed green sheet.

q Step 4: The open book test must be turned in by the test deadline. It can be dropped off, mailed or faxed to the NSAA office.

q Step 5: Your corrected test will then be returned to you with the answer key and your officials’ card shortly after the test due date (If you are a 1^st year official in any sport you will also receive a NSAA officials’ patch for you officiating uniform.)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF NSAA OFFICIALS’ APPLICATION CARD

** Please complete ALL spaces on the application card. Please print and mark in the spaces provided so that it is

legible.

1. Full Name: Place your correct full name (First, Middle Initial, Last) on the application card. If you have a nickname, place it in parentheses between your first and last name.

2. Social Security Number: We will use your social security number as your official NSAA ID number. We must have your social security number to complete your registration. Your Social Security Number will never be released from the NSAA office and is only printed on your 2002-2003 NSAA Officials’ Permit Card that is issued to you.

3. Permanent Mailing Address: This should be the address of your legal residence, and this address should be used consistently on all correspondence with the NSAA. All materials and correspondence will be sent to this address unless you show a temporary address. It will be necessary to include the extended four digits in your zip code to comply with mailing regulations.

4. Phone: List the telephone number of your home and business. Show your area code. If you use a cell phone number in

place of a home or business number, please list it.

5. E-Mail Address: If you have a current e-mail address and use it, please provide it. The NSAA will use your e-mail address

as a means of communication with you. Also, it will be printed this year in the NSAA Officials’ Rosters for each sport that is

mailed to each Athletic Director of each school in the state.

6. Temporary Address: If you would like your NSAA rules materials sent to an address other than the permanent address, please give the complete temporary address. Please notice when the rules materials are available and when other mailings are made before indicating a temporary address. In most cases, the mail will not be forwarded if you move from the temporary address.

*** In case of change of address, please notify the NSAA immediately.

7 Application Fees: Check the sport or sports in which you wish to officiate. (If you plan to officiate in more than one sport, please make application and send the proper fee for all sports at the same time.) The fee in 2002-2003 is $20.00 per sport for all but football and basketball, which are $25.00 each. No refunds of registration fees will be made if an individual fails to complete registration.

8. Varsity Contests Worked: It is required that you indicate on the space provided the number of varsity contests you worked last year for the following sports: football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, swimming, soccer, and baseball.

9. First Year NSAA Official: Please check the box if you are a first-year official with the NSAA.

10. Years as an NSAA Official: Please indicate the number of years that you have been a registered with the NSAA as an active official.

11. Total Amount Enclosed: List the total amount of money that is enclosed with your NSAA officials’ application card.

12. Sign and Date the Application Card to verify you have read the NSAA regulations governing officials and understand that officials are considered independent contractors and not employees of the NSAA.

OFFICIATING RULES MATERIALS

Officiating rules materials will be sent to individuals who complete application (including payment of the proper fee). Normally, football, volleyball, and softball materials will be mailed in July/August; basketball, wrestling, and swimming in October/November; soccer and baseball materials will be mailed in January/February. These materials generally include the open book test, NFHS official rules publications, and the 2002-2003 NSAA Officials' Manual.

2002-2003 NSAA RULES MEETINGS

The sites and dates of the 2002-2003 NSAA sponsored rules interpretation meetings are included in this mailing. Meetings have been scheduled in all areas of the state. The meeting will last between one and two hours and will include rules interpretations and mechanics and techniques of officiating. Any official who does not attend one of the NSAA rules interpretation meetings in the sport he/she wishes to officiate will not be eligible to officiate varsity contests and will not be issued a permit card.

NSAA TESTS FOR OFFICIALS

Open Book Test

Sport	Due Date
Softball	August 23
Football	August 30
Volleyball	August 30
Basketball	November 26
Wrestling	November 26
Swimming	November 26
Baseball	March 12
Soccer	March 12

Any open book test received after the above dates will not be accepted. NOTE: THE OPEN BOOK TEST MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE ESTABLISHED DATE RATHER THAN POSTMARKED BY THAT DATE. Upon receipt of the completed open book examination with a score of at least 80% for registered, 85% for approved, and 90% for certified classification, plus verification of attendance at an NSAA rules meeting, the official will be sent an NSAA officiating permit card for the current year. Registration is not complete and an official is not eligible to officiate unless the open book test, with a passing score, is submitted at the proper time.

Supervised Test

Opportunities will be given to all officials to take the supervised test in football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, soccer and baseball. Officials are encouraged to improve their knowledge of the rules by taking the test. Officials lacking sufficient number of years of previous experience to move up in classification at the present time may take the supervised test now, and grades received will remain on record to be used when higher classification is possible. A list of scheduled locations and dates for 2002-2003 is included in this mailing. The tests are offered on two separate dates. Only one score will be recorded per year. If someone should take the test on both dates, only the first score will be recorded.

Officials in the Registered classification are required to take the supervised test at least once every five years and score 65% or better. If you were registered as an official in 1998, you must have taken the supervised test in your sport either in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, or 2002 and score 65% or better so you have a passing supervised test score on your record prior to August 2003. If not, you could not register in 2003.

Officials who hold the classification of Approved are required to take the supervised test at least once every five years and score 75% or better, and Certified officials are required to take the supervised test at least once every three years and score 80% or better.

NSAA REGULATIONS GOVERNING OFFICIALS

In order to complete registration requirements, all officials must agree to abide by the following NSAA regulations:

1. Submit proper application fees and complete NSAA official’s application card.

2. Attend one 2002-2003 NSAA-sponsored rules meeting held in the sport the official desires to officiate.

3. Submit open book test by proper date and receive passing score on the open book test.

4. Only NSAA registered officials shall officiate varsity high school contests.

5. If any official fails to complete registration with the NSAA for 2002-2003 and does not notify schools with which he/she has contracts, the official will not be allowed to register the following year.

6. Contracts.

a. Contracts shall be signed by all officials.

b. Substitution shall not be made unless consent is received from competing schools.

c. In case of a broken contract, the amount of the fee, exclusive of mileage, shall be paid by the offending party to the offended party, except when a contract is broken because of reasons beyond the control of either party or by mutual consent.

d. If an official has been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude or has committed any act that subjects the NSAA or its member schools to public embarrassment or ridicule, contract is null and void.

7. Comply with the NSAA regulations and Code of Ethics as presented in the 2002-2003 NSAA Officials' Manual.

AFFILIATE REGISTRATION IN OTHER STATES

Reciprocity Agreement: Officials registered (and living) in Nebraska wishing to work in Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Missouri, Wyoming or Colorado are to write directly to that State Association office. Colorado registration fee is $7.00 per sport; Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa and Missouri is $10.00 per sport; Kansas is $15.00 per sport. These are special rates, set because of the reciprocal agreement involving Nebraska. Officials should send a photocopy of their 2002-2003 NSAA Official’s Permit Card when applying to one of these states.

Officials living in and registering in Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado may register in Nebraska by paying a $10.00 per sport registration fee to the NSAA office in Lincoln.

Addresses of Reciprocating Associations are:

Iowa High School Girls Athletic Association Iowa High School Athletic Association

Box 10348 P.O. Box 10

Des Moines, Iowa 50306 Boone, Iowa 50036

Colorado High School Activities Association Kansas State High School Activities Association

14855 E. Second Ave. Box 495, 520 SW 27th St.

Aurora, Colorado 80011 Topeka, Kansas 66611

Missouri State High School Activities Association Wyoming High School Activities Association

1808 I-70 Drive, SW, P.O. Box 1328 731 E. 2nd St.

Columbia, Missouri 65205 Casper, Wyoming 82601

South Dakota High School Activities Association

P.O. Box 1217, 204 N. Euclid

Pierre, South Dakota 57501

This reciprocity agreement applies to these states in the following sports:

Iowa Iowa Girls Missouri and Wyoming Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota

Football Volleyball Football, Volleyball Football, Volleyball,

Basketball Softball Basketball, Wrestling Basketball Wrestling,

Wrestling Basketball Soccer Soccer (KS and CO)

Soccer Softball Softball (MO) Softball (KS and CO)

Swimming Swimming Baseball (MO) Swimming (CO)

Baseball Swimming Baseball (KS and CO)

If an official's home state does not register officials in a participating sport, then an official must be registered in the state in which he/she is going to officiate.

Nebraska Residents: An official whose legal residence is in Nebraska must be registered with the NSAA in order to be eligible to officiate high school varsity games in Nebraska.

PUBLICATION OF 2002-2003 NSAA REGISTERED OFFICIALS

The names, addresses, and classifications of all officials registered in football, volleyball, and softball will be published in September; officials registered in wrestling, swimming, and basketball in December; officials registered in soccer and baseball in April. These rosters will provide schools an up-to-date list of all officials and their classifications. The individual official will know his/her current classification when he/she receives his/her permit card from the NSAA office.

Classification of NSAA Officials

For Football, Volleyball, Basketball,

Wrestling, Baseball, and Soccer

Registered: An official enrolling for the first time will be placed in this classification.

1. Attend a NSAA sponsored rules interpretation meeting.

2. Submit the open book test for the current year and score 80% or higher.

3. Take the supervised test within 5 years and score 65% or higher.

Approved:

1. Be a NSAA Registered official for two successive years.

2. Attend a NSAA sponsored rules interpretation meeting.

3. Submit the open book test for the current year and score 85% or higher.

4. Take the supervised test within the previous five years and score 75% or higher.

5. Work at least four contests the previous year in football or volleyball, six matches in soccer, or eight contests in baseball, basketball, or wrestling. A wrestling tournament shall count as three contests. Only Varsity contests shall be counted.

Certified:

1. Be a NSAA Approved official for two successive years.