West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 127 - Secondary School Activities Commission › Title 127 - LEGISLATIVE RULE WEST VIRGINIA SECONDARY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES COMMISSION › Series 127-03 - Provisions Governing Contests › Section 127-3-9 - Game Officials

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
9.1. All
				officials utilized in interscholastic games and contests in West Virginia must
				be registered with the WVSSAC, except in the case of emergency, §127-3-9.4
				may be invoked. A game officials' registration plan shall be established by the
				WVSSAC Board of Directors (Board of Directors).
9.2. Officials for interscholastic contests
				shall be agreed upon mutually by the competing schools at least two weeks
				before the scheduled date of contest. Coaches or other persons connected with
				competing schools shall not officiate at the contest unless all competing
				consent.
9.3. The host school
				initiates the selection of game officials. It is highly recommended that the
				host school contract officials for all interscholastic contests. Contractual
				agreements are between the school and the official.
9.4. The WVSSSAC Executive Director shall be
				empowered to authorize the use of non-registered officials for athletic
				contests where registered officials are not available and scheduled athletic
				contests risk cancellation.
9.5.
				All officials registered with the WVSSAC are subject to and required to abide
				by the rules and regulations set forth in these rules and the "West Virginia
				Secondary School Activities Commission Officials' Handbook", which is revised
				and published yearly. WVSSAC registered officials are provided the same
				opportunity for appeal of any decisions as set forth in the rules.
9.6. The official shall:
9.6.a. Attend a state WVSSAC rules clinic in
				the sport for which the official is registered. Failure to comply will result
				in suspension for that year.
9.6.b.
				Attend four local Officials' Board meetings. Failure to comply will result in
				suspension for that year.
9.6.c.
				Take Part I and Part II NFHS Rules Examinations in the sports where specified.
				Failure to take Part I will result in a five point deduction for the purpose of
				classification at the end of that sport season. Failure to take Part II Exam
				will result in suspension the following year.
9.6.d. Abstain from consuming intoxicating
				beverages on the day of the assigned contest prior to and during the contest,
				and after, in the vicinity of the playing area of the contest.
9.6.e. Abstain from the use of smokeless or
				any other forms of tobacco in the vicinity of the playing area of the
				contest.
9.6.f. Abstain from the
				use of illegal drugs.
9.6.g. Be
				fair, impartial, unbiased, professional, and competent in
				officiating.
9.6.h. Be in and
				maintain proper physical and mental condition as verified by the physical
				examination form submitted to the WVSSAC; dress and appearance must be
				appropriate.
9.6.i. Be at the site
				of the contest in adequate time to care for necessary pre-contest duties or as
				specified in the NFHS Rules.
9.6.j.
				Maintain self-control under all conditions.
9.6.k. Refrain from commenting upon or
				discussing a team, play, game situation, or fellow official.
9.6.l. Conduct the game so as to enlist the
				cooperation of students, coaches, and spectators in the interest of good
				sportsmanship.
9.6.m. Comply with
				any WVSSAC rule, regulation, Constitution, or directive, and particularly those
				regulations pertaining to filing Special Reports and Official Ratings of
				Schools.
9.6.n. Honor all existing
				officiating contracts with member schools unless a valid reason is presented
				and accepted by the involved school. Accepting a game involving a higher level
				of competition is not a valid reason to cancel a contract.
9.6.o. Comply with local board rules as set
				forth in board regulations.