MHSAA Reciprocal Official Program

The following policy has been adopted by the association offices from Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Officials from any one of the five states mentioned above who desire to affiliate with one of the other state association offices should write directly to the state association office in the state in which the official wishes to affiliate. As an example, if an official from Michigan wants to affiliate with the state of Wisconsin, the official will write directly to the Wisconsin association office.

State association offices have not been able to supply affiliated officials with as much information as the official would desire. Some states have different regulations which officials should be made aware of so they can do a better job of officiating contests. Many conscientious officials have written their state association offices and asked for interpretations with regard to different regulations and rules that are not covered in the rules books. Hopefully, this system will be able to do a better job and likewise the member schools of each association will have better worked games in the process.

Reciprocal officials do not compile MHSAA ratings and they are not eligible to officiate MHSAA tournament contests.

1. In order to affiliate with any state the official must first be licensed in the home state and include a copy of their current year ID card from their home state when registering with the MHSAA.
2. The official must write directly to the state association office in the state in which the official wants to affiliate.
3. Each association will send whatever material it feels important for the affiliated official to have (no duplication of rules books).
4. A set fee of $10 will be the registration fee for an affiliated official and will include all sports for which he or she is registered in the home state.
5. Officials requesting reciprocity in Michigan shall complete the MHSAA Officials Guidebook Exam.
6. Reciprocal officials who wish to add sports by amending their existing annual application after it has been submitted may do so by submitting the reciprocal registration fee with an amended registration application.

Any official who officiates a contest in a state in which the official is not regularly registered or registered as a reciprocal official will run the risk of suspension or lesser penalty, whichever the home state determines.

Following are the addresses of the cooperating offices. You should write directly to them if you desire to be an affiliated official.

Iowa High School Athletic Association
PO Box 10, 1605 South Story
Boone, Iowa 50036-5226

Minnesota State High School League
2100 Freeway Blvd.
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55430-1735

Ohio High School Athletic Association
4080 Roselea Place
Columbus, Ohio 43214-3069

Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association
41 Park Ridge Drive, Box 267
Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481-0267