FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2001


FHSAA office addresses misconceptions about contest officials evaluation program

GAINESVILLE – The FHSAA office is concerned about misconceptions that are circulating around the state relative to the Association’s contest officials evaluation program.

It is not, nor has it ever been, a requirement that registered officials attend special camps or be evaluated to be eligible to work FHSAA Florida Finals state championship events. While participation in the voluntary evaluation process has been a contributing factor in officials’ assignments to officiate state tournaments in baseball and basketball, it by no means has been the sole contributing factor. It is just one of many criterion used by the FHSAA staff in making such assignments. In both sports, there have been officials assigned to work the state tournaments who did not take part in the evaluation process.

The only clinics that registered officials are required to attend are the mandatory FHSAA Rules Clinics conducted annually in each sport by FHSAA administrators, and the weekend field clinics that must be attended every four years.

The FHSAA Board of Directors and staff continues to review the contest officials program. The FHSAA Officials Advisory Committee at its meeting earlier this month voted to submit a recommendation to the FHSAA Board of Directors relative to the evaluation process. That recommendation will be considered at a future meeting.

Officials with questions regarding the contest officials program are urged to direct them to Ron Allen, Associate Commissioner for Athletic Operations, at (352) 372-9551 ext. 300.

Contact:
Jack Watford
Director of Communications, FHSAA
(352) 372-9551 ext. 170
jwatford@fhsaa.org