This package includes the following:

• Successful Sports Officiating, Second Edition, ebook
• Online video and activities
• Online Officiating Principles, Second Edition, certification test
• Online IHSA certification test

There’s a lot more to officiating than just knowing the rules. Communication, teamwork, decision making, and conflict resolution are just some of the skills that officials need in addition to what’s found in the rules book. IHSA Officiating Principles, Second Edition Online Course, will give you a thorough understanding of officiating fundamentals and help you to do the following:

• Learn about officiating’s past and present (unit 1)
• Consider officiating as a lifetime career (unit 2)
• Determine your officiating style (unit 3)
• Set and achieve professional goals (unit 4)
• Communicate effectively with other officials, coaches, and athletes (unit 5)
• Develop your decision-making skills (unit 6)
• Implement mental training strategies in your officiating regimen (unit 7)
• Manage conflict effectively (unit 8)
• Be aware of the principles of personal fitness (unit 9)
• Create a personal fitness plan (unit 10)
• Understand your legal responsibilities (unit 11)
• Explain your legal rights and business responsibilities (unit 12)
• Manage your time wisely (unit 13)
• Officiate in the state of Illinois (unit 14)

The course is based on the second edition of the Successful Sports Officiating ebook. During the course, you’ll refer to the ebook to complete course segments. In addition to the reading material, the course features audio and video vignettes as well as interactive activities and quizzes. This dynamic format presents an engaging educational experience that places you in challenging and realistic game situations. The last unit of the course includes information and bylaws pertinent to officiating in the state of Illinois.

After completing the course units, you’ll take the course test online. Upon successfully passing the test, you will be entered in the National Officials Registry, an online database of officials that allows state high school associations, athletic administrators, and officials to track and verify officials’ credentials.

With IHSA Officiating Principles, Second Edition Online Course, you’ll be prepared, confident, and motivated to officiate high school contests.

Audience

Potential and new Illinois High School Association sport officials who need to complete a zero-level clinic as part of the requirements for becoming a patched IHSA official.

Unit 1. Officiating Past and Present
Introduction
The Evolution of Officiating in America
Homegrown American Sports
Effects of Title IX
The Current State of Officiating
Officials’ Shortage: Perception or Reality?
Summary
Quiz

Unit 2. Officiating as a Lifetime Career
Introduction
Starting as an Official
Improving Skills
Advancing to the Next Level
Keeping Officiating Enjoyable
Virtual Officials’ Clinic
Summary
Quiz

Unit 3. Your Officiating Style
Introduction
Components of Style
Factors That Influence Style
Intangible Factors
Tangible Factors
The Style Pyramid
Shifting Among the Styles
Rule Book and Laissez-Faire Styles
Experience Is the Name of the Game
Personal Characteristics and Performance Principles
What Makes a Good Official?
Do You Have What It Takes?
Virtual Officials’ Clinic
Summary
Quiz

Unit 4. Goal Setting
Introduction
Well-Defined Goals
Common Problems
Setting and Achieving Goals Effectively
Assessing Goals
Developing Your Personal Goals
Virtual Officials’ Clinic
Summary
Quiz

Unit 5. Communication Skills
Introduction
Why Communication Matters
Your Listening Skills
Strategic Listening
Barriers to Listening
Your Verbal Skills
Your Nonverbal Skills
Kinesics, or Body Language
Proxemics, of Spatial Relationships
Paralanguage
Nonverbal Skills Review
Summary
Quiz

Unit 6. Decision-Making Skills
Introduction
Essential Decision-Making Components
Know the Rules
Know the Language of the Sport
Communicate Decisions
Adapt to Rhythms and Strategies
Be in Proper Position
Focus
Work With Fellow Officials
Dancing Duo
Virtual Officials’ Clinic
Summary
Quiz

Unit 7. Mental Strategies
Introduction
Imagery
Understanding Imagery
Types of Imagery
Self-Talk
Positive, Negative, and Instructional Self-Talk
Managing Physical Stress
Summary
Quiz

Unit 8. Conflict Management
Introduction
Sources of Conflict
Parents
Coaches
Athletes
Reading the Signs
Planning for Conflict
Clear Your Head
Know Your Participants
Stay Objective
Don’t Take It Personally
Keys to Preventative Officiating
Conflict Management Tools
Presence
Voice
Body Language
Team Captains
Resolving Confrontations
How to Approach
Warnings, Penalties, and Ejections
Three Levels of Warnings
After the Game
Incident Reports
Evaluating Your Performance in Conflicts
Complete Conflict Management
Virtual Officials’ Clinic
Summary
Quiz

Unit 9. Fitness Principles for Officials
Introduction
Health-Related Physical Fitness
Principles of Physical Training
The FIT Formula
Aerobic Fitness
Muscle Fitness
Flexibility
Body Composition
Fitness Scenarios
Staying Injury Free
Healthy Eating
Staying Physically Fit
Virtual Officials’ Clinic
Summary
Quiz

Unit 10. An Officiating Personal Fitness Plan
Introduction
Are You Ready for Physical Activity?
Self-Assessments
Aerobic Fitness
Muscle Fitness
Flexibility
Body Composition
From Assessments to Goals
Conditioning Principles
Sport-Specific Fitness Activities
Build Your Own Fitness Plan
Injuries
Acute or Chronic
RICE
Sprain, Strain, or Contusion?
Specific Common Injuries
Virtual Officials’ Clinic
Summary
Quiz

Unit 11. Legal Responsibilities
Introduction
Judicial Review of Officials’ Game Calls
Your Liability
Insurance
Athletes’ Well-Being
Athlete Injury
Four Duties
Your New Job: Independent Contractor
Summary
Quiz

Unit 12. Legal Rights and Business Responsibilities
Introduction
Useful Business Procedures
Using Contracts
Sample Officiating Contracts
Tracking Income and Expenses
Preparing Your Taxes
Liability Insurance
Game-Related Injuries
Civil Rights Violations and Discrimination
Sports’ Officials Associations
Review of Officials’ Game Calls
Summary
Quiz

Unit 13. Time Management
Introduction
Time Commitments of Officiating
Time Management Errors
Evaluating Your Time Management Skills
Summary
Quiz

Unit 14. Illinois High School Association (IHSA)
Introduction
Officials’ Center
Expectations
Growing as an Official
Conflict Resolution
What’s Next

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is a nonprofit volunteer organization that provides leadership for the development, supervision, and promotion of good sportsmanship in interscholastic competition and other activities in which its member schools choose to engage.

Established in 1981 and rooted in an athlete-centered philosophy that places the developmental needs of athletes ahead of winning at all costs, Human Kinetics Coach Education courses and resources are customized and widely used by youth sport organizations, state high school associations, school districts, state departments of education, colleges and universities, and national governing bodies of Olympic sports to teach, train, and certify coaches.