OHSAA Offers Online Training for Referees

In addition to adults being encouraged to become licensed sports referees, RefPrep is asking schools to offer the training curriculum “during the school day for students to begin the process of becoming a licensed official.”

The OHSAA statement also said some schools around the state already have begun offering the RefPrep class.

“We are doing something to attack this (shortage) and our member schools have said they want to help,” OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said. “If there are no officials, there are no games. RefPrep is a good online tool to learn the basics of officiating and it’s available anytime, so in addition to being available to use within schools, it’s also available for adults who otherwise couldn’t get to an in-person class.”

The statement said schools are encouraged to provide credit for students, such as physical education or workforce development. Ute said the training could lead to “instant employability.”

Anyone interested in becoming an official can visit the OHSAA website for more details.