To become a referee or umpire in Oregon, start by contacting the board of officials in your area. It is through local boards and association that high school referees in Oregon are trained. All associations are chartered by the Oregon Schools Activities Association.
The OSAA oversees certification of officials throughout the state. Through this organization, certification is available for the sports of: basketball, baseball, football, soccer, volleyball, wrestling and softball.
Find the board in your area using the drop down menu from the OreOfficials.org website (shown below). Once you select your sport, you will see a list of boards located throughout the state. Contact the one in your area to get more information about training opportunities.
Oregon Referee Training
To become an official you must be 18 years of age and a member of a local association. Typical training consists of classroom work and in-game instruction to help you with signals, mechanics and positioning. To become certified to work at the sub-varsity level, you must receive a passing grade on the NFHS rules exam.
As you gain officiating experience, you can become eligible to work at the varsity and state tournament levels. To advance to these levels you must achieve a higher minimum score on the NFHS rules exam. Varsity officials must score a minimum of 75%. Playoff official must score 90% and obtain OCEP Certification.
Yearly training consists of a minimum of six board meetings with at least ten hours of training. Officials must also submit to a criminal background check. Yearly dues collected by the association will cover the cost of membership, rule books and insurance.
As an official in Oregon, you will also be a member of the Oregon Athletic Officials Association. This group directly oversees and assists officials and boards throughout the state.
