National Federation of State High School Associations Executive Director Bob Gardner penned the following op-ed on the need and benefits of high school officiating: They don’t make the headlines, their names are not in the box scores and they don’t make the all-star teams, but perha... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is proud to announce its 2017-18 Officials of the Year in 20 IHSA sports. To be considered for this honor, an official must first be nominated by an Officials Association recognized by the IHSA. IHSA staff members then vote on the winners based on factors ... Read more

Photo courtesy of the Peoria Journal Star Long-time Peoria Journal Star Sports Editor Kirk Wessler (above left) will be inducted into the United States Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame as a part of the festivities at the 2018 NCAA Final Four. While he is being honored for his work ... Read more

The IHSA, and high school associations around the country, are need of more officials in all sports. The North Suburban Conference and Northern Lake County Conference are helping in those efforts, as they will host an Officials Open House at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire on Saturday, Marc... Read more

Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Announces Hall of Fame Class, Annual Award Winners The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) has announced its annual award winners, including its Hall of Fame Class for 2018. High school coaches and players among the honorees included: HOF COAC... Read more

The following individuals will be honored for their contributions to the sport of high school cross country in Illinois as the 2017 IHSA Cross Country Honorary Officials at the State Final Meet on Saturday, November 4, 2017: PAUL BEIERSDORF Paul Beiersdorf is a swimmer by trade and a part of the... Read more

Photo courtesy of the Belleville News-Democrat The man in the white hat. For 40 of his 55 years as a football official, Rich Herndon has been that guy — the referee and crew chief — working on high school gridirons all over Southern Illinois. But following Civic Memorial&rsquo... Read more

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is beginning the second year of the #MyReasonWhy campaign, which is designed to showcase the tremendous value that high school sports and activities offer to students. In the first year of the #MyReasonWhy campaign, more than 500 un... Read more

US Lacrosse and the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced a partnership centered around officials development efforts in the IHSA’s newest sports, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, on October 4, 2017. “We’re excited to work together with the IHSA to help ensure ... Read more

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and its 51 state high school associations begin the annual celebration of National High School Activities Month next week with a focus on sportsmanship and a salute to the more than 500 million fans of high school sports. The NFHS ha... Read more

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Oral History Program is proud to release a new collection of interviews telling the story of high school sports in Illinois through the words of students, coaches, referees, broadcasters and administrators. "For more than a hundred years high schoo... Read more

Today (August 7, 2017) marks the start of the 2017-18 season for football and golf at IHSA member schools. Later this week, other fall sports will begin their seasons. As this new school year begins, the IHSA hopes everyone will take the necessary precautions to ensure the safest playing environment... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) will hold its 18th annual Officials Conference on Friday and Saturday, July 21-22 in East Peoria. The event will unfold at the East Peoria Embassy Suites and East Peoria Community High School. The theme of this year’s conference is “Embrace Hig... Read more

On Sunday, July 2, 2017, IHSA official Bill Laude was inducted into the NFHS National High School Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the NFHS Summer Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island. Laude is one of the most decorated officials in IHSA history. In his 50-year career he is one in a handful of offic... Read more

The following individuals will be honored for their contributions to the sport of high school track & field in Illinois as the 2017 IHSA Boys Track & Field Honorary Referees at the Spring Spectacular on Saturday, May 27, 2017: KEVIN DOOLEY Kevin Dooley was a three-year varsity track &... Read more

As a part of the #MyReasonWhy campaign, IHSA Track & Field and Cross Country official Jamero Rainey shared the reason why he officiates high school track and XC: Read more

While it is not a category that the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) formally tracks in its archives, the Association believes that Shelbyville High School senior Jordan Sieger (above left) is making a unique bit of history at the 2017 IHSA Boys Track & Field State Finals. Sieger becam... Read more

History was made at the 2017 IHSA Boys Gymnastics State Finals on the judging panel, as Lora Boehne Kalka was selected to work the event at Hinsdale Central High School. Lora became the first female official selected to work the boys’ state final meet in the 66-year history of the IHSA Sta... Read more

The following individuals will be honored for their contributions to the sport of high school track & field in Illinois as the 2017 IHSA Girls Track & Field Honorary Referees at the Spring Spectacular on Saturday, May 20, 2017: GLENN COTHERN Glenn Cothern is one of the most dedicated a... Read more

As a part of the #MyReasonWhy campaign, IHSA Cheerleading and Dance official Shaunda Brown recently shared the reason why cheer and dance are so important to their high school communities. Read more

The Mekeel family has cemented its status as trailblazers among the IHSA wrestling and officiating communities. The family first made history at the 2015 IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals (click for story), when patriarch Don was joined by son Ryan in officiating the state tournament. The as... Read more

The 18th annual IHSA Officials Conference is slated for July 21-22 in East Peoria, with Embassy Suites in East Peoria serving as the host (reserve room here by June 29). On April 1, the IHSA released an informational brochure for the event, which is annually attended by over 500 IHSA officials, w... Read more

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) annually bestows an honor, regarded as the highest achievable accolade in high school sports and activities, upon 11 individuals with their respective enshrinement into the NFHS National High School Hall of Fame. The Illinois High Scho... Read more

A legendary athlete in the Springfield area, Herbert Scheffler is believed to be the first person in state history to play, coach and officiate in an IHSA State Final Tournament. For Scheffler, all three came on the hardwood. He was a part of the Springfield High School basketball team that won t... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is proud to announce its 2016-17 Officials of the Year in 20 IHSA sports. To be considered for this honor, an official must first be nominated by an Officials Association recognized by the IHSA. IHSA staff members then vote on the winners based on factors ... Read more

On January 5, 2017, the Jerseyville High School vs. Carlinville High School girls’ basketball contest had a family feel to it, at least for the three individuals in the black and white striped shirts. The officiating crew that worked that evening’s game featured veteran official Chuck Ra... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has announced that it will hold a free educational event for potential lacrosse officials at Glenbard West High School’s fieldhouse on Sunday, January 15, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The free event will feature IHSA boys’ lacrosse clinici... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

The following individuals will be honored for their contributions to the sport of high school cross country in Illinois as the 2016 IHSA Cross Country Honorary Officials at the State Final Meet on Saturday, November 5, 2016: CURT & ANITA DURHAM The husband-wife tandem of Curt and Anita Dur... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is proud to take part in the National Federation of State High School Association’s (NFHS) new high school participation campaign #MyReasonWhy. There are countless benefits to participating in high school sports and activities, but a lot of concer... Read more

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and its 51 state high school associations begin the annual celebration of National High School Activities Month today with the launch of the #MyReasonWhy campaign. The #MyReasonWhy campaign is designed to showcase the tremendous val... Read more

The story below is courtesy of Mary Kaull, communications coordinator for Rockford Public Schools. Click here to subscribe to the RPS blog, and follow RPS on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram. Photo courtesy of Alan Leon. Less than 5 percent of referees for the Illinois High School Association... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) will hold its 17th annual Officials Conference on Friday and Saturday, July 22-23 in East Peoria. The event will unfold at the East Peoria Embassy Suites and East Peoria Community High School. The theme of this year’s conference is “Excellence ... Read more

  Legendary IHSA official Larry Wilcoxen (pictured above middle, photo courtesy of the Bureau County Republican) of Walnut, Illinois passed away on July 3, 2016. Below is a statement from IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson on Wilcoxen's extraordinary service and a link to more on the life ... Read more

The following individuals will be honored for their contributions to the sport of high school track & field in Illinois as the 2016 IHSA Boys Track & Field Honorary Referees at the Spring Spectacular on Saturday, May 28, 2016: GEZA EHRENTREU Geza became an IHSA licensed official 39 yea... Read more

The following individuals will be honored for their contributions to the sport of high school track & field in Illinois as the 2016 IHSA Girls Track & Field Honorary Referees at the Spring Spectacular on Saturday, May 21, 2016: LARRY FOSTER A veteran high school teacher, coach and offici... Read more

The photo above and story below are printed with permission from the Journal Gazette & Times Courier in Charleston/Mattoon: Charleston graduate Megan Hjort was happy to be one of the three officials to work Thursday's Mattoon-Charleston girls' soccer game since she knows how big the rivalry i... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and Illinois Wrestling Coaches & Officials Association (IWCOA) took time out to honor Dr. Joseph Pedersen during the 2016 IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals at the State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign/Urbana. Joe has ... Read more

Four Grand Marshals, who have combined to contribute more than 140 years to the sport of wrestling, will lead the annual Grand March of Finalists Saturday night before the championship bouts of the 79th IHSA Individual Wrestling State Final Tournament. First held in 1975, the annual March of Fina... Read more

Fairview Heights native George Hass is not only a veteran IHSA official with over 35 years of experience, he is also a United States military veteran. George served in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1960, serving as an aircraft mechanic and training Naval cadets out of Pensacola flight school. ... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is proud to announce its 2015-16 Officials of the Year in 20 IHSA sports. To be considered for this honor, an official must first be nominated by an Officials Association recognized by the IHSA. IHSA staff members then vote on the winners based on factors ... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

Members of the Southern Illinois Basketball Officials Association (a group that has since expanded to provide officials for area high school contests in football, volleyball, baseball, and softball in addition to boys’ and girls’ basketball) made time during the busy holiday season to gi... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

As the United States honors its military Veterans today (November 11, 2015), the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced two new initiatives aimed at recognizing and giving back to military veterans who also serve as IHSA Officials. The first is a new patch for officials who are U.S. Mi... Read more

"As the Illinois High School Association’s football administrator, my inbox on Monday mornings in the fall is often filled with messages asking me to review calls or judgments made by officials during the course of that weekend’s contests. Just this weekend, I received an email from M... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced today that varsity high school football teams throughout the state will wear Play Smart. Play Hard. helmet decals (shown above) throughout the season in a show of solidarity amongst coaches and players. “Communities throughout Illinois r... Read more

A pair of Illinois High School Association officials were selected to work the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, Calif., July 25-Aug. 2. Mokena native Bob Reczek (pictured left) and Lake Zurich resident Jerry Blum (pictured right) had each been selected to work the IHSA Girls Basketb... Read more

The Illinois High School Association is proud to have two licensed IHSA Officials who have been selected to work the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, California from July 25-August 2. Jerry Blum (right) and Bob Reczek (left) have both been selected to work the basketball t... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) will hold its 16th annual Officials Conference on Friday and Saturday, July 17-18 in East Peoria. The event will unfold at the East Peoria Embassy Suites and East Peoria Community High School. The theme of this year’s conference is “Big Game. B... Read more

The following individuals will be honored for their contributions to the sport of high school track & field in Illinois as the 2015 IHSA Boys Track & Field Honorary Referees at the Spring Spectacular on Saturday, May 30, 2015: CRENDEN KELLER Crenden Keller took a roundabout way to becoming ... Read more

The following individuals will be honored for their contributions to the sport of high school track & field in Illinois as the 2015 IHSA Girls Track & Field Honorary Referees at the Spring Spectacular on Saturday, May 23, 2015: SANDY JENKINS Sandy Jenkins has dedicated much of her life to y... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced  on May 12, 2015 the launch of the Play Smart. Play Hard. campaign focused on furthering the IHSA’s commitment to enhancing the safety of Illinois’ student-athletes and collaborating with others who share that mission. The campai... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

The Illinois High School Association’s Journalism State Series celebrated its 10th anniversary on Friday, May 1, 2015 when the 2015 State Final tournament was contested on the Eastern Illinois University campus in Charleston. Several individuals have been involved with the tournament for ea... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

Decorated IHSA Official Don Mekeel made history this year when he stepped onto the mat to officiate his 13th total IHSA Wrestling State Final at the State Farm Center in Champaign. While few officials have officiated more combined individual and dual team wrestling state tournaments than Don, the hi... Read more

Four Grand Marshals, who have combined to contribute more than 140 years to the sport of wrestling, will lead the annual Grand March of Finalists Saturday night before the championship bouts of the 78th IHSA Individual Wrestling State Final Tournament. First held in 1975, the annual March of Fina... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is proud to announce its 2014-15 Officials of the Year in 20 IHSA sports. To be considered for this honor, an official must first be nominated by an Officials Association recognized by the IHSA. IHSA staff members then vote on the winners based on factors ... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

Veteran officials will tell you that the majority of calls that occur during a contest fall within the 50-50 variety. Meaning that when the whistle blows, one half of the gymnasium will be critical of the result, while the other fanbase celebrates it. IHSA volleyball official Sharon Walker (r... Read more

As the school year begins, it’s a good time for all of us to reflect on the important role officials play in education based interscholastic programs. Most, if not all officials, get involved in high school sports because they love the game and they want to give back to young people. We know f... Read more

The 2013-14 IHSA Officials of the Year at the IHSA Officials Conference in Peoria. OCTAVIO HERRERA JR. - FOOTBALL Octavio has been an IHSA football official for nearly 30 years, while also officiating basketball, baseball, softball and lacrosse for the IHSA. A Brother Rice alum, he serves as ... Read more

Palatine native and 2013-14 IHSA Water Polo Official of the Year Michael Mitchell on why he officiates: “Our youth are the most important resource that we have. I am grateful for the chance to be a part of the interscholastic experience of today’s high school students while promotin... Read more

On June 16, 2014, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) conducted its recognition ceremony for its eighth annual class of IHSA Distinguished Service Award winners. Members of the IHSA staff, Board of Directors and past honorees gathered to recognize the honorees and their families. The 2014 wi... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

The IHSA will honor the following three individuals as the 2014 IHSA Boys Track & Field Honorary Referees at the Spring Spectacular on Saturday, May 31, 2014. Dwayne Foote Dwayne Foote began his track & field career at Libertyville High School in 1954, running varsity hurdles and on the... Read more

To say that track is special to the Kittell family may be a significant understatement. Keith Kittell has coached high school track for 31 years, while his wife Barb has scored meets for over 25 years. As a team, they raised Kirk and Kate, who both ran track at Lewistown High School. Keith, Barb and... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

Four Grand Marshals, who have combined to contribute more than 140 years to the sport of wrestling, will lead the annual Grand March of Finalists Saturday night (Feb. 22) before the championship bouts of the 77th IHSA Individual Wrestling State Final Tournament. First held in 1975, the annual March ... Read more

The letter below was sent to the IHSA by Guilford High School Cheerleading Coach Shelli McGinley and published with her consent:   "I wanted to take a few minutes of your time to express my ultimate gratitude to an IHSA Official. I don't often find myself writing letters of this nature, ho... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

As a part of the IHSA Do What’s Right! Sportsmanship Program, member school personnel and licensed IHSA officials have the ability to recognize acts of exemplary sportsmanship and integrity that occur in IHSA events throughout the school year via the Sport A Winning Attitude Report (SAWA). Tho... Read more

The 2012-13 IHSA Officials of the Year at the IHSA Officials Conference in Peoria. Read more