To become a referee or umpire in Iowa, begin by registering with the Iowa High School Athletic Association. Registration can be done on online using a credit card. The IHSAA registers referees for the boys’ sports of football, basketball, soccer, baseball, ice hockey, swimming, wrestling and track & field.
To referee girls’ competitive sports including basketball, softball, volleyball, soccer, track and swimming, register with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.
All registration is done using the DragonFly platform. DragonFly services sports officials nationwide on behalf of the NFHS. For more information, visit the official’s page of the Iowa High School Athletic Association website.
Once you register, you will receive study materials including a rule book and case book and officials manual. To become licensed you must pass an online exam with a grade of 75%. The exam is open book. If you fail the exam you may re-take it two more times, after which you must wait until the following season to try again.
Iowa Referee Training
An Iowa referee license is available to anyone of high school age and above. High school students may work games at the 7th and 8th grade levels, but not above.
In order to work varsity games referees and umpires in Iowa must attend at least one IHSAA sponsored rules clinic during their first three years of officiating. Those who want to officiate post season tournament games must attend a clinic at least once every three years to stay eligible.
Before each new season, officials must view the online IHSAA rules meeting. In addition, referees and umpires are required to pass an online exam as part of an annual license renewal process. The renewal period begins June 1st.
