Membership
All members must be registered with the FHSAA . The minimum age is 18. Current procedures require all prospective high school officials to be members of a sanctioned local association. FHSAA registration is accomplished on-line at iFHSAA. The MFOA registration form for 2010 -11 is now available ONLY on the ArbiterSports web site. Please login to Arbiter to get those forms.. Per the FHSAA: "Pursuant to the Jessica Lunsford Act, it also will be necessary for each school, or school district, to check your name against the state and national listings of sexual offenders and sexual predators. A level 2 background screening (fingerprinting) is no longer mandatory."
New members can contact members of the Recruiting Committee , or you may contact the Commissioner . High school seniors the FHSAA has started a new program if you are 17 years old. The Student Official Program allows you to start officiating while still in school. A veteran official is assigned to you as a personal mentor. See the S.O.P. manual. Transfers from another Florida officials association need to have their association send to our secretary information inlcuding your status with the association, meetings attended, all day clinic attendance and games worked. Transfers from out of state need to do the above AND have the state association write the FHSAA Officials Registrar as to your status and history with them. Please have them copy the MFOA Secretary. Refer to the FHSAA Officials Guidebook 801.01. Deadline for submission to the FHSAA is within 30 days of your registration with them.
Current members must renew their membership by the following dates:
Football July 15
Basketball September 1
Baseball/Softball January 1
Dues
MFOA dues are $30.00 annually plus a per sport booking fee.
Booking fee by sport: Baseball $ 25.00
Basketball 40.00
Football 25.00
Softball 25.00
FHSAA registration is $34.00. This includes membership in the NFOA, which includes health and liability insurance. The fee for a second sport is $27.00.
Meetings
The all day clinic is mandatory. At least ten clinics annually will be scheduled for each sport, to include the all day /field training clinic. Preseason clinics may also include study sessions in preparation for the FHSAA test. In-season clinics will focus on mechanics and rule situations. Meeting attendance is rewarded through the points in our relative rating scale.
The FHSAA requires officials to attend the annual rules clinic. A fine is levied for non-attendance. Officials are encouraged to attend the FHSAA regional field clinic each year, for a fee. The FHSAA also gives a supervised, closed-book examination which is mandatory. A score of 75 or higher is required to work varsity contests.
The MFOA holds an annual business meeting, usually in March, for the purpose of conducting association business, including the annual budget, changes to the constitution and election of officers. All members are encouraged to attend.
The Executive Board meets as required. Meetings are open to all members.
The MFOA is particularly proud of its members who have moved on to higher levels of officiating.
A. F. "Bud" Holt, FHSAA Hall of Fame, June 18, 1998
Mark Kelsay, Southeastern Conference football
David Jones, National Basketball Association, #36, joined in 1989-90 season. Prior to that David was a member of the football and basketball staffs of the Southeastern Conference.
Mike McGinnis, Southeastern Conference football line judge, now retired.
Ken Williamson, Sun Belt, Referee for 2007 Liberty Bowl
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Last Updated June 22, 2009 by Jeff D'Amelio