OSAA approves 3-person officiating crews
OSAA release, Aug. 4, 2016
The OSAA Executive Board has approved the use of three-person officiating crews for the 6A, 5A and 4A basketball playoffs beginning in 2017. The expansion takes effect with this season's early round playoff games at high school sites as well as the quarterfinals through the state championship games at final/neutral sites.
Schools and leagues in all classifications will continue to have the option of using three or two-person crews during the regular season, provided the local officials associations are able to cover the games. This option was allowed, for the first time, during the 2015-16 season with nine of 38 leagues choosing to use three-person crews.
"Cooperation between the 17 local associations and OSAA member schools and leagues made the first year a positive one and we are excited to move forward," said Cindy Simmons, OSAA Assistant Executive Director in charge of basketball. "A strong commitment to training at the local association level has been a key to the success along with the financial commitment from schools and the OSAA Executive Board in adding an official. The vast majority of state high school associations in the country are using three-person crews during the regular and post season and we're looking forward to joining them."
At the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, information will be gathered from schools at all classification levels and a thorough review of the effects of using an additional official will be conducted. According to Simmons, the goal is to implement the use of three-person crews in the post-season for all classifications as soon as feasible.
