What sport officials are included in the KSOA?

Welcome to KSOA Football

  • About KSOA Football

    The Kansas Sports Officials Association provides a path for excellence in officiating for our football umpires through recruitment, training, evaluation, and networking. If you are not currently a KSOA referee, we encourage you to take a look around our website, specifically at our Member Benefits, Bylaws and Frequently Asked Questions.

     

    Becoming a KSOA member is easy and can be done completely online. The application to become a member can be found under Join Now and your options to pay annual dues are clearly laid out under Pay Dues. Annual dues are $40 for one sport, $50 for two sports, and $60 for three or more sports (a 3% transaction fee is charged for PayPal and credit card payments). If you have any questions about membership in the KSOA, don't hesitate to email our Membership Committee at [email protected].

  • 2026 KSOA Football Committee

    Bill Klecan

    Mark Zarybnicky

    Ricci Tucker 

  • Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA)

    In order to officiate high school football, referees must be registered with the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA). Click on the KSHSAA logo to learn more and to register as a KSHSAA official. The KSHSAA administrator for football is Jeremy Holaday ([email protected]).

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    KSHSAA Requirements to Officiate High School Football

    • Register with and pay KSHSAA dues

    • Successful completion of a NFHS Football rules test (a score of 90 or higher to be eligible to officiate post season contests)

    • Attend a KSHSAA rules meeting (either in-person or online this year)

    • Attend a KSHSAA Area Supervisor Meeting (to be eligible to officiate post season contests)

    ​*KSHSAA football referees may complete their rules meeting requirement either in-person or online. A full list of meeting dates and times can be found here.

  • National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

    The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is the overarching governing body of high school football. Below are links to NFHS Football publications.

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    2026-27 Football Rules Changes

  • Please note the following important 2026 KSHSAA Football dates:

    Beginning Practice Date--August 17, 2026

    First Possible Jamboree--August 28-29, 2026

    Earliest Possible Games--September 2, 2026

    First Friday Night Games--September 5, 2026

    Regional Games--November 6, 2026

    Sectional Games--November 13, 2026

    Sub-State Games--November 20, 2026

    State Championship Games--November 27-28, 2026

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  • 2025 Kansas State Champions

    1A - 8 man DI: South Central

    1A - 8 man DII: Hanover

    1A-: Sterling

    2A: Nemaha Centra

    3A: Andale

    4A: Kapaun Mt. Carmel

    5A: Salina-Central

    6A: Manhattan

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  • Call the Game (CTG)

    • Call the Game (John Dehan) is the Director of Officials, assigning softball officials for the following high schools:

      Eastern Kansas

      St. James, Blue Valley, Blue Valley North, Blue Valley Northwest, Blue Valley Southwest, Blue Valley West, St. Thomas Aquinas, Bishop Miege

      Kaw Valley

      Bishop Ward

      Meadowlark

      Atchison, J C Harmon, F L Schlagle, Sumner, Washington, Wyandotte, Highland Park

      Sunflower

      Gardner Edgerton, Lawrence, Free State, Olathe East, Olathe North, Olathe Northwest, Olathe South, Olathe West, Shawnee Mission East, Shawnee Mission North, Shawnee Mission Northwest, Shawnee Mission South, Shawnee Mission West, Mill Valley

      United Kansas

      Basehor-Linwood, De Soto, Piper, Turner, Lansing, Leavenworth, Spring Hill, Shawnee Heights, Topeka West, Seaman

      Those schools are within the following counties: Atchison, Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami, Shawnee, Wyandotte.

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    The Call the Game Sport Coordinators for football are Bill Klecan & Mark Zarybnicky.