MOA OFFICIALS INFORMATION
MOA Officials Requirements
**Deadlines for renewed officials only
MHSA Rules Clinics– will be available on your Arbiter account. Fall (Soccer, Football, Volleyball) August 1 – August 27, 2025
Winter (Basketball, Wrestling) November 1 – December 3, 2025
Spring (Softball, Baseball) March 1 – March 25, 2026
NFHS Concussion in Sport – www.nfhslearn.com
June 1st – All officials must take the Concussion requirement no earlier than this date for 2025-2026. No other concussion course will be accepted. The concussion requirement must be completed by all officials prior to officiating in any MHSA contest.
The NFHS Concussion in Sport Certificate will transfer over to your Arbiter account within 48 hours. Please do not email you certificate to the MOA Office.
** Important- Your NFHSLearn log in email must match your Arbiter log in email in order to complete the requirement. Update all NFHSLearn information under your account.
Exam Dates- will be available on your Arbiter account . Fall (Soccer, Football, Volleyball) August 1 – August 27, 2025
Winter (Basketball, Wrestling) November 1 – December 3, 2025
Spring (Softball, Baseball) March 1 – March 25, 2026
Due Dates- renewed officials only. New officials do not have a deadline, but must have all requirements completed to be a MOA member.
Fall (Soccer, Football, Volleyball) August 27, 2025
Winter (Basketball, Wrestling) December 3, 2025
Spring (Softball, Baseball) March 25, 2026
MOA STUDY CLUB INFORMATION
Study clubs are an integral part of the official training program of the MOA and provide a continuous learning opportunity. The MOA office will provide appropriate study club materials for review and training. The Directors are responsible to facilitate study clubs in their region and for reporting attendance to the MOA office.
An official must attend at least six (6) study clubs in basketball, football, volleyball and/or wrestling in order to receive credit toward their rating. An official in baseball, soccer and/or softball must attend a minimum of four (4) study clubs. It is recommended that study clubs begin at least one week prior to the start of each season.
If an MOA member’s employment prevents him/her from attending study clubs, the official may receive credit for attendance if they comply as follows:
1. Make prior arrangements with the Director or head of the pool.
2. Complete and present the study club outlines to the Director or head of the pool in advance of the meeting they will miss.
3. Request an exception from the MOA office for certain military actions or other extenuating circumstances.
4. An official whose employment requires him/her to be away from home during the week may attend study clubs at an alternate pool location if he/she receives permission from the regional director(s) and the MOA Commissioner.
DYLAN STEIGERS PROTECTION OF YOUTH ATHLETES ACT (DSPYAA)
Governor Bullock signed the Dylan Steigers Protection of Youth Athletes Act into law and the requirements of the law mirror the NFHS/MHSA Return to Play rules that have been in place for the past few years but there are a few additional requirements of the law. Below is an overview of the law and how it will pertain to MOA officials:
- An athletic trainer, coach, or official shall remove a youth athlete from participation in any organized youth athletic activity at the time the youth exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion. (Same as current return to play rules)
- Each school district in this state offering organized youth athletic activities shall adopt policies and procedures to inform athletic trainers, coaches, officials, youth athletes and parents or guardians of the nature and risk of brain injuries, including the effects of continuing to play after a concussion. School districts shall ensure access to a training program which meets the requirements stated previously and each official, coach and athletic trainer shall complete the training program at least once each school year. (The MHSA/MOA will require each official to take the “NFHS Concussion in Sports – What You Need to Know” course each year to satisfy the education requirement of the law.)
- The online concussion course must be viewed after June 1st for an official to be eligible for the coming school year. The deadline for viewing the course will coincide with the deadline for viewing the rules clinic for each sport. For officials who work more than one sport, you must complete the concussion course by the rules clinic deadline for your first sport of the year. The concussion course must be completed only once per school year but it must be completed before officiating any high school scrimmage or game. The course certificate must show the full name in which you are registered. The penalty for not completing the concussion clinic by the deadline will be immediate suspension from the MOA until proof of concussion training is produced. Also, as with rules clinic deadlines, if you fail to complete concussion training prior to the published deadline, you will incur a loss of rating and loss of eligibility for post season assignment. The MOA official, by Montana state law, cannot work any scrimmage or contest until the concussion clinic has been viewed.
