Steps Needed To Be a PAID Official
What does it take to be a fully trained NHWOA member? First, it takes a commitment to your community and remembering why youth & high school officials are needed. We are the conduit to fair and safe competition resulting in amazing human beings.
To do your part, you need to:
Fill out the application
Acquire uniform & pay association dues
Attend preseason association meeting (late Oct or early Nov)
Attend 3 in-season online Zoom meetings and at least 1 on-mat meeting
UNPAID Training (1st year officials only)
- Read the Rule & Case books regularly
- Mirror mechanic (practice signal calling)
- Start w/ JV & youth events
- Shadow (no calls, learn to move on the mat and be in an official’s mindset)
- Assistant official
- Lead with assistant official (mentor only)
- Lead solo (mentor on side of mat to evaluate and provide sign-off)
Once #5 is complete or you are an incoming patched official in another state, you will officially be a paid apprentice official and be assigned solo matches.
For 1st year apprentice officials, the time it takes to be a paid official is up to you. It is influenced by your previous wrestling & coaching experience and your desire to be a serviceable paid official. We highly encourage you to get busy with items 5.1 & 5.2 above to begin the development process.