OHSAA officials appreciation week set for Oct. 4-10

OHSAA officials during the 2026 North-South All-Star Classic at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com file)

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) has designated the week of Oct. 4-10 as Fall Sports Officials Appreciation Week.

Officials Appreciation Week is part of the OHSAA’s Respect the Game program, which encourages sportsmanship among student-athletes, coaches, officials, and spectators, and is held in conjunction with the National Federation of State High School Associations’ (NFHS) National High School Activities Month.

Athletic administrators are encouraged to utilize an OHSAA-provided public address script before all home games during the week and use their social media accounts to show appreciation for contest officials.

“We appreciate each and every one of the nearly 16,000 contest officials in the state of Ohio, and we are grateful for their ongoing service to Ohio’s student-athletes, coaches and member schools,” said OHSAA Director of Officiating Beau Rugg. “These individuals spend countless hours in clinics, rules meetings and professional development during the offseason, and they administer their assigned events with the highest integrity.”

Future appreciation weeks are set for Jan. 10-16, 2027 (winter sports) and April 4-10, 2027 (spring sports).

More information:

Respect the Game: https://www.ohsaa.org/Respect-the-Game

Officials Appreciation Week: https://www.ohsaa.org/Respect-the-Game/OHSAA-Officials-Appreciation-Weeks