[UKisN1]

From the KHSAA and sent to all officials:

" Since the high school athletic season has begun, the KHSAA has had complaints regarding the assignment of officials that directly conflicts with the interest of those high school participants involved in the event. Therefore, it is important to once again remind all licensing officials, as well as Assignors, that in the annual copy you receive of the KHSAA Officials Licensing Guidebook (pages 6 and 7,2007-08 Guidebook) there is definitive information regarding the avoidance of accepting (and making) such assignments. It states:An official shall not knowingly accept assignment of a contest if any of the following conditions exist:a. If there is a KHSAA Officials Association Chapter that makes assignments through an assignment secretary and the assignment did not come through any authorized chapter assignments procedure.b. If any officials assigned to the contest is not a member in good standing withthe KHSAA.c. If the official or the officials's spouse is employed by any school fielding a team involved in the contest.d. If the official is related by blood or marriage as follows (parent, grandparent,child, grandchild, brother, sister, roommates, classmates, business associates orclose personal friends.e. If the official and any person affiliated with a team involved in a contest are former or present teammates, classmates, business associates, or close personalfriends.f. If the official or the officials spouse attended or worked at either school within the last 10 years.There are other, not listed in this email, provisions of this long-standing KHSAApolicy that officials must be aware of before accepting an officiating assignment. It is imperative that each official and Assignor familiarize yourself with this entire section of the KHSAA Officials Licensing Guidebook. Since in may often prove difficult for Assignors to annually know such specifics of every official within their Officials Association, it is critically important thatofficials keep the Assignor annually apprised of such conflicts. No one is accusing anyone of anything, but to those of us in officiating, we must beforever aware that the perception of integrity in our conduct is our ever-present. It is pre-supposed that we will stand for everything that is physically, mentallyand morally right about athletics. Impartiality is our calling-card. Even if thereis only a perceived conflict of interest, officials should avoid accepting such anassignment. The first time such a trust is violated confidence in your officiatingfairness begins to erode.Officials violating this Code of Ethics may be placed on probation, fined, suspendedor terminated from KHSAA membership.

Larry Boucher, Assistant Commissioner KHSAA