Rebecca recognized in OSAA article as first female official in Oregon to work a State Championship football game. She is one of only 5 female football officials of Oregon's 663 total HS football officials. The PFOA has 3 of those! Click the link to read the article. It primarily covers the all female soccer crew but includes mention of Rebecca as well. Well deserved recognition.

If you know anyone who thinks Recruiting, Retention and training aren't important...have them look at this. It is coming here, already an epidemic in some places.

Reasons cited here may or may not be main factor, but it IS a factor.

http://hillsdale.net/sports/20180914/opinion-officiating-shortage-reaching-epidemic-proportions-in-michigan

U-Mat Jennings, H-Rebecca Brisson, R-Dan Blickenstaff, L-Jeff Walter, B-Greg Nicklas, Alt-Brian Nebrensky

Alt-Doug Phillips, H-Keith Parsons, B-Jay Carnegie, R-Mike Chesbrough, L-Sean Walker, U-Steve Orr

U-Nathan Helwig, H-Bill Elzie, R-Tom Rinella, Alt-Ernest Simpson, L-Ryan Miller, B-Jim Gregory

At Hermiston.....8 man football at its finest! St. Paul vs Wallowa

U-Scott Birkhofer, B-Alan Polaski, R-Steve Fawver, L-Kirk Ordway, H-Alan Baird

FROM BRAD GARRETT, OSAA:

REGARDING GAME BALLS:

Wilson is the official game ball throughout the playoffs. It is mandated by the OSAA to be the REQUIRED game ball. Officials are to inform the OSAA if it is not  being used by teams.

. STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS – ADOPTED BALL (OSAA Handbook, Executive Board Policies) (Fall 2010) The OSAA shall require that the officially adopted ball for that sport be used in all state championship contests, first round through final sites.

A. State Championship Contests at Home Sites. 

a) Procedure.  Officials shall confirm that both teams use the officially adopted ball (Wilson footballs).  If either team uses balls that are not the officially adopted balls, the contest shall be played, and officials shall report the school or schools in violation to the OSAA.

b) Penalty.  A school, which is found to have used a non adopted ball in an OSAA state championship contest, shall be subject to fines, forfeiture and/or other penalties as determined by the OSAA Executive Board.

 In cases where a ball fails to have the NFHS Authenticating Mark, officials do not need to require the school go find another ball before starting the game.  Just record it and let me know and I will follow up with the school.  

Bottom line is play the game and let me know if the stamp is not present…

 Let me know if you have questions.

Brad Garrett, Assistant Executive Director

Important reminder from the OSAA pertinent to thunder/lightning!

47.   Lightning Safety Guidelines  (From "NFHS Sports Rules Books")

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide a default policy to those responsible for making decisions concerning the suspension and restarting of contests based on the presence of lightning.

Proactive Planning:
1)       Assign a staff member to monitor local weather conditions before and during events.
2)       Develop an evacuation plan, including identification of appropriate nearby shelters.
3)       Develop criteria for suspension and resumption of play:
a)       Recognition.  When thunder is heard, or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning.  Suspend play and take shelter immediately.
b)       Thirty-minute Rule.  Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30-minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play.
c)       Any subsequent thunder or lightning* after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.

d) When lightning-detection devices or mobile phone apps are available, this technology could be used to assist in making a decision to suspend play if a lightning strike is noted to be within 10 miles of the event location. However, you should never depend on the reliability of these devices and, thus, hearing thunder or seeing lightning* should always take precedence over information from a mobile app or lightning-detection device.

* – At night, under certain atmospheric conditions, lightning flashes may be seen from distant storms. In these cases, it may be safe to continue an event. If no thunder can be heard and the flashes are low on the horizon, the storm may not pose a threat. Independently verified lightning detection information would help eliminate any uncertainty.

4)   Hold periodic reviews for appropriate personnel.

OSAA Staff

Revised and Approved March 2018