FIOAFlorida Interscholastic Officials Association, Inc.
Proposed bylaws · open for official review

One Voice for Florida Officials

An independent statewide association representing the shared professional interests of high school sports officials in every sport, in every region of Florida.

Membership opens January 1, 2027. Join by March 31, 2027 and your first year is free.

Register as a founding member
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One Voice

Every game matters. FIOA Florida Interscholastic Officials Association Join in the first 90 days · First year free

Every game
matters.

Every call matters.
Every official matters.

Too often, officials don't have
a seat at the table.

Not on pay.Not on safety.Not on the decisions that affect us.

AdvocacyResourcesSupportOpportunityA stronger voice

Independent.
One official. One vote.

Join during our first 90 daysFirst year freeMembership opens January 1, 2027
FIOAOfficials supporting officials.Florida officials, stronger together.

Mission

Represent. Advocate. Educate. Protect.

FIOA exists to independently represent, advocate for, educate, protect and advance the common professional interests of interscholastic sports officials throughout the State of Florida.

  1. 1Fair treatment of officials
  2. 2Appropriate compensation
  3. 3Safe working conditions
  4. 4Recruitment and retention
  5. 5Professional training and development
  6. 6Consistent and transparent officiating policies
  7. 7Fair disciplinary and grievance procedures
  8. 8Effective communication between officials and governing organizations
  9. 9Respect for local officials associations and their autonomy
  10. 10Meaningful statewide representation of officials in decisions affecting officiating
Founding principles

Independent by design

FIOA will not be controlled by any single local association, school, district, conference, assigning organization or governing body. It will work with all of them while keeping its responsibility to its members.

Representation

Carry officials' collective concerns to the governing organizations, schools, districts and conferences whose policies affect them.

Advocacy

Pay, travel reimbursement, safety, sportsmanship, recruitment, retention, training, evaluation, postseason opportunities and working conditions.

Communication

A statewide network so officials can get information and give feedback on the issues that affect them.

Research

Survey officials and publish findings on compensation, retention, shortages and working conditions statewide.

Professional development

Encourage training, mentoring and education for officials at every level of experience.

Due process

Push for fair, transparent and consistent procedures whenever an official faces disciplinary or administrative action.

What joining does not change

  • You keep your local officials association. Membership never requires you to leave, change or oppose it.
  • FIOA does not interfere with how local associations assign contests.
  • FIOA is not a division, affiliate or agent of the FHSAA unless a future written agreement expressly says so.
Membership & proposed dues

One official, one vote

Every active official who meets the membership requirements has a full and equal vote.

Founding member offer

Join free for the first 90 days

Membership opens January 1, 2027. Every member who joins by March 31, 2027 pays no dues for their first year, in every membership category.

Full voting rights

Active Official

$25per year

Anyone actively officiating interscholastic sports in Florida who meets the Board's membership requirements.

Voting set by Board policy

Retired Official

$15per year

Former officials can stay involved, serve on committees and take part in FIOA activities.

Organizational

Local Association

$250per year

A local officials association may join as an organization. It does not control its officials' individual votes.

Non-voting

Supporting Member

Setby the Board

Individuals or organizations who support the mission. They vote only if they also qualify as Active Officials.

Dues shown apply after the founding period. Dues are proposed. The Board may recommend changes, and any substantial increase in individual dues requires approval by the voting membership.

Founding member registration

Register as a founding member

Register now and your membership begins January 1, 2027. Everyone registered by March 31, 2027 pays no dues for their first year.

  1. Tell us who you are

    Your contact details, region, the sports you work and your FHSAA official ID.

  2. Answer one rules question

    Pick your primary sport and answer a question any working official in that sport should know. Get a different question if you need one.

  3. We confirm your registration

    The Board checks your official ID before your vote is activated. You'll get your member number right away.

Local associations and supporting members: registration for those categories opens separately.

Membership type
The ID number on your FHSAA officials registration.
Other sports you officiate optional
Challenge question

Choose your primary sport above to get your question.

Statewide representation

Six regions, six directors

Each region elects its own director, who represents every FIOA member in that region, not just their home association. The Board may adjust boundaries as membership grows.

Region 1Northwest Florida
Region 2Northeast Florida
Region 3North Central Florida
Region 4Central Florida
Region 5Southwest Florida
Region 6Southeast Florida
Governance

Built so no one person runs it

Term limits, independent elections and member referenda keep FIOA accountable to the officials it represents.

Board of Directors

  • President
  • Vice President
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Six Regional Directors

Sport representatives will be added as membership grows, balancing geography and sport:

FootballBasketballBaseballSoftballSoccerVolleyballWrestlingLacrosseTrack & FieldSwimmingOther sanctioned sports

Term limits

2 yrsOfficer and director terms
2Consecutive full terms, maximum, for President
3Consecutive terms, maximum, for Regional Directors

After sitting out one full term, a person may run for the same office again.

Elections & referenda

  • Secure electronic ballots whenever practical
  • An independent Election Committee runs every election
  • A sitting President never counts or certifies an election they are in
  • Candidate statements go to members before voting opens
  • Members can force a statewide referendum with a petition signed by 10% of Active Officials
Member protections

Disagreement is not misconduct

No retaliation

No member may be disciplined by FIOA solely for:

  • Criticizing FIOA leadership
  • Disagreeing with an FIOA position
  • Belonging to another officials organization
  • Working for another association when otherwise permitted
  • Raising concerns about officiating policy

Due process rights

Before any suspension or expulsion, a member has the right to:

  1. Receive written notice of the allegations
  2. Be told which rule or bylaw was allegedly violated
  3. Respond in writing or in person
  4. Have the matter decided by people without a conflict of interest
  5. Receive the final decision in writing
  6. Appeal under procedures set by the Board
Proposed bylaws · Articles I–XIV

Read the full text

This is the current draft for review by Florida's officials. Open any article to read it in full.

Article IName

The name of this organization shall be Florida Interscholastic Officials Association, Inc.

The organization may conduct business as FIOA.

Article IIIndependence

FIOA is an independent organization.

FIOA is not a division, affiliate or agent of the Florida High School Athletic Association unless a future written agreement expressly establishes such a relationship.

FIOA shall not be controlled by any individual local officials association.

Membership in FIOA shall not require an official to leave, change or oppose his or her local officials association.

FIOA shall not interfere with the ordinary assignment of contests by local officials associations.

Article IIIPurposes

FIOA is organized to advance the common professional interests of interscholastic sports officials in Florida. Its purposes include:

Representation

Represent the collective interests and concerns of Florida interscholastic officials before athletic governing organizations, schools, school districts, athletic conferences and other organizations whose policies affect officials.

Advocacy

Advocate concerning matters including compensation, travel reimbursement, safety, sportsmanship, recruitment, retention, training, evaluation, postseason opportunities and working conditions.

Communication

Create a statewide communication network through which officials can receive information and provide feedback regarding issues affecting officiating.

Research

Survey officials and publish information concerning compensation, retention, shortages, working conditions and other statewide officiating issues.

Professional Development

Encourage training, mentoring, education and professional development.

Due Process

Advocate for fair, transparent and consistent procedures when officials are subject to disciplinary or administrative actions.

Cooperation

Promote cooperation among Florida's local officials associations while respecting their independence.

Article IVMembership

FIOA shall have the following membership categories.

Active Official Member

Any person actively engaged in interscholastic sports officiating in Florida who satisfies membership requirements established by the Board. Active Official Members shall have full voting rights. One official = one vote.

Retired Official Member

Former interscholastic officials may maintain membership. Retired members may participate in committees and organizational activities. Voting rights may be established by Board policy.

Association Member

A local officials association may become an organizational member of FIOA. Association membership does not give the association ownership or control over the votes of its individual officials.

Supporting Member

Individuals or organizations supportive of FIOA's mission may become supporting members but shall not vote in elections unless independently qualified as Active Official Members.

Article VMembership Dues

Initial proposed dues:

  • Active Official: $25 annually
  • Retired Official: $15 annually
  • Local Association: $250 annually
  • Supporting Member: Amount established by the Board

Founding member waiver: membership opens January 1, 2027. All members who join within the first 90 days, through March 31, 2027, shall have their first year of dues waived.

The Board may recommend changes to dues. A substantial increase in individual dues shall require approval of the voting membership.

Article VIStatewide Regions

For representation purposes, Florida shall initially be divided into regions.

  • Region 1 — Northwest Florida
  • Region 2 — Northeast Florida
  • Region 3 — North Central Florida
  • Region 4 — Central Florida
  • Region 5 — Southwest Florida
  • Region 6 — Southeast Florida

The Board may adjust regional boundaries to maintain reasonable representation as membership grows. Each region shall elect its own representative. A regional representative shall represent all FIOA members within that region, not merely his or her home association.

Article VIIBoard of Directors

The Board shall initially consist of: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and six Regional Directors.

The organization should subsequently add sport representatives as membership warrants. Possible sport representatives include: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Soccer, Volleyball, Wrestling, Lacrosse, Track & Field, Swimming and other sanctioned sports.

The Board should ultimately balance geographic and sport representation.

Article VIIIOfficers

President

The President shall:

  • Preside over meetings.
  • Serve as principal spokesperson for FIOA.
  • Represent positions formally adopted by FIOA.
  • Establish committees with Board approval.
  • Maintain communication with statewide organizations affecting interscholastic officials.

The President shall not have unilateral authority to establish FIOA policy.

Vice President

The Vice President shall assist the President and perform presidential duties when the President is unavailable.

Secretary

The Secretary shall maintain minutes, membership records, official notices and organizational records.

Treasurer

The Treasurer shall maintain financial records, provide regular financial reports and oversee organizational funds.

Article IXTerm Limits

Officers shall serve two-year terms. No President shall serve more than two consecutive full terms.

Regional Directors shall serve two-year terms and may serve no more than three consecutive terms.

After sitting out one complete term, an individual may again seek the same office.

This provision is intended to prevent permanent control of FIOA by any individual or group.

Article XElections

Elections shall be conducted by secure electronic ballot whenever practical.

Every eligible Active Official Member shall have one vote for statewide officers.

Regional Directors shall be elected by eligible members residing or officiating within their respective regions.

Candidate names, qualifications and statements shall be distributed to members before voting begins.

Election results shall be documented and retained.

No sitting President shall control the counting or certification of an election in which the President is a candidate.

An independent Election Committee shall administer elections.

Article XIMember Referenda

Major matters affecting the statewide interests of officials may be submitted directly to the membership.

A statewide referendum may be initiated by a majority of the Board, or by a petition signed by at least 10% of Active Official Members.

The results shall be reported to the membership.

When FIOA publicly states that its membership supports or opposes a proposal, FIOA should identify whether that position resulted from a member vote, survey, Board action or other process.

Article XIIConflicts of Interest

Every officer and director owes a duty to FIOA as a statewide organization.

Board members shall disclose significant conflicts involving local officials associations; assigning organizations; schools or school districts; vendors; financial interests; or other organizations whose interests could conflict with FIOA.

A conflicted director may be required to abstain from voting.

No officer shall use FIOA to retaliate against an official, association or organization because of a personal dispute.

Article XIIINonretaliation

No member shall be disciplined by FIOA solely for:

  • Criticizing FIOA leadership;
  • disagreeing with an FIOA position;
  • belonging to another officials organization;
  • working for another association when otherwise permitted;
  • or communicating concerns regarding officiating policy.

Good-faith disagreement shall not constitute misconduct.

Article XIVDiscipline and Due Process

No member shall be suspended or expelled without appropriate notice of the allegations against the member and a reasonable opportunity to respond.

Disciplinary procedures shall be fair, impartial and consistent with these bylaws.

A member subject to suspension or expulsion shall have the right to:

  1. Receive written notice of the allegations.
  2. Receive notice of the applicable rule or bylaw allegedly violated.
  3. Present a written or oral response.
  4. Have the matter considered by individuals who do not have a material conflict of interest.
  5. Receive written notice of the final decision.
  6. Appeal the decision under procedures established by the Board.

Disciplinary action shall not be used to suppress legitimate disagreement, criticism of leadership, or good-faith participation in another officials organization.

No member shall be disciplined merely because that member disagrees with an official position adopted by FIOA.

Get involved

Help build FIOA

These bylaws are a proposal. They are stronger with input from officials in every sport and every region.

  1. Read the bylaws

    Go through Articles I–XIV above and note anything you would change.

  2. Share with your crew

    Pass this page to officials in your local association, in every sport you work.

  3. Raise it locally

    Bring FIOA up at your next association meeting and collect feedback.