GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In 2018, at the request of its members, the FHSAA staff created an Officials Compensation Task Force to review officials game fees, travel fees and administrative fees. This Task Force was made up of five (5) members of the Officials Advisory Committee and five (5) members of the Athletic Director's Advisory Committee. In 2019 a raise went into effect based on the recommendations of that Task Force.
In 2022 the Task Force was re-convened to evaluate the state of official’s pay, amongst other items. The Task Force met six (6) times starting in Fall 2022 through Fall 2023. The goal of the Task Force and the FHSAA was to come up with a new fee structure for officials and associations that was suitable to all parties.
At its final meeting in September, the Task Force recommended an increase based on the average 2023-24 game fees paid among all eight (8) southeastern states (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida). The agreed upon increase comes in slightly above the average fees paid and includes travel fees for officials traveling less than 50 miles, one way, from the official's association address to the host school. Any official traveling 50-74 miles, one way, will receive an additional $10 fee, and 75+ miles an additional $10. In all, up to $30 (including the $10 in the game fee for all officials) in travel can be earned based on the one-way distance traveled. In all cases, the agreed upon fees are the maximum fees, inclusive of game plus travel, that may be paid by any FHSAA member school to any FHSAA registered officials association. This fee structure does not preclude the payment of lower fees, if agreed upon. This increase will take place beginning with the 2024-25 school year.
The FHSAA will also increase 2024-25 State Series compensation for officials similarly. District tournament game fees will include travel. However, due to the unique travel requirements for region tournament and state tournament contests, the current travel rate of $.89 per mile, one way, will continue to be applied.
In addition to official's compensation, the Task Force recommended a fee structure for Official’s Associations, capping what a school can be charged, inclusive of all fees. These are also maximums and does not preclude the schools and associations negotiating lower fees. The Task Force also discussed the collaborative effort to recruit officials, retention of officials, officials training, and other pertinent topics. FHSAA staff has agreed to reconvene the Task Force to discuss all additional topics as needed, but at a minimum, officials' compensation will be reviewed every two (2) years.
- Click HERE for Officials Compensation Structure
- Click HERE for Officials Association Administrative/Booking Fee Structure
- Click HERE for FHSAA Local Officials Association Directory
For any questions, please contact Associate Executive Director for Athletic Services, Scott Jamison.
About the FHSAA
The Florida High School Athletic Association supervises and regulates interscholastic athletic programs for high school students at member public, private and charter schools. The organization also recognizes and honors academic achievement among student-athletes at over 800 middle, junior and senior high schools statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, it is the official governing body for interscholastic athletics in Florida.