Home

Officials Code of Ethics

(ADAPTED FROM SOUTHWEST OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION)

CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT: Each GHSA official shall:


  1. Constantly uphold the honor and dignity of the avocation of officiating in all personal conduct and relations with the student-athletes, coaches, administrators, fellow-officials, and the general public.
  2. Devote time, thought, and study to the rules of the game and to the mechanics necessary to apply these rules so that the officiating performance will be carried out in a fair and professional manner. An official must be prepared both physically and mentally, dress according to expectations, and maintain a proper appearance that is befitting the professional image of an official.
  3. Uphold the By-Laws and the legal regulations of the GHSA – being aware that high school officiating involves a public trust.
  4. Exercise a high level of integrity when entering into contractual negotiations with GHSA schools.
  5. Never discriminate unfairly by dispensing special favors or privileges to anyone (whether for remuneration or not); and never accept favors or benefits under circumstances which might be construed by reasonable persons as influencing the performance of one's officiating duties.
  6. Make no private promises of any kind binding upon the duties of officials since a GHSA official has no private word which can be binding on public duty.
  7. Expose corruption and breaches of integrity wherever discovered.
  8. Work with fellow officials and the Georgia High School Association in a spirit of harmony and cooperation in spite of differences of opinion that may arise.



STANDARDS OF CONDUCT: Each GHSA official must avoid any action, whether specifically prohibited by this code or not, which might result in or create the appearance of a violation of these standards of conduct which include – but are not restricted to:


  1. Using one's position as a GHSA official for private gain – exclusive of payment for games worked. (No official shall seek to influence a coach or administrator for the purpose of promoting personal officiating opportunities.)
  2. Giving preferential treatment to any school or coach.
  3. Being involved in any action that gives the appearance of a loss of impartiality or neutrality. No official should accept any assignment at a school where he/she graduated within the last 10 years, at a school where he/she is employed, had player-coach contact previously with any coach involved, or has relatives affiliated with a school as a student or an employee.
  4. Making a GHSA decision outside of official channels.
  5. No member will engage in criminal, dishonest, notoriously disgraceful, or immoral conduct – or any other conduct adversely affecting the confidence of the public or member schools in the integrity of the Georgia High School Association.
  6. No member shall engage in any behavior that can be defined as sexual harassment by a reasonable person.
  7. Use any substance prior to officiating a game/match that would impair his/her physical or mental performance. An official should not use alcoholic beverages at all on the day of a game/match.
  8. While wearing any article of clothing that identifies the individual as a sports official, each member's speech and actions during or enroute to or from a game/match shall be above reproach and should always demonstrate a strong example of sportsmanship, courtesy, and self-control.
  9. No official shall criticize any other official or any association within the GHSA in the presence of coaches, administrators, players, spectators, or the media before, during, or after a game/match.
  10. No official shall fail to honor an officiating contract.


When there are violations of the Code of Ethics, the Executive Director of the GHSA may direct penalties involving fines, probation periods of varying lengths, and/or suspensions of varying lengths. Persons receiving such penalties have the right to appeal their cases before the GHSA Appeals Committee.