Baton Rouge Area Football Officials Association, INC.
Code of Ethics and Policy Statement
SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION
Member officials of the Baton Rouge Area Football Officials Association (BRAFOA) have a duty to act as impartial judges of interscholastic sports competitions. This duty carries with it an obligation to perform with accuracy, fairness and objectivity. Though member officials work contests played by amateur athletes, every official must approach each game assignment in a professional manner. Because of their role in athletic competition, member officials must have a high degree of commitment and expertise. It is because of this role that a high ethical standard is imposed on BRAFOA members.
SECTION 2 – PURPOSE
This Code of Ethics is designed to provide BRAFOA members a set of guidelines and ethical standards to govern their behavior and conduct and to recognize the need to preserve and encourage confidence in the sports officiating profession.
SECTION 3 – CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT
Each member of the BRAFOA:
- Officials shall be free of obligation to any interest other than the independent, impartial and fair judging of interscholastic sports competitions. Game decisions which are slanted by personal bias are dishonest and unacceptable.
- Officials shall recognize that anything which may give the appearance of or lead to a conflict of interest, either real or apparent, must be avoided. Gifts, favors, special treatment, privileges, employment, or a personal relationship with an individual, school, or team which may compromise the perceived impartiality of an official must be avoided.
- Each official has an obligation to treat other officials with professional dignity and courtesy.
- Officials shall never publicly criticize another official or the association, or express disagreement with another officials.
- Each official has a responsibility to continuously seek self-improvement through study of the game, rules, mechanics and techniques of game management.
- Each official shall work to eliminate from the officiating profession all practices which are a discredit to the profession and the association.
- No official shall be a party to any action designed to unfairly limit or restrain access to officiating, officiating assignments or membership in the association. This includes, but is not limited to actions based on race, creed, color, age, sex religion, physical handicap or national origin.
- Each official shall be in good physical condition, are both mentally and physically prepared to officiate and be prompt for all officiating assignments.
- Each official shall at all times display actions that are a credit to the officiating profession and the association.
- Each official shall wear the proper uniform and patches (if applicable) as prescribed in the LHSAA mechanics manual.
- Each official shall promptly pay all dues and fines as well as complete all tests and other membership requirements.
- Each official shall complete and submit all game forms as required in a timely manner as prescribed by BRAFOA and LHSAA.
- Each official shall follow LHSAA and BRAFOA prescribed mechanics and approved techniques in all officiating assignments.
- Each official shall avoid the use of tobacco products at game sites.
- No official shall accept any officiating assignment unless they are in good standing with their local chapter.
- Each official shall devote sufficient time and study to the rules of the game and the mechanics necessary to enforce the rules so that each official is able to officiate in a fair, impartial and unbiased manner.
SECTION 4 – STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
Each member of the BRAFOA must avoid any action, whether or not specifically stated in this code, which might result in or create the appearance of a violation of these standards of conduct which include, but are not limited to:
- Officiating any competition after having any alcoholic beverages on the day of the competition and consuming alcohol in public after officiating a game while dress in the officiating uniform.
- Soliciting or otherwise influencing or attempting to influence a coach, athletic director, school official or any other person for game assignments.
- Obligating themselves to any person affiliated with any game they may be assigned to officiate.
- Engaging with any contact, speech, activity or action, which could prejudice, reflect adversely on or compromise the integrity of any member of the association.
- Canceling or making yourself unavailable to an officiating assignment to accept another officiating assignment.
- Engage in scouting activities or conversations with a coach, athletic director or other school personnel regarding officiating assignments.
- Failing to honor an officiating assignment.
- Soliciting or accepting any gift, favor or anything of value from any person, entity, company or school serviced by, seeking affiliation with or otherwise associated with BRAFOA.
SECTION 5 – PERSONAL APPEARANCE
Each member of BRAFOA must give the appearance of a united front while at the game site. To this end each officials is expected to be attired in the proper uniform and demonstrating and impeccable grooming standard according to LHSAA mechanics manual and BRAFOA standards.
Each official shall be clean shaven, however, a mustache is acceptable if neatly trimmed and not extending down toward the chin area of the face. There shall be no other facial hair or extended sideburns present. Hair shall be clean and well groomed. Hair shall be cut in such a manner that where it is easily covered by the cap. Bushy hair that extends out around the outside of the cap is not recommended as it presents a less than professional appearance. Female officials that prefer longer hair should have their hair up or in a pony tail with the tail tucked into the back of the shirt rather than left hanging down their backs.
The standard uniform for varsity games includes:
a. White knickers with a short overlap below the knee (not more than 4
Inches)
b. Black and white vertically striped shirt (short or long sleeves as designated
By the Referee)
– With the “Louisiana Official” patch on the left side over the pocket
– American flags should be worn on the right sleeve of the officials
Shirt with the stars pointing forward.
– All National Federation patches should be worn on the left arm of the
Officials’ shirt.
NOTE: All officials in a given game shall wear the same type shirt.
c. A black baseball cap with white piping shall be worn by all officials, except
The Referee. For purposes of identification, the Referee shall wear a solid
White baseball cap.
– Fitted caps are recommended over the adjustable “one-size-fits-all”
Style.
d. One piece sock/legging with modified Northwestern (NCAA) stripes are
mandatory
– The white above the heel of a low-cut shoe should extend from 3 to 5
inches. The width of the black showing below the knickers should
be the same as the wide black band below the striping pattern.
e. Solid black football shoes with black laces are required and shall be cleaned
and shined before each game.
f. If an undershirt is worn, it must be black or be of the type which does not
show at the collar of the outer shirt.
g. A black belt 1-1/4 to 2 inches wide with a plain buckle shall be worn.
No large or personalized buckles are to be worn.
h. Jackets are permitted, but if worn during the game, they shall have black
and white vertical stripes.
Essential equipment includes:
– a whistle
– penalty marker – shall be a light gold flag (15” X 15”) weighted with
sand, beans, shot, etc
– white bean bags
– game card,
– pencil and
– Some devise to keep track of downs (such as rubber bands
– whistle – finger whistle is recommended over the lanyard type,
especially for newer officials
– Linesman shall furnish a clipping devise for use in measuring first
downs
For games other than varsity games the uniform includes: (freshman, JV, Middle school, junior leagues, etc.)
a. Solid black coaching type shorts. If compression shorts are also worn they
must also be black.
b. Black and white vertically striped shirt (short or long sleeves as designated
by the Referee)
– With the “Louisiana Official” patch on the left side over the pocket
– American flags should be worn on the right sleeve of the officials’
shirt with the stars pointing forward.
– All National Federation patches should be worn on the left arm of the
officials shirt.
NOTE: All officials in a given game shall wear the same type shirt.
c. A black baseball cap with white piping shall be worn by all officials, except
the Referee. For purposes of identification, the Referee shall wear a solid
white baseball cap.
– Fitted caps are recommended over the adjustable “one-size-fits-all”
Style.
d. White crew sock that is not of the over the calf nor hidden in the shoe. It
should extend up the leg from the ankle 8 to 10 inches.
e. Solid black football shoes with black laces are required and shall be shined
before each game.
f. If an undershirt is worn, it must be black or be of the type that does not
show at the collar of the outer shirt.
g. A black belt 1-1/4 to 2 inches wide with a plain buckle shall be worn.
– No large or personalized buckles are to be worn.
h. Jackets are permitted, but if worn during the game, they shall have black
and white vertical stripes.
Essential equipment includes:
– A whistle
– Penalty marker – shall be a light gold flag (15” X 15”) weighted with
sand, beans, shot, etc
– White bean bags
– Game card,
– Pencil and
– Some devise to keep track of downs (such as rubber bands
– Whistle – finger whistle is recommended over the lanyard type,
especially for newer officials
– Linesman shall furnish a clipping devise for use in measuring first
downs
SECTION 6 – CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
An official shall not:
- Knowingly accept an officiating assignment not assigned through an authorized BRAFOA assignment procedure.
- Knowingly accept an officiating assignment if any official assigned to the game is not a member in good standing of BRAFOA.
- Knowingly accept an officiating assignment if the official or the official’s spouse is employed by a school involved in the game.
- Knowingly accept an officiating assignment if the official is related by blood or marriage to any person affiliated with a team involved in the game.
- Knowingly accept an officiating assignment if the official and person affiliated with a team involved in the game are former or present teammates, roommates, classmates, business associates, clients, patients, customers or personal friends.
- Knowingly accept an officiating assignment if the official or the official’s spouse attended, is employed by or was employed by either school involved in the game within the previous five (5) years.
- Knowingly accept an officiating assignment if the official’s child attends one of the schools involved in the game or graduated from one of the schools in the previous five (5) years.
Prior to receiving games assignments, each official shall notify his/her local assignment secretary in writing of all known conflicts of interest with any of the schools serviced by BRAFOA.
In the event of a conflict of interest arises following acceptance of a game assignment, the official shall notify the assignment secretary as soon as possible, whereupon the official shall be removed from the game assignment without penalty.