GAME OFFICIALS 

 Officials for all CYO Athletics scheduled games/matches (except for some younger age divisions) shall be members of an official's association. In some cases, CYO Athletics will provide and train its own officials. Regardless of their training or expertise, officials need to be given respect and care as a member of the community participating in the CYO Athletics experience. 

The objective or absolute right or wrong of an official's call or non-call is never the point. Officials are non-partial and are doing their best. Their calls are judgments and a necessary part of the game. 

 CYO Athletics is always looking for more officials, and CYO Athletics participants should keep an eye out for confident individuals with a passion for sports. It can be a great experience for high school and college students looking to work weekends and develop the skills to eventually work in higher levels of sports. 

 • The game officials will be responsible for starting the game on time, but not at the expense of the pre-game prayer. 

• They are expected to know the CYO Athletics specific rules. 

• Officials in basketball and volleyball should be signing the scorebooks for both teams.

 • Officials should display professionalism by arriving on time, using proper officiating mechanics and rotations, dressing appropriately and maintaining objectivity throughout competition. This includes not working games of family members.

 • Officials, coaches and/or captains should use pre-game meeting as an opportunity to discuss points of emphasis, CYO Athletics specific rules and any special circumstances. 

• If appointed official(s) fail to appear, the game in question may be played providing both opposing coaches mutually agree, prior to the start of the game, on the acceptability of an alternate official(s). Such a contest will be recognized as an official game without recourse as to the quality of the officiating.

 • Game officials are empowered to remove any official scorekeeper and/or timekeeper at any time during the game for reasons of incompetence or any other reason which they consider to be good and sufficient. In this event, the officials may appoint anyone they feel is capable of doing the job.

 • Coaches have primary responsibility for managing the behavior of their fans, but game officials are empowered to enforce the CYO Athletics Unsportsmanlike Conduct rule when doing so is for the good of the game and fits as the appropriate recourse to any inappropriate language or behavior. 

• They are asked to fill out an online evaluation form for a coach, team or community if behavior so warrants – positive or negative.

 • They are also asked to fill out their own association report form in case of a circumstance that will require follow up from CYO Athletics to expedite the process.