Program Overview
PNBOA is implementing a 1-year trial for the 2025-26 season that allows officials that are currently on the Varsity list to opt-out of receiving a ranking at the end of the 2025-26 season. By doing this we expect to reduce the amount of PNBOA resources needed to run the Observation program, and to provide greater clarity at the top of the rankings list as to who is likely to choose to go to state, since many of the top ranked officials during the past few season have opted out of receiving a state tournament assignment.
Who is Eligible?
Officials who received a Varsity ranking on the Boys or Girls list based on scores received in the 2024-25 season are eligible to opt out for the 2025-26 season.
How Does It Work?
Officials who would like to opt out need to submit this form by midnight on Monday November 24th. No changes in status will be made after that date.
An official who makes this decision is opting out of both the Boys and Girls list.
This decision is an annual decision, so an official who chooses to opt-out of rankings for the 2025-26 season could opt back in for the 2026-27 season. Those officials would appear on the list as Unranked, but would receive at least 4 observations and scores during the 2026-27 season.
What happens to an official who chooses to opt out?
- They will appear on the Varsity list as “Unranked” in the 2025-26 rankings published in the Spring.
- They will be scheduled for games just as they have been in the past.
- They will receive observations during the 2025-26 season, but fewer (we expect no more than 2). We heard clearly in our survey that getting the feedback is still valuable. An observer may not know that an official has opted-out and if they do input a score in the system, it will be discarded.
- Playoff assignments
- Any playoff eligibility earned based on rankings from the 2024-25 season will be maintained and used for playoff assignments during the 2025-26 season. For example, if the #6 official on the Boys list chooses to opt-out of rankings this season, they would still be assigned for Regionals and offered a State tournament slot.
- The official should not expect to receive playoff assignments in the 2026-27 season. Because of the volume of league and district playoff games PNBOA officiates, it is possible these officials will be needed to meet our coverage obligations. However they will not receive Regional or State tournament assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I opt-in and change my mind?
You are free to change your mind before midnight on Monday November 24th. After that, no changes will be made
Why is this just a 1-year trial?
The main reason is that we don’t know how many officials will opt-in, and thus we don’t know what impact that will have on the number of officials we rank and have eligible for playoff assignments in the 2026-27 season.
How many officials do you expect to participate in in this program?
Based on the survey we did in the Summer of 2025, we expect 10-15 officials to opt-out?
What happens if too many officials opt-out?
If too many officials opt-out, the Board could decide to end the program. This decision would be made by December 1st so we could ensure that all officials would be able to receive the minimum of 4 evaluations during the 2025-26 season.
If I opt-out of rankings this year, is this a permanent decision?
No, this is a decision you would make annually.
If I opt-out of rankings, will I still be receiving observations this year?
Yes. You should expect to receive 1-2 observations during the year, but any score provided will not be tracked.
If I opt-out of rankings, will I lose my Varsity status and be classified as a Registered official?
No you will not lose your Varsity status, you will simply appear as “Unranked” on the Varsity list.
If I opt-out of rankings, do I need to meet the camp requirement for Varsity officials?
In 2024-25 the requirement was added for Varsity officials to attend or staff an approved camp every 3 years. This will now only be a requirement for Varsity officials who wish to be ranked and eligible for playoff assignments. Officials who opt-out of Varsity rankings will not be required to attend or staff an approved camp every 3 years.
How is this different than taking a Leave of Absence?
A leave of absence is designed for officials who need to take a break from officiating for the season but would like to maintain their ranking status when they return the following season. Opting out is designed primarily for officials who plan on actively officiating, but do not want to participate in rankings and be eligible for playoff assignments?
If I opt out for 2025-26 but opt back in 2026-27, do I maintain my ranking from 2024-25?
No you do not. You will appear on the Varsity list as Unranked. Your ranking from 2024-25 was used to determine 2025-26 playoff assignments so that ranking was “used up”. That is a key difference from a Leave of Absence (LOA).
What if I have a question not answered above?
Email board@pnboa.org