NFHS, Referee Enterprises Announce New Publications Agreement

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 13, 2023) – The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and Referee Enterprises, Inc., – the publishers of Referee Magazine – are proud to announce a new six-year publishing agreement starting this school year (2023-24) and continuing through the 2028-29 school year.

The new agreement ensures that Referee will continue to produce and publish the official NFHS Simplified & Illustrated rules books and the Referee-created line of NFHS Preseason Guides. Additionally, Referee will produce and publish NFHS Officials Manuals in several sports with upgraded graphics and a significant increased focus on mechanics.

The new-look Officials Manuals will also be fully customizable for state associations and their designees starting next year, meaning those states may put their own logos on the covers; provide state-specific instructions, policies and philosophies; and include state-specific mechanics in their manuals.

“We’re very excited to continue our longstanding relationship with Referee and expand the offerings for the benefit of our member state associations,” said Dr. Karissa Niehoff, NFHS Chief Executive Officer. “Referee’s nearly 50-year track record in providing officiating education, and the NFHS’s own 20-year publishing agreement with Referee, makes this an easy call.”

The agreement also calls for producing NFHS Preseason Guides for additional sports throughout the term of the agreement. Currently, Referee produces NFHS Preseason Guides for the sports of football, volleyball, soccer, basketball, wrestling, baseball and softball. New NFHS Preseason Guides will be introduced in stages through the next few school years in track & field, field hockey, swimming & diving, lacrosse, spirit, girls gymnastics and ice hockey.

“The NFHS has been doing some wonderful things for officials, and we’re proud to be a part of that,” said Referee Publisher and Founder, Barry Mano. “The vast majority of the sports officials in this country work at the high school level. Collaborating with the NFHS gives us the best opportunity to reach those officials and provide them with top-notch tools and resources.”

For more information, please contact Dana Pappas, NFHS Director of Officiating Services, at dpappas@nfhs.org or Jim Arehart, Referee Chief Marketing Officer, at jarehart@referee.com.