How to Become a Track Official in Iowa

This page outlines the steps to become a track official for both boys’ and girls’ meets in Iowa at the middle school and high school levels.

Registration Process

Registration for track and field officials follows the same process for both boys and girls. Officials may register through either the boys’ association website, Iowa High School Athletic Association (iahsaa.org), or the girls’ association website, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (ighsau.org).
From either site, click the Officials tab and follow the instructions for track and field registration. You will be directed to DragonFly Max (DragonFlyMax.com) to complete the process.
Creating or Accessing Your DragonFly Account
Go to DragonFlyMax.com
Click Login / Sign Up in the upper-right corner
Select Sign Up for Free, or log in to your existing account
Enter your name, email address, and password
- Passwords must be at least 8 characters and include at least three of the following:
  - Uppercase letter
  - Lowercase letter
  - Number
  - Symbol
Check your email for a verification code.

Go to www.ighsau.org and click on the “Officials” tab.
Read the front page here, then (if you’re a new official) click on the “Official Registration” link on the right side.
Then click on “Start Here,” select “Track & Field,” pay your fee, and follow the directions from there. **You do need to register on both IHSAA & IGHSAU to officiate both boys & girls meets.**

The registration fee is $45 for one sport and $12 for each additional sport. It must be paid before early January (the exact date is given on the “IGHSAU Information” page).
If you watched the rules video already on IHSAA, you don’t need to do it for IGHSAU. They use the same video. If you’re only doing IGHSAU meets, the video is on the IHSAA site.
Same thing for the exam. Once you pass it on the IHSAA site, that satisfies the requirements for IGHSAU. If you’re only doing IGHSAU meets, you’ll still take the test on the IHSAA site.

High school students are eligible to officiate and can work junior high/middle school meets (7th/8th grade) and sub-varsity meets (9th grade/junior varsity). They cannot officiate varsity meets. Their cost to register is $20.
Full-time college students can officiate as well and can do varsity sports. Their cost to register is also $20.
Officials are required to have a valid IHSAA and/or IGHSAU license to officiate meets.
All officials’ licenses expire annually after the state baseball and softball tournaments. They are renewable for one year, beginning June 1 each year.
Uniforms: Track officials should have a yellow or orange shirt and hat they wear to each meet. Otherwise, khaki pants and comfortable shoes complete what you should wear, whether indoors or outdoors. There’s also a nylon starter sleeve (orange only) that some officials wear; not sure if that’s required or not.

Starter pistol: Look for .209, .22, or .32 caliber sizes. Usually, the .209 or .22 is better for indoor meets, and the .32 is better for outdoors.
Blanks/shells for pistols: Make sure you get the corresponding size blanks for your pistol!
Holster
Hearing protection (foam ear plugs, ear muffs)
Gun cleaning kit:
Rain gear (recommended)
Binder to keep all contracts and printed info in (recommended)
Backpack (or something similar): To carry binder and pistol/shells/hearing protection to each meet (recommended).

Register to officiate both IAHSAA boys and IGHSAU girls meets. This doubles your opportunities to work available meets!
Become a member of IATO.
1. This costs $25 per year and adds your name to a list of officials in each region of Iowa, which is searchable by athletic directors looking for starters.
2. It also keeps you in the loop with things starters need to know and allows the opportunity to buy used equipment from others AND buy shells at a discounted rate.

Eligible to renew your official’s license(s).

Prior year official’s license expires.

Opportunity to order shells through IATO at a discount AND invite to IATO clinic and banquet.

IATO Clinic & Hall of Fame Banquet