To become a WCOA Official, please complete the following steps:

1
Signup with the WCOA contact list.

All new officials need to complete one of the following links, which will allow that sport to contact you and add you to our mailing list. Our training program for new officials will involve both classroom and field/floor training, scheduled before the season begins. WCOA training is a blend of classroom and 'hands on' learning that varies in length and will prepare you by teaching you the rules and mechanics of your specific sport in order to make you an effective official.

If you have at least one full season of high school officiating experience, please submit a letter from your former high school association on their letterhead, signed by an Officer of that association, documenting your experience. Submit this documentation with your WCOA Registration. The documentation should also be mailed to the FHSAA to allow them to credit your experience.

2
Register with the WCOA.
To expedite the registration process, download the Criminal Record Information form, complete it and include it with the registration form. This will begin the fingerprint process which is required for all officials in Hillsborough County as further explained in Step 4 below. WCOA Registration Form (WCOA mailing address - WCOA, P.O. Box 20514, Tampa, FL 33622)
3
Register with the FHSAA.
You must register with the Florida High School Athletic Association through an online application. During this process, you will select which sport(s) you want to officiate, and which officials associations you are a member of. Under Sports Information, please be sure that you select West Coast Officials Association (WCOA). Click here for the online application!
4
Comply with the Jessica Lunsford Act.

The Jessica Lunsford Act is the informal name given to a 2005 Florida law designed to punish sex offenders and reduce their ability to re-offend. This means that your local officials association will need your fingerprint clearance prior to assigning you. Please review the Jessica Lunsford Act FAQ for more information on the fingerprinting process, criminal history check, and costs.

Fingerprint Instructions:
You will be required to be fingerprinted at the Fingerprinting Department with the School District at the Instructional Services Center, (2920 N. 40th st., Tampa, FL 33605) as noted in the Hillsborough County Fingerprinting Instructions. You will receive notification that you are cleared to be fingerprinted via email. Please read the message carefully as it indicates all the requirements. If you already have this process completed for the state of Florida, due to being a teacher or other employee requiring this, you may skip this step and notify Thom Powers that you are already fingerprinted.

  1. Review the Hillsborough County Public School Contractor's Checklist
  2. Print the Criminal Record Form complete it, and send it to WCOA with your WCOA Registration. Review the Criminal Record Check Guidelines
  3. Print the Fingerprint Verification Form for Vendors/Contractors, complete it, and take it with you to your fingerprinting appointment.
  4. Print the Fingerprinting Office - Employee Information form, complete it, and take it with you to your fingerprinting appointment.
5
Register and take the mandatory Online Rules Examination
You must take a mandatory rules exam for your sports. The exam will be 50 questions and timed for 75 minutes and is available online at https://officials.fhsaa.org. The schedules of the exams will be posted on that website as well as http://www.fhsaa.org/officials

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Contact Us

Basketball - Dave Queen (dave.queen@wcoafla.org)
Football - Marty Palenik (martypalenik@aol.com)
WCOA
PO Box 20514
Tampa, FL 33622

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