About Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to encourage the recruitment and development of qualified football officials.
We provide all officials, coaches, and players thorough working knowledge of the rules, ethics, and mechanics of football officiating via our honed training curriculums, conducted both on and off the field.
We encourage and support the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship via the services we provide to schools and through our officials that are assigned to football contests governed by the rules of National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA).
Why Become An Official?
Sports officiating is a great way to become, or remain, involved in High School Sports. It helps you stay in shape, earn extra money, give back to the students, the schools, the communities and to the sport in general.
What's Required?
To become a high school official in the Show-Me State, those interested must first register with the Missouri State High School Activities Association. MSHSAA will send rule, case play and mechanic books to new registrants to study.
To be certified, you will be required to take an online test(s) based on the rule book. In addition, MSHSAA requires new officials to participate in on-field Mechanics training 3 out of the official's first 5 yrs.
Officials then join a local officiating association such as the Southwest Missouri Football Officials Association (SMFOA)
What Do You Get From SMFOA?
We provide access to obtain required on-field training, to attend training meetings throughout the year and to get assigned to junior high through high school football contests in the Southwest Missouri area.
Become Part of the Family/Team
Joining SMFOA, you become part of a network of football officials, become known and make new friends. You will be able to participate in personal development, relationship building and the game assignment processes. As you participate, you work to improve yourself, help others, and prepare yourself for higher competition levels and perhaps more frequent assignments.
How Do You Progress?
New officials typically complete two years of refereeing lower-tier games at the junior varsity and junior high levels prior to working varsity level contests. However, if new officials show the skills, dedication and accuracy earlier in their officiating exposure, they could be selected to work varsity games earlier than the usual two-year timeframe.
Association Information and Tools
Meet Our Leadership
Meetings and Events
Documents and Forms
Documents and Forms
Documents and Forms
Training Aids and Tools
SMFOA Hall of Fame & Awards
Photo Gallery