🏀 VARSITY Game Report
🏀 Sub-Varsity Report
A copy of the report is emailed to the game official, Megan Cusick and the team email.
*Please use for PRAISE sportsmanship reports too at any level, a copy is shared with school leadership.
📝 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
To register with the OK Conference as a basketball official for the 2026/27 season click above.
Megan and Patrick have access to this form for registration.
Trainers & Mentors - fill out evaluation reports as needed, LINK.
Timeline: 2026-27 CREW ONLY Assignments - ETA Fall 2026*
*NOTE: Additional assignments and fill ins for independents, crews, and all qualified varsity officials will start in mid fall 2026.
Click link for other area assigners: Click here for area assigners.
Reach out to them directly for their timelines.
Lead Assigner: Megan Cusick, cusickfarms@gmail.com
Assistant Varsity Assigner & Back Up: Patrick Kane, pjwkane@gmail.com
UNIIFED OK Conference Basketball address: OKConfBasketball@gmail.com
Other Area Assigners: Click here for area assigners.
Communications NOTICE:
During the off season (March 2026 - Nov 2026), refrain from texting or calling.
It is impossible to manage calls and requests from everyone. During this time, use email communication and expect possible delayed responses as not managing assigning daily. Thank you for your understanding. Texts and calls may be missed.
***Email is the primary form of communication always
🔁 Turnback Policy:
2 Days or less:
Email Megan Cusick (cusickfarms@gmail.com) and the UNIIFED OK Conference Basketball address: OKConfBasketball@gmail.com
Day of: (the earlier the better)
Before 10 am, please call or text, AND email Megan Cusick (cusickfarms@gmail.com) and the UNIIFED OK Conference Basketball address: OKConfBasketball@gmail.com
*If you need a substitute please contact the assigner - do not contact the school*
❄️ Weather Policy:
Assigners will update Arbiter when notified games are canceled due to weather
Use your judgment as conditions change
After 1:30 PM, contact the school directly to confirm game status
📍 School contact info is available in Arbiter
Sport Specific Details
🟦 High School Uniform Requirements:
Black & white striped shirt
Black pants
All black shoes & socks
Black whistle (Fox 40 only)
*Suppliers:
Shirts/Pants: Correct Call
Other gear: CAAVO Store
*Note: No incentives/kickbacks — just supporting local Michigan sports.
🟦 Basketball Play Dates:
High School sub varsity games are T/Th typically 4p or 5:30p starts
High School Varsity are T/F typically 6 or 7p starts
Middle School M/W typically 4p starts.
🟦 Arrival Times:
Sub-Varsity: 20-30 minutes prior
Varsity: 60 minutes prior
🟦 Crew Communication:
Use Arbiter Sports app (cell phone) for partner contact info.
Contact partners on or before game day OR if you run into an emergency.
🟦 Pay Scale: (Remember you will start at low levels to allow for great learning experiences)
Middle School – $58.00 per game
Sub Varsity – $85.50 per game ($171 for a F/JV combo)
Varsity - $115.50 per game.
🟦 Game Payment Notes:
Most schools pay within ~1 week
Some use checks (may delay payment)
Contact assigner if unpaid after 1+ week
🟦 Key Policy's:
No Show: If partner is a no-show - Solo official = 2x pay, OR Two officials split 3rd official’s pay
Sub-Varsity 3 Officials Working: The OK Conference pays $85.50 each for two (2) officials to work a sub-varsity contest. If a crew decides to add a third, then the game fee total is split three ways. 85.50+85.50=$171(game fee total), $171/3=$57 per game.
🟦 Arbiter Sports Reminder:
Blocks - Keep blocks updated at all times
👉 Access help/resources HERE.
🟦 New Officials to OK Conference but NOT new to Basketball Policy:
Before receiving a varsity assignment, new officials to the OK Conference (but not new to basketball officiating) must submit the following information to the assigner, Megan Cusick:
1) Provide a referral from your past assigner
2) Submit game film to Megan Cusick and/or have been observed and approved at the Freshman/JV level by appropriate trainers/observers
3) Have a profile picture in arbiter of yourself
4) Have a current phone number in arbiter
Varsity Post-Game Report Policy:
Report REQUIRED for all varsity games
Submit within 24–48 hours
Crew Chief (R) is responsible
The R is the assigned crew chief, or the most experienced official when working a mixed crew. The R may designate another official to administer the jump ball, but remains the crew chief and is responsible for submitting the report.
Reports track: technicals, warnings, and issues
Missing reports may impact future assignments
We encourage officials to hold coaches to equally high standards and reserve top marks only for those that are truly deserving. For example, "He was less of a jerk tonight" does not earn a "5" rating.
Sub-Varsity Post-Game Report Policy:
Submit report if requested
Required for issues (T’s, ejections, concerns)
Submit within 24–48 hours
Crew Chief (R) is responsible (person who tossed the ball or most experienced)
Use reports to flag: problems OR strong coach behavior
Praise Reports: While reports are generally used to flag issues or concerns, please also help us identify those sub-varsity coaches who were great to work with/may be ideal coaches to put brand-new officials on games with to provide optimal first game experiences.
Varsity Crew Formations and Alignments:
To facilitate networking and coordination:
Complete this "Crew Formation / Networking Survey"
Click Here for "RESULTS: Crew Formation / Networking Survey"- network among yourselves.
Please utilize the OK Conference Facebook group to connect with other officials. [link here].
Reach out to crews directly to inquire about any officials who may be relocating/shifting/free agents.
Review hudl film of officials you are interested in working with.
You can choose crews of 2, 3, or 4 members. If you select 2 members, I will fill in with independents. If you choose 4 members, please specify who the alternate member is. Specify this on the registration which opens in April.
Contact your local training association Trainer or Recruitment/Mentorship Coordinator for assistance in aligning skill sets (association links in next section):
WMOA: Mark Lundvick (Trainer) or Scott Stabler (R&M Coordinator)
USAOA: Warren Kent (Trainer) or Jack Vanderboegh (R&M Coordinator)
MMOA: Clint Abbott (Trainer) or Ron Mousel (R & M Coordinator)
Names of all officials in the O-K Conference as of Feb 2026 for brainstorming/alignment ideas. OK Conference Official Roster
All contact information can also be found on the MHSAA officials directory.
After your crew is formed, provide the necessary details when basketball registration opens in April/May 2026. There will be a dedicated section for crews, and the registration information you provide will be used to update the arbiter crew list. Please refrain from sending separate emails.
Disclaimers: I (Megan Cusick or Patrick Kane) do not participate or advise in crew matchmaking or alignments, as I cannot assure compatibility or success. Officials are expected to take initiative, conduct their own research, and make informed decisions.
Also, while the OK Conference will attempt to utilize crews as an initial assigning process, officials please know the following:
1) Crews are assigned as a collective group - (i.e. if one official is blocked by a particular school, or your crewmate has a date blocked, or if one of your crew members has has notably different ratings, the entire crew will be impacted at assignment time). Choose your crews wisely. **The OK Conference has no role in crew formation. If you need advice, please work with your peers and local associations for recommendations.
2) Assigners retain the sole discretion to opt out of utilizing a crew and/or individuals. This could be based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, past performance, feedback from coaches or ADs, or historical turnback's/needs for reassignment.
3) The number of games and 'quality' of assignments are based on a multitude of factors in no particular order, including, but not limited to:
film analysis
observations
coach ratings
coach feedback
AD feedback
association trainer feedback
MHSAA ratings
late MHSAA registration
failure to watch the MHSAA preseason meeting
failure to be an active member of an officials association
failure to submit varsity post-game reports
participation in camps/training
willingness to mentor younger officials
support of recruitment
support of training others
willingness to travel to all OK Conference schools
declines from past seasons
failure to manage Arbiter
failure to have a picture and/or phone number in Arbiter
etc.
4) IMPORTANT: You need to have realistic expectations of communication from your assigners. There are over 425 basketball officials in the OK Conference system. Too often, we get individuals seeking individualized guidance, feedback, or requesting special treatment or accommodation. Nearly every official believes they are deserving of more games and "better" assignments. Unfortunately, the OK Conference assigning team is not resourced to be able to have individualized conversations, nor manage the expectations of each of these people.
If you are unsatisfied with your games, here are the recommended steps you should take:
A) Self reflect - many officials believe they are better than others/compare themselves to other officials they see. This is dangerous and will cause frustration. Review your film and challenge your own perception of yourself. Where do you need to improve? How do you look on the court (confident? over-confident? are your calls actually usually correct as you review? what can you improve? etc.)
B) Take care of business. Keep yourself off the "causing extra work list" Have Arbiter up to date, try to avoid turn backs, and especially avoid declined games/needed swaps as much as possible. You do not want to be known as an official or crew that creates more headache and rework than your peers.
C) Attend camps - which creates networking opportunities
D) Extend your assigning network. We have fewer OK schools than we did in 2023 - there are fewer OK games to go around.
E) If you choose to work outside of the OK , which you should if you’re seeking more games or faster assignments — please understand that we cannot schedule you for games if you already have games from another assigner. When we begin assigning and your selected dates overlap with existing commitments by another assigner, we move on to the next available crew/official. We don’t replace those games or search for new dates during the initial round, as that causes too much shifting. We do our best to make up for it in future assignments, but cannot guarantee.
F) Your officials association is designed to support you. Association leadership can guide you and answer questions about how you can improve, etc.
Thank you for your cooperation, your collaboration is essential to our success.
Local Training Associations
For additional training, both on and off the court, the OK Conference highly recommends officials join local sports associations for training and mentorship. Here are associations serving West Michigan.
The WMOA is an MHSAA Approved Association of football, and girls’ and boys’ basketball officials based throughout the area of Grand Rapids, MI. The largest in West Michigan.
Our Mission: In order to promote and maintain high professional standards of sports officiating, and to engender a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation between coaches, athletic directors, other interested parties and the sports officials of this area, the West Michigan Officials’ Association is organized and established.
The USA Officials Association is an MHSAA Approved Association that continues to build on the venerable tradition started by the original Umpires of the Shoreline Association more than 20 years ago.
Our Mission: Is to train, promote, and maintain professional standards in sports officiating for interscholastic contests between MHSAA member schools, and to create a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation between sports officials, coaches, athletic directors, and other parties of interest throughout the greater West Michigan area.
MMOA is a non-for-profit, approved officials’ association (#1025) of the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
Our Purpose: The purpose of this association shall be to promote better and more uniform officiating of all sports, to aid new officials in getting started, and to serve as a central source of scheduling officials for schools who are in need of officials.
Off Season 2026 Training Opportunities.
For those looking to train in the off season - below is what I know of so far:
REF Reps - Intro to Basketball Officiating Education Course: Self paced online, lifetime access, highly recommend: Only $50 https://learn.refreps.com/
Arnulfo Perez Jr. Officiating Basketball Camp: highly recommend GVSU June 6th-7th 2026 - High School camp at Grand Valley State University, will focus on rules of the game, proper mechanics, game management, communication, 2-person and 3-man court areas email: Arnulfo Perez <arnulfo.s.perez3310@gmail.com> - or REGISTER HERE
Arnulfo Perez Jr. Officiating Basketball Camp: highly recommend SVSU June 13th-14th 2026 - High School camp at Saginaw Valley State University, will focus on rules of the game, proper mechanics, game management, communication, 2-person and 3-man court areas email: Arnulfo Perez <arnulfo.s.perez3310@gmail.com> or REGISTER HERE
Tip of the Mitt: highly recommend GAYLORD HIGH SCHOOL -TBD - High School camp, will focus on 3 person officiating techniques with class room instruction as well. Contact: Mark Holland - mholland148@gmail.com
Others:
Mike Conlin: 2026 Correct Call Basketball Officiating Camp - email Mike for details: glra11@gmail.com
Rob Doss: The 2026 Camp Dates; Email Rob at robdoss12@hotmail.com for dates and details.
WHAC/High School Officials Camp: Email Wallace Whitfield at whitfield4204@comcast.net for dates and details. April 10th-12th 2026 at MSA Fieldhouse during this AAU Storm Classic
Nuf Perez: Assigns Boys GVSU Summer Camps & AAU: Arnulfo.S.Perez3310@gmail.com
Kevin Kooiker: Assigns Girls GVSU Summer Camps: kkooiker@rockfordschools.org
Wyoming Summer League: Contact Andrew Otten - ottenandrew@gmail.com
Sport Deadlines
• August 2026 – Football and Volleyball
• November 2026 – Basketball, Competitive Cheer, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Swimming and Wrestling
• March 2027– Baseball, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball and Cross Country and Track
NFHS Basketball 2024-25 Rules Changes - A Better Official
NFHS Basketball 2024-25 Rules Changes - PDF
NFHS Basketball Inbounding 2023 Changes
Officials Training Institute - VERY GOOD
A Better Official Basketball - VERY GOOD
IAABO - 2024-25 Rules Changes - Very GOOD
MHSAA Basketball Sport Specific Content
Michigan Basketball Officials Network - Facebook
MHSAA Referee Magazine (Mhsaa#8122)
Dear Basketball Officials,
Thank you for the dedication, professionalism, and care you bring to every game. Your judgment, preparation, and ability to manage the pace and intensity of basketball are essential to the integrity of the sport.
You play a critical role in creating a positive environment for players, coaches, and fans, and we truly value the time and effort you invest each contest. Thank you for your continued commitment and for being such an important part of our basketball community.
Thank you!
Lastly - Keep recruiting. 🏀
Megan Cusick, cusickfarms@gmail.com
Patrick Kane, pjwkane@gmail.com