Disclaimer of Liability
&
Official's Responsibilities

As an official, you are an independent contractor.  You may not hold the Emerald Coast Officials Association (ECO), the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), any districts and/or their schools, organizations and/or their affiliates, and/or the like responsible for any injury and/or death that may occur while traveling to and/or from a sports contest and/or while officiating a sports contest, including pre-game and post-game activities.  ECO is not responsible for providing employee insurance and/or the like and/or other benefits to officials.  ECO is not responsible to withhold city, county, state, and/or federal income tax from your payments.  ECO will provide the Internal Revenue Service with a copy of your income and provide you with a Form 1099 as required by law.

Officials wishing to officiate FHSAA sanctioned games must meet all the requirements imposed by the FHSAA.  Officials wishing to officiate games other than FHSAA games must meet all the requirements imposed by the respective organization, etc.  Officials must meet all the requirements imposed by ECO.

Officials are required to arrive at the game site no later than one-half hour before the contest start time.  Officials will dress in appropriate and professional attire when traveling to and/or from a game site.  Officials will act in a professional and courteous manner to administrators, coaches, players, spectators, table personal, and all other persons.  Officials will act in a professional manner when in public, as public appearance directly concerns the business affairs of ECO and the FHSAA.  Officials will not comment on any moment, play, event, outcome, consequence and/or the like of any game with media, press, coaches, spectators, players, administrators, and/or other persons outside of ECO.  Officials will be knowledgeable of the rules and officiating mechanics governing the sport of basketball as prescribed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the FHSAA and execute these rules and mechanics appropriately and precisely.  Officials are responsible for obtaining and understanding the game payment structure and the fine structure of ECO.  Officials will submit any grievances, complaints, and/or the like to ECO in writing and delivered by the United States Postal Service (USPS).  Officials whom fail to comply with one or more of these requirements may forfeit one or more of his or her game assignments, may be rendered on probation, and/or may face other disciplinary action from ECO.

An official may dissolve any and all agreements, bindings, contracts, and/or the like between ECO and the official by expressing his or her desire to do so in writing to ECO and delivered by mail through the USPS.  ECO may dissolve any and all agreements, bindings, contracts, and/or the like between ECO and the official by expressing the reason or reasons in writing to the official delivered by mail through the USPS.