1. Officials shall bear a great responsibility for engendering public confidence in sports.
2. Officials shall be free of obligation to any interest other than the impartial and fair judging of sports
competitions.
3. Officials shall hold and maintain the basic tenets of officiating, which include history, integrity, neutrality,
respect, sensitivity, professionalism, discretion and tactfulness.
4. Officials shall master both rules of the game and mechanics necessary to enforce the rules, and shall
exercise authority in an impartial, firm and controlled manner.
5. Officials shall uphold the honor and dignity of the profession in all interactions with student-athletes,
coaches, school administrators, colleagues and the public.
6. Officials shall display and execute superior communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal.
7. Officials shall recognize that anything that may lead to a conflict of interest, either real or apparent, must
be avoided. Gifts, favors, special treatment, privileges, employment or a personal relationship with a school
or team that can compromise the perceived impartiality of officiating must be avoided.
8. Officials shall prepare themselves both physically and mentally; shall dress neatly and appropriately
to, during and from a contest; and shall comport themselves in a manner consistent with the high
standards of the profession.
9. Officials shall not be party to actions designed to unfairly limit or restrain access to
officiating, officiating assignments or to association membership. That includes selection for positions of
leadership based upon economic factors, race, creed, color, age, sex, physical handicap, country or national
origin.
10. Officials shall be punctual and professional in the fulfillment of all contractual obligations.
11. Officials shall work with each other and their governing bodies in a constructive
and cooperative manner.
12. Officials shall resist every temptation and outside pressure to use one's position as an official to
benefit oneself.
13. Officials shall never participate in any form of illegal gambling on sports contests, may never gamble
on any sporting event in which they have either a direct or indirect involvement, and may never gamble
on events involving high school athletics.
14. Officials shall not make false or misleading statements regarding their qualifications, rating, credentials,
experience, training or competence.
15. Officials shall accept responsibility for all actions taken.

16. Officials responsibilities in regards to Social Media:

The GKCOA appreciates and understands the importance of using social media to foster learning and
innovation through responsible open exchange and dialogue. The GKCOA believes that its members using
social media should observe and exhibit the same standards of conduct that are expected and required in any other
form of communication, whether on or off the playing field. In other words, the GKCOA expects its members at
all times to observe and respect the privacy, confidentiality, reputation and personal dignity of other officials,
the GKCOA, the players, the schools and other customers and/or clients of the GKCOA.
The GKCOA reserves the right to monitor social networking activities that affect or address these matters,
including an official's performance, the performance of others, or other GKCOA interests. GKCOA members
are personally responsible for the content they publish on any social media outlet. An official's comments
could be considered a reflection of GKCOA to anyone reading his/her posting. Officials must not say or
suggest that the views and opinions they express are supported or endorsed by GKCOA.
Any GKCOA member who violates GKCOA Code of Ethics, GKCOA By-Laws, MSHSAA Code of
Ethics, MSHSAA By-Laws, Federal or State laws or regulations using a social network site; may face  disciplinary
action.
17. GKCOA members must be cognizant at all times that although Social Networking Sites can be
wonderful communication tools, there can be unintended consequences if they are used improperly. 
Because of our unique standing, GKCOA Officials need to be particularly careful when posting on these
Sites, and adhere to the following guidelines:
 
         DO be aware the posts on social media are visible to the general public.  Even if
you limit access to your page friends, it is likely that your post will be viewed by
someone beyond the circle of people you intended to see it.
         DO be in compliance with GKCOA expectations regarding social media,  and
adhere strictly to them.
         DO think twice BEFORE you post.  If there is anything in your post that could be
construed as a criticism of Officials, Officials decisions, or of schools, coaches, or
athletes, it is BETTER OFF UNSENT.
         DO assume that your post will be seen by the two teams you will see in your next
game and the teams you worked in your previous game as well as your partner(s) in
those games.
         DON’T post anything relating to the schools you have worked or will work.  It
calls your objectivity into question
         DON’T include anything in a post that makes reference to an upcoming
assignment.  If teams want to find out who is going to be working their game, they
should do so through Official channels only.
         DON’T post details about other people’s assignments until that information has
been OFFICIALLY released.  Your page is NOT a news service.

·         DON’T use social media to criticize State or GKCOA policies, assigning practices,
etc.
·         DON’T make posts regarding calls made by officials in other games, whatever the
level.  You and your associates might debate the call you saw on TV, but debating the
call on Facebook, X, Instgram, etc. serves NO redeeming purpose.
REMEMBER: Accountability and Integrity should ALWAYS be our guiding principles.  Jeopardizing
yours and the Association’s impartiality and professionalism should NEVER be a part of any member’s
actions or posts.