Section X Athletics

This Interscholastic Athletics Service (Section X) coordinates all of the public junior/senior high school athletic contests for 18 St. Lawrence/Lewis and 6 Franklin County school districts. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to mentoring/assisting component districts administrators on the rules and regulations of the New York State Education Department and the New York State High School Athletic Association. We also recruit and assist in the training of sport officials for the 19 different sport officiating associations. 

Courses & Trainings

State Mandated Coaching Courses

Contact your school districts Athletic Director for course information and certification requirements.

View the list of courses being offered through SUNY Cortland.

Child Abuse and School Violence Prevention/Intervention Workshops 

NOTE: When signing up for the Child Abuse and School Violence Prevention/Intervention Workshops be sure to use code BOCES60 for a discount.

6 Hour DASA Training

To meet SED certification requirements for coaching, the 6 hour DASA training will be offered through Jefferson-Lewis BOCES at various locations. 

The Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse Workshops

To satisfy the New York Education Licensing requirements of training in the Identification and Reporting of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. Attendance at a two-hour program satisfies the licensing requirements.

There are two options to take this training online:

Option 1: ChildAbuseWorkshop.com

Option 2: NYSMandatedReporter.org (FREE offering)

Project SAVE: School Violence Prevention/Intervention Training

A mandated two hour training for all teachers and non-teacher coaches seeking to get certification in New York State. The Project SAVE Act requires that as July 1 2002, all teachers and non-teacher coaches in New York State undergo the mandated training and all employees in public schools receive information concerning the fingerprint requirement.

Take the course online through ViolenceWorkshop.com.

First Aid & CPR

If interested, please contact your school district’s Athletic Director for more information.

Officiant Information

How To Become A Section X Official  

Thank you for your interest in high school sports officiating!

Officials play a very significant role in the success of interscholastic athletic programs. If you are ready to accept the challenge and move into this realm, we welcome you. If not, perhaps you now have a better understanding and appreciation of the official. If you can’t join the ranks now, perhaps you will be able to sometime in the future. It’s your call to make.

View the Section X Sports Official Brochure.

Do you have what it takes?

If you know the game as a player, parent, or fan and like the idea of playing a role in promoting the growth of the sport, this is your opportunity. Any individual who is 18 years old and not in high school may officiate high school contests. It helps to have participated in the given sport you wish to officiate in; however, it is not necessary to have been an outstanding performer. It is important that an official possesses a very thorough knowledge of the rules of the sport, a love of athletics and kids, physical ability, self-confidence, the dedication and determination to work hard, and above all, personal integrity. The athletes and coaches look at each contest as being the most important thing happening in their lives at that moment, and the official must look upon each contest the same way and react accordingly. 

What Does it Pay?

The pay schedule for regular season games is established by the Northern New York Sport Officials Organization and Section X. Varsity contests pay more than a contest below the varsity level. Fees range from $60.00 for a non-varsity level contest to $90.00 for a varsity contest. Schools and conferences will also pay mileage for your travel. Expect to spend some money on uniforms and equipment.

Unified Sports

In the summer of 2013, Special Olympics New York and NYSPHSAA launched a partnership to bring Unified Champion Schools (UCS) programming to NYSPHSAA member schools. The UCS approach incorporates Special Olympics Unified Sports, inclusive youth leadership and whole school engagement activities that empower youth to be agents of change in their schools and communities. Through the implementation of all three components, schools find the greatest impact on social inclusion and improved school climate.

Learn more about Unified Sports on the Special Olympics website.