OHSAA-ArbiterSports
Frequently Asked Questions
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The questions below are to assist schools with the transition from using myOHSAA scheduling and contracting tools to using ArbiterSports software.  For questions concerning how the ArbiterSports software works or for technical support of the ArbiterSports products, please contact ArbiterSports by contacting the ArbiterSports help desk at 800-311-4060.

 

 

Questions from Schools and Coaches?

  ArbiterGame Questions?
  Do school's have to use ArbiterGame? [Click to show answer]
In part, Yes.
High schools will be expected to enter varsity contests, varsity officials contracts and into the Arbiter. A school can continue to use another scheduling vendor, but the OHSAA will expect the minimum information to be entered into Arbiter.  There is a process for uploading schedules from an excel spreadsheet for schools that choose to use another scheduling vendor.
  What are the minimum requirements for schools and the use of Arbiter? [Click to show answer]
 - varsity game contracts
 - varsity officials contracts
  How much will the use of ArbiterGame cost a school? [Click to show answer]
ArbiterGame is free to OHSAA member high schools.  Middle schools that want or require an account can purchase ArbiterGame for a reduced annual fee of $110.
  When and how can I access my high school's ArbiterGame account? [Click to show answer]
ArbiterGame accounts for all OHSAA member high schools have been activated and are ready for use.  You can login today or wait for the OHSAA/Arbiter Training.  The OHSAA strongly encourages schools to wait for the formal training which is currently being finalized.  For those who want to get started before the training, follow the steps below.
     - Go to ArbiterSports.com and click "Login" or use this link to access the login screen (
https://www1.arbitersports.com/Shared/SignIn/Signin.aspx).
     - First time users should click the "Forgot Password" link and follow the prompts to have your password emailed to you.
  What is my user name and password for my ArbiterGame account? [Click to show answer]
Login credentials for Arbiter accounts uses an email address as the user name.  For high school ADs that would be the email address currently on file in myOHSAA.  Passwords were created by ArbiterSports and can be retrieved through the Forgot Password link on the ArbiterSports.com login screen. (https://www1.arbitersports.com/Shared/SignIn/Signin.aspx).
NOTE: The OHSAA does not have access to your Arbiter login credentials.
  My login credentials are not working, who do I contact? [Click to show answer]
Click the “Forgot Password” link to request a new password to be sent by typing in your email address.  If the email does not arrive in a timely manner, check your email spam filter.  If the "Forgot Password" does not resolve the login error, call the customer support phone number at ArbiterSports which is 1-800-311-4060.  Select 1 for Support and then whether you are a school staff member, administrator or official.  You can get help on the phone with your password reset or you can also talk to a live person if none of the other options work.
NOTE: The OHSAA does not have access to your Arbiter login credentials.
  What if I do not have a current Arbiter Account? [Click to show answer]
All OHSAA member high schools have an account.  Go to the login page at this link (https://www1.arbitersports.com/Shared/SignIn/Signin.aspx).  Click "Forgot Password".  Then follow the prompts to have your password emailed to you. 
  How many users can have access to a single school's account? [Click to show answer]
There is no limit to the number of people a school can have on their ArbiterGame account. 
  What is the cost for additional account users? [Click to show answer]
There is usually a cost associated with having more than one user per account but the Arbiter is waiving this fee for OHSAA member schools.
  Can we use our high school account to enter junior high events? [Click to show answer]
Yes.  This can be done and will work best if the high school and junior high have the same address but can be problematic if they do not. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether to combine high school and junior high events on one account.  Opponents and spectators of junior high events will have a more difficult time finding the junior high events on the public scheduling interface (ArbiterLive).  In addition, when your parents go to find the games listed in ArbiterLive they will have to know to search for the high school rather than the middle school to find their events and “Follow” the teams for which they want the schedule.  In other states some schools combine high school and junior high accounts.  However, this resulted in many more inquiries to their athletic department from opponents and fans, so they purchased a middle school account.  Ultimately the decision is up to each high school.
  What is the cost for a junior high school account? [Click to show answer]
The OHSAA has negotiated a reduced cost for member junior high schools that want or require an account.  This reduced cost is $110 per year.  The normal costs for a junior high account is approximately $225 per year and depends on the number of sports per school.  So this is more than a 50% savings.
  Who do I contact to register my junior high for an ArbiterGame account? [Click to show answer]
Contact Justin Miller at ArbiterSports at 1-801-838-8870 or email [email protected].
  Will ArbiterGame and myOHSAA be linked? [Click to show answer]
myOHSAA and ArbiterGame will be integrated so that some of the data entered in the Arbiter will be available for what is needed in myOHSAA.  This includes the contest officials so they can be rated in myOHSAA and the varsity football schedules and scores so that the Harbin Ratings can be calculated.
  Do I have to continue using myOHSAA? [Click to show answer]
Yes, but not for scheduling events or contest officials. This functionality is being transferred to ArbiterSports for all events and levels of play. 
   Schools will still use myOHSAA to:
     - Maintain school directory information including administration and coaches
     - Submission of OHSAA board resolution cards
     - OHSAA participation card
     - OHSAA tournament participation and entry forms
     - Rating of contest officials
     - Voting for OHSAA tournament officials
     - Pre-Season Parent Meetings
  I have already entered future events into myOHSAA.  Do I have to re-enter them in ArbiterGame? [Click to show answer]
ArbiterGame does have an import/upload feature using an Excel spreadsheet.  However, uploads of data can cause errors if the data points do not match exactly.  This can result in more time being spent to correct the errors than entering each event individually.  Arbiter has a smart scheduler feature that allows for multi-level events to be entered at the same time, thus reducing the time involved with re-entry.  In addition, entering events directly into Arbiter is a great way to learn the system and will reduce the number of errors.  For these reasons, the OHSAA and Arbiter recommend that schools enter their events directly into Arbiter instead of using the upload feature.  However, the decision is to re-enter or upload is up to each individual school.
  My school currently uses other scheduling software.  Do we have to switch to ArbiterGame? [Click to show answer]
No, only those schools using myOHSAA scheduling will have to switch to ArbiterGame or another scheduling software.  ArbiterGame is the software that the OHSAA has partnered with to provide the most comprehensive game and official scheduling system.  Schools choosing to use other scheduling software may continue to do so but will need to meet the minimum use requirements in ArbiterGame.
  Can the games/events entered in another scheduling software be uploaded into Arbiter? [Click to show answer]
Yes.  Using the Arbiter template, data can be loaded from your third party vendor into the template. This template can then be uploaded into ArbiterGame or ArbiterOne. However, uploads of data can cause errors if the data points do not match exactly.  This can result in more time being spent to correct the errors than entering each event individually.  Arbiter has a smart scheduler feature that allows for multi-level events to be entered at the same time, thus reducing the time involved with re-entry.  In addition, entering events directly into Arbiter is a great way to learn the system and will reduce the number of errors.  For these reasons, the OHSAA and Arbiter recommend that schools enter their events directly into Arbiter instead of using the upload feature.  However, the decision is to re-enter or upload is up to each individual school.
  What potential issues can arise using the template upload? [Click to show answer]
If an assigner has already entered a game, it may appear twice. If the data points do not match, the details for the event may not be uploaded correctly.  For these reasons, the OHSAA and Arbiter recommend that schools enter their events directly into Arbiter instead of using the upload feature.  However, the decision is to re-enter or upload is up to each individual school.
  Who do I contact for technical support? [Click to show answer]
For Technical Support, call ArbiterSports customer service at 1-800-311-4060.  Select 1 for support and follow the prompts to speak to an ArbiterSports representative. ArbiterSports Technical Support is available from 8 am – 9 pm Monday through Thursday; 8 am – 7 pm on Friday, and 10 am – 4 pm on Saturday.  These times are Eastern Time.
  During what hours is technical support available? [Click to show answer]

1.     ArbiterSports' Technical Support is available from 8 am – 9 pm Monday through Thursday; 8 am – 7 pm on Friday, and 10 am – 4 pm on Saturday.  These times are Eastern Time.

  Will ArbiterGame allow scheduling for more than one team at the same level? [Click to show answer]
Yes, for those schools with more than one team (EX: JV-Red and JV-Black) at the same level.  Schools can designate a team name.
  Who can enter games and events in Arbiter? [Click to show answer]
Schools, officiating assigners and league commissioners can all create events.  Schools can work with these persons to determine who will create events.  This is one of the best features of the Arbiter as it allows this workload to be shared. 
  Do I only enter home events or do I enter all events? [Click to show answer]
This question is best answered by establishing guidelines for what events will be entered, how they will be entered and by whom they will be entered as a collective agreement with the other schools in your league, your league scheduler and officiating assigners.  Ideally, each school or assigner would enter the home events.  This will then populate all the away league events too.  That just leaves the non-conference events for the school to enter.
  Are contracts sent to opponents electronically? Even non-OHSAA or out-of-state opponents? [Click to show answer]
Game contracts are sent and accepted electronically to any school that uses ArbiterGame software.  The opponent can be an Ohio school or out-of-state as their location does not matter as long as they use ArbiterGame.  For any opponent that does not use ArbiterGame, the game contract can be created and saved through ArbiterGame by the OHSAA school and then emailed to the opponent.  Once the signed contract is returned, the OHSAA school can accept the game contract so that the contract icon will turn green and the Athletic Director knows that everything is set and ready to go for that event.
  Can I use ArbiterGame for non-athletic events? [Click to show answer]
Yes, ArbiterGame can be used for non-athletic events and scheduling.  Each event has the option to make it public or non-public.  Public events show on the school's ArbiterLive schedules.  This feature can provide a more comprehensive facilities management tool.
  Will I be able to continue using myOHSAA for scheduling? [Click to show answer]
No, the scheduling component of myOHSAA will be disabled.  myOHSAA will continue to be used for the collection of specific membership requirements.
  Schools will continue to use myOHSAA to:
     - Maintain directory information including administration and coaches
     - Submit the OHSAA Membership Resolution Card
     - OHSAA participation card
     - OHSAA tournament participation and entry forms
     - Rating of contest officials
     - Voting for OHSAA tournament officials
     - Pre-Season Parent Meetings
  Will I get a refund if I already have paid for an ArbiterOne or ArbiterGame account for my high school? [Click to show answer]
Unfortunately, no.  Refunds cannot be provided for those schools that have paid for their 2015-16 annual membership.
  Does ArbiterGame have a public schedule option so our community can view our events? [Click to show answer]
Yes, ArbiterLive.com is the public schedule website where events from ArbiterGame are displayed.  Parents and spectators can subscribe to receive email or text notifications when changes to events occur.  When events are created, the school can indicate whether the event should display on ArbiterLive. 
  Does ArbiterLive have a feed to integrate with iCal or other calendaring software? [Click to show answer]
Arbiter is currently working on an iCal feed.  This feature has been requested by many schools across the country, but Arbiter does not have an expected time for this feed to be completed.  However, in the meantime through the reports area, schedules can be printed in many different formats that can be integrated in calendaring software. These report formats are XML, CSV, Excel, Word, PDF, MHTML and Tiff.
  Does ArbiterGame have a facilities management component? [Click to show answer]
Yes, ArbiterGame can manage your facilities.  In addition, ArbiterSports and SchoolDude have partnered to offer a comprehensive facilities management program that includes automated controls of lighting, AC/heating and other facilities systems.
  Can transportation be scheduled using ArbiterGame? [Click to show answer]
Yes, ArbiterGame allows schools to schedule, request and track transportation for all events.  In addition, ArbiterGame interfaces with SchoolDude and their transportation software to provide a comprehensive district-wide management of transportation.
  What types of reports are available through ArbiterGame? [Click to show answer]
Several reports are available through Arbiter.

   Schedules (master, all events, games with officials, game contracts, by sport or transportation)

   Teams (schedule and roster)

   Site (schedule)

   Opponents (schedule, contacts and team rosters)

   Students (student export, student list, awards by student, awards by team and eligibility)

   Financial (fees by sport)

   Contracts (contract)

  Can I enter rosters and manage player awards through ArbiterGame? [Click to show answer]
Yes, rosters of student-athletes can be entered into ArbiterGame.  The tools available through the rosters can track lots of student information from the day they begin classes to the day they graduate.  ArbiterGame can also track and print awards for these student-athletes.
  Can the OHSAA Eligibility certificate be created and printed through ArbiterGame? [Click to show answer]
Currently the OHSAA Eligibility Certificate cannot be printed through ArbiterGame.  You can list the day that the student is eligible to play at your school, but there is no certificate to print.
  When and where will the Arbiter training be held? [Click to show answer]
  ArbiterOne Questions?    Contracting Officials?
  What is ArbiterOne? [Click to show answer]
ArbiterOne is the software that officiating assigners use to assign officials to athletic contests.  This software also allows the assigner to create athletic events for the school which can aid the athletic department with its workload.
  Can only assigners contract officials through Arbiter? [Click to show answer]
No.  Officials contracts can be created by either the school or the OHSAA licensed officiating assigner.
  Can schools continue to contract officials through myOHSAA? [Click to show answer]
No, the contracting and scheduling features of myOHSAA are being replaced with ArbiterSports products.
  Do schools have to use Arbiter to contract officials? [Click to show answer]
Officials for varsity level contests must be contracted through the Arbiter.  A school may choose to use a different method to contract sub-varsity contest officials.  However, myOHSAA scheduling and contracting of events and officials is being replaced with ArbiterSports products.
  Do schools use ArbiterOne to schedule event/game workers? [Click to show answer]
No, schools will use their ArbiterGame account to schedule event workers and officials.
  ArbiterPay Questions?
  What is ArbiterPay? [Click to show answer]
ArbiterPay or RefPay is the software that pays officials electronically (ETF).  ArbiterPay is completely integrated with ArbiterOne and ArbiterGame so school administration can pay officials with the click of a button.
  What are the benefits of paying officials through ArbiterPay? [Click to show answer]

1.      There are many benefits to using ArbiterPay

1.   Can eliminate vouchers

2.   Eliminates check processing

3.   Eliminates checks to the wrong official

4.   Eliminates postage

5.   Eliminates lost or stolen checks

6.   Eliminates bookkeeping headaches

7.   Eliminates stop payments

9.   24/7 online payment tracking

10.  Payment history

11.  Mass pay multiple officials

12.  Assigning and scheduling integration

14.  Increased tax compliance

15.  Reduces liability with sensitive information

16.  Conserves the environment/resources

17.  Saves money

18.  Saves time

19.  Officials are able to research their pay better

20.  Streamlined 1099 submission

21.  Combined school's tax reports

 
  Do schools have to pay officials using ArbiterPay? [Click to show answer]
No. The choice to use ArbiterPay is up to each school district.     
  Is the OHSAA paying for a school's ArbiterPay account? [Click to show answer]
No. Each school district will need to register through ArbiterSports to obtain an ArbiterPay account.
  How does my school treasurer access our ArbiterPay account? [Click to show answer]
ArbiterPay can be accessed through www.arbiterpay.com.  This is where the schools will transfer funds to their accounts and view the different reports they will need for accounting purposes.  Once ArbiterPay accounts are set-up, the athletic department can pay officials directly through ArbiterGame or ArbiterOne.
  Are there any costs to using ArbiterPay? [Click to show answer]
Yes, there are fees for using ArbiterPay.  The ArbiterPay fee is simply a transaction fee that is charged to the school for every official that is paid. This fee is deducted from the school's trust fund at the time the official is paid.  However, the transaction fee is far less than the current costs incurred with paying officials by check.  This includes the man-hours to process these payments, the cost of the check, the costs of the printer and ink, the cost of postage, the costs to replace a lost or stolen check and the costs associated with paying the wrong official.  Once the money is transferred to the official's account, they have a no cost way of getting their money.  Officials also have choices through Arbiter on how to receive their payments through electronic transfer of funds, an Arbiter debit card or a paper check. 

 

 

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