In June, the MHSAA will begin another registration cycle as more than 9,000 officials begin signing up for the 2025-26 school year and their essential role in making our games go.

For the majority of the MHSAA’s 100 years, officials sent in their registration and then waited for the arrival, by mail, of the annual uniform patch to be affixed and worn for all events during the upcoming school year.

The patches go back to at least the 1947-48 school year, and for nearly 40 years after were a round patch with “MHSAA” at the top, “Official” at the bottom and the year and “Registered” across the middle – with colors of the patch and sewn-on writing switching from year to year. A slight change for the 1985-86 school year saw the addition of a state of Michigan depiction to the center of the patch.

Then came an era featuring several year-to-year changes, with different shapes – ovals, squares, rectangles, diamonds and circles – and more colors joining the mix while the year, logo, and words “Registered Official” remained the dominant features of every year’s patch.

In 2008-09, the patch experienced perhaps its most significant evolution – in that from that point forward, the design hasn’t been altered again. That school year, a circular “forever patch” featuring those same elements – the drawn state image, logo and words “Registered Official” became the standard that continues today, but with a few asterisks.

For swimming & diving, volleyball, softball and baseball – sports for which officials wear either white or blue collared shirts instead of the traditional striped uniform – the officials patch has been changed to simply a horizontal MHSAA logo, red with a blue outline.

The other asterisk applies to MHSAA Finals – for championship events, officials receive a special patch to wear.

And for this 100^th anniversary year, several officials received patches that signified the celebration, to be worn on the arm.

Previous "Century of School Sports" Spotlights

April 16: Student Advisory Council Gives Voice to Athletes - Read
April 9: State's Storytellers Share Spring Memories - Read
April 2: Sharp Leadership Synonymous with MHSAA Success - Read
March 25: Athletic Directors Indispensable to Mission of School Sports - Read
March 18: 2025 Finals Begin Next Half-Century of Girls Hoops Championships - Read
March 11: Boys Basketball's Best 1st to Earn MHSAA Finals Titles - Read
March 5: Everything We Do Begins with Participation - Read
Feb. 25: Slogans & Logos Remain Unforgettable Parts of MHSAA History - Read
Feb. 19: MHSAA Tickets Continue to Provide Fan-Friendly Value - Read
Feb. 11: We Recognize Those Who Make Our Games Go - Read
Feb. 4: WISL Conference Continues to Inspire Aspiring Leaders - Read
Jan. 28: Michigan's National Impact Begins at NFHS' Start - Read
Jan. 21: Awards Celebrate Well-Rounded Educational Experience - Read
Jan. 14: Predecessors Laid Foundation for MHSAA's Formation - Read
Jan. 9: MHSAA Blazes Trail Into Cyberspace - Read
Dec. 31: State's Storytellers Share Winter Memories - Read
Dec. 17: MHSAA Over Time - Read
Dec. 10: On This Day, December 13, We Will Celebrate - Read
Dec. 3: MHSAA Work Guided by Representative Council - Read
Nov. 26: Finals Provide Future Pros Early Ford Field Glory - Read
Nov. 19: Connection at Heart of Coaches Advancement Program - Read
Nov. 12: Good Sports are Winners Then, Now & Always - Read
Nov. 5: MHSAA's Home Sweet Home - Read
Oct. 29: MHSAA Summits Draw Thousands to Promote Sportsmanship - Read
Oct. 23: Cross Country Finals Among MHSAA's Longest Running - Read
Oct. 15: State's Storytellers Share Fall Memories - Read
Oct. 8: Guided by 4 S's of Educational Athletics - Read
Oct. 1: Michigan Sends 10 to National Hall of Fame - Read
Sept. 25: MHSAA Record Books Filled with 1000s of Achievements - Read
Sept. 18: Why Does the MHSAA Have These Rules? - Read
Sept. 10: Special Medals, Patches to Commemorate Special Year - Read
Sept. 4: Fall to Finish with 50th Football Championships - Read
Aug. 28: Let the Celebration Begin - Read