What should be done to avoid conflicts of interest in officiating assignments?

• A. Avoid conflicts of interest and disclose any potential conflicts
• B. Accept gifts from teams
• C. Ignore relationships with coaches
• D. Favor officials from the same town

Answer: (A)

In officiating, keeping judgments impartial depends on recognizing and managing any potential conflicts of interest. The best approach is to avoid conflicts whenever possible and to disclose any potential conflicts so administrators can handle them transparently—this protects the integrity of the game and maintains trust among teams, players, and spectators. Accepting gifts from teams, ignoring relationships with coaches, or showing favoritism based on town ties can create real or perceived bias and undermine fair play, which is why those options are not appropriate. If a conflict arises, the proper move is to disclose it and recuse from assignments where it could affect impartiality, ensuring assignments are fair and consistent with policy.