There are many reasons why someone should become a JAM member!

First and foremost, we all share a love and passion for dance and dance team. Our membership is made up of people with different backgrounds and we embrace those differences. Our membership includes former dance team members, current and former professional or collegiate dancers, former coaches, and the list goes on. We enjoy sharing and learning from each other.

JAM is the association that Minnesota high school coaches and athletic directors use to hire dance team officials. JAM will only schedule members who have attended training for any officiating positions. Because the MSHSL doesn’t offer judging training, host schools know that JAM officials have the background and training necessary to judge fairly and accurately.

We are always looking for new members to share their passion of dance and dance team with our association. Please consider joining our association!

Each year, our membership fees vary depending on your membership level, as well as when you register and submit your payment. Please visit our Membership Fees page for more information.

Our annual registration period usually starts in early summer and goes through early fall. You are required to re-register each year, and you must also register with the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL).

Please visit our How to Join JAM page for a a step-by-step process of how to join JAM.

Yes. Former dancers, coaches, parents/other family members, and current fall coaches may officiate as outlined for each JAM level listed in our membership levels.

Conflicts of interest or recent affiliations are managed appropriately so that you will not judge for a particular team(s) or class(es). Visit our Conflict of Interest page for more details and examples on conflicts of interest.

All JAM officials need to be registered with the Minnesota State High School League each year. To become a new official, use this link and create an ArbiterSports account.

Once you have registered with the MSHSL and paid their fee, you will be able to log in to your Arbiter portal. You are required to complete your annual Online Rules Module and Rules Test, as well as Concussion Training and any other requirements. Once these become available (usually around mid-October — we will notify you), you can find them under the Eligibility tab.

Sit tight! If you’ve filled out the JAM registration form, paid your membership fee, and registered with the MSHSL, then you are good to go.

Beginning around September, you will receive an email from us with an invitation to join the private JAM General Membership Facebook group. Here is where you will receive most updates and need-to-know information throughout the season, as well as via email.

You should expect to hear more details about your selected training date in the weeks leading up to training.

Not quite. Anyone is welcome to become a KCT/Tabulator with JAM, but we have implemented a new application process for those that would like to take their officiating journey a step further and judge at competitions. Our officiating structure is designed to ensure a consistent, fair, and knowledgeable judging panel that reflects JAM’s values and commitment to excellence.

Our officiating process for all new members now follows these steps:

1. Starting Role – KCT/Tab:
All new members will begin in a support role as either a Kick Count Timer (KCT) or in Tabulator. This provides essential experience and insight into JAM’s operations and judging process.

2. Mentor Program:
Once the mentorship program is completed the individual may express their interest in becoming a judge.

3. Judge Application Process:
Members interested in moving into a judging role must submit a formal application. This helps us assess each individual’s readiness and alignment with JAM’s expectations.

4. Core Group Review:
Applications will be reviewed by the Core Group. In their evaluation, they will consider several factors, including prior dance knowledge, professionalism, communication skills, and overall readiness to judge effectively.

5. Trial Judging:
After the Core Group approves a judge application, the applicant will be scheduled for trial judging. To qualify for regular judge assignments, each judge must successfully complete two trial judging sessions.

Note that Core Group approval of your application does not guarantee a judging position at every competition for which you are scheduled — rather, you may be scheduled in a judging position at any given competition for which you are eligible and available to officiate. You may still be scheduled to KCT or Tabulate at any given competition.

With the exception of Trial Judging and participation in the Mentor Program, you will get paid.

JAM has fees and guidelines that host schools use to determine necessary payment. You can view these on our Fees & Guidelines page.

The various officiating positions have different fees and in some cases, schools will pay mileage to officials who are travel to meets in greater Minnesota. While receiving payment is considered a perk of officiating, most officials consider their love for dance as the reason for becoming involved with JAM.

In the early fall, our Scheduling Team will send the master meet list to our members and ask members to respond with their availability and interest. As additional meets are added throughout the season, we follow the same procedure on a smaller scale.

After the Scheduling Team receives the responses back from our members, officials are scheduled and the meets are confirmed via our online scheduling software. Meets are scheduled approximately one month in advance unless otherwise noted.

Probably not. New members are more likely to gain officiating experience by doing the following:

1. Sign up for as many meets as you are available to do. You can sign up for multiple meets on one day. You will not be double booked.

2. Sign up for meets in greater Minnesota (non-metro areas). We have fewer officials located in those areas so your willingness to travel will help you get more meets.

3. Sign up for as many positions as you are qualified for. Signing up to “only judge” (if your judging application is approved) will limit your availability. Be sure to indicate tabulating and kick counting/timing if you are confident in those areas of officiating.

As a new member, you will start off receiving Kick Counting/Timing (KCT) and possibly Tabulation assignments if you feel comfortable. If you apply to Judge and are approved, you should still expect to receive more Kick Counting/Timing assignments than Judging assignments in your first year to help tyou better understand the Judging process and the Minnesota Average scale.

To maintain your credibility as a JAM member, you must avoid cancelling unless in an emergency. Treat the meet assignment like a job. If you habitually cancel, it will limit the meets that you are scheduled for in the future. If you must cancel due to an emergency, you must immediately contact the Scheduling Team.