NFHS rules writing committees consist of experts in the given sport.  Each committee member is nominated by state associations, as is the chairperson, who guides the members through their work.  Each of the NFHS’s eight sections are represented on the given rules committee.  To allow for equal representation, there is also a member of the NFHS Coaches Association and the NFHS Officials Association on each rules committee.  Each committee member serves a four-year term.

The NFHS is pleased to welcome three new members of the Soccer Rules Committee: Roger Morton, Joe Oberndorfer, and Teri Connor.

Roger Morton, Section 3, has held several roles spanning 45 years, encompassing roles as a referee, assessor, instructor, and administrator. Morton has officiated throughout the Southeastern United States at numerous levels including the NFHS, NCAA, and NAIA.

Through his leadership over the past two decades, Triangle Intercollegiate Soccer Officials has elevated to the largest NISOA chapter. Morton’s former roles include a Grade 5 Referee and Local Area Referee Coordinator for North Carolina in U.S. Soccer. His Interscholastic officiating includes many State championships and Allstate games in basketball and soccer while Morton’s intercollegiate soccer contributions include refereeing multiple Final Fours at Division I and II, Men and Women, and NAIA. At present, Morton holds positions such as the U.S. Youth Soccer South Region Referee Administrator, NCAA South Region soccer referee advisor, coordinator of soccer officials for the Southern, Big South, South Atlantic, and Conference Carolinas conferences, and Regional Supervisor for Piedmont Soccer Officials within the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

Morton was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (NISOA) and the North Carolina Soccer Hall of Fame. He also received accolades, including the NCHSAA Dick Knox Distinguished Service Award and the Golden Whistle Merit Award.

Joe Oberndorfer, Section 7, is currently active as a soccer referee. He has been a NIAA/NFHS referee for the last 15 years and a USSF soccer referee for 10 years. Oberndorfer currently serves as the board chairperson over soccer for the Southern Nevada Officials Association as well as serving on the Nevada State referee committee for USSF. Oberndorfer has been in the field of logistics for the last 13 years and owns his on 3rd party logistics company. He is married to his wife, Samantha, of ten years and has three boys who will be future soccer players and referees.

Teri Connor, NFHS Officials Association, has been officiating high school soccer since 1997. She quickly moved up the ranks to become a USSF Regional Referee and officiated various games up to scrimmages for the US Women’s National Team. Connor currently serves as a USSF assignor and mentor.

Connor has officiated many high school games including numerous state finals and served as the president for her local high school chapter for the past eight years. Connor has also run the cadet training program and is currently one of the state tournament assignors. Teri was elected to the NJSIAA Hall of Fame in 2015 and was honored to receive the 2022-2023 NFHS Section One Distinguished Active Official award. 

Connor has been an NISOA soccer official since 2006, making it to a National Referee.  She officiated at many league and NCAA playoff games and even attended the DII Finals for two years. Connor has been married for 32 years to her husband, Patrick. They have 3 children and 2 granddaughters. Currently they reside in Wall, NJ.

The Soccer Rules Committee Meeting will take place February 4-6, 2024.