1) Find out about the local officials associations in your area. An officiating association is a group of officials who meet periodically to discuss rules, mechanics, and philosophy. They are a great way for new officials to learn from veteran officials.
2) Attend a game in your area and ask the officials what association they belong to and whom to contact for information. The association will be a valuable pool of resources for training, obtaining games, and getting to know the officiating community.
3) Attend association meetings. At these meetings, some held before the season starts, you can ask questions about rules, mechanics and positioning. These sessions will be a foundation to get you started properly.
4) Contact NASO. We have more than 4,000 local officials associations in our database. We will be able to put you in touch with an association in your area.
After doing these 4 things, also consider the following aspects of being an official. As an integral player in the sport of football, the official must also be prepared to devote a significant amount of time, energy, and hard work to foster excellence in his/her program.
Physical demands
You will be constantly on your feet. A wide vision of the playing field is a must. Quick reactions and speed are advantages. As the players' ages increase and the competitive levels increase, the physical demands will also increase.
Initial training
Expect lectures, demonstration, and exercises on the basic rules at local association meetings.
Initial equipment:
- Polished, black, athletic shoes. Preferably cleated.
- Striped socks.
- White knickers and a black belt.
- Collared striped shirt, both short and long sleeves.
- A fitted black hat with white piping.
- Officiating tools: flags, down indicator, bean bag, information cards, pencil, whistle, lanyard, chain clip, sports watch with timer, signal card, ball pressure tester.
- Estimated cost: $225. Veteran officials sometimes have hand-me-downs that help new officials get started.
Registration and fees
Talk with officials at a game, contact the athletic department of a local high school or contact your local recreation department. They will be able to give you the name of the state governing body for high school athletics. You will be expected to complete a registration form for affiliation with a national, statewide or local association. Often there will be a fee that must be paid with this registration which goes toward additional officiating training and insurance. Often, with your state association fee, you will be provided rulebooks and other materials. The fees range from $10-$75.
Game fees
Game fees vary widely based on the players' age group, competitive level, and the state you officiate in. You can expect a range from $10 for youth games to $50 or more for high school games depending on your region.
Help and assistance
Ask a respected veteran official to be your mentor. That mentor will help answer your questions and provide crucial support. Don't be afraid to ask questions about situations and rules. The more you talk about officiating, the more you will learn about it.
Annual recertification
The different organizations have different requirements, but most require at least attendance at a meeting to go over any current rule changes. Additional requirements may be a written test with a minimum passing score, payment of fees for the coming season and association meeting attendance.
Here's the path for starting and continuing your officiating career:
Youth level
Many officials start at this level. Contact your local recreation department leaders. Your local association should also help you make contacts to get games. Pop Warner league offers youth games in many cities.
For information, contact:
Pop Warner Football
586 Middletown Blvd., Suite C-100
Langhorne, PA 19047
215/752-2691
pwlsreg@aol.com
High School level
After working some games, you may feel you have the skills and confidence to work higher level competition. Talk to veteran officials and find out whom to contact. Contact state associations for registration information. High school athletic directors, association assignors and other officials will help you get games.
Attend local officiating camps and clinics. They are focused on helping officials learn and improve.
The National Federation is the nation's governing body for high school athletics. You may also contact them for information on your state association.
National Federation of State High School Associations
690 Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317/972-6900
http://www.nfhs.org/
College level
College football is a highly competitive level of play. Officials with one year of youth league experience would most likely not be a candidate even though there isn't a designated number of years of experience to reach the college ranks. Obtaining a conference schedule and advancement within a conference is based on the league or conference.
When first trying to enter a particular college conference, talk with officials who are currently in the conference. They can give you valuable information such as the name of the conference commissioner and officiating camps to attend. College athletic directors or sports information directors can also be helpful.
You may start your career in the NAIA, work an NCAA Division III conference, advance to a Division II schedule, then on to a smaller Division I conference and culminate with a major Division I schedule. Attending officiating camps is an important tool to improve your officiating. Not only can you learn from experienced officials, you can be seen by those who assign games at that particular level, most often conference commissioners or officiating supervisors.
Professional level
For the successful college official, professional football is an option. The NFL requires at least 10 years of experience with five of them at a collegiate varsity or minor professional level. A thorough evaluation process follows including psychological exam, background checks, on the field evaluation, and rules testing. Keep in mind the Arena Football League and NFL Europe are natural proving grounds for NFL officials.
For more information, contact:
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
700 W. Washington Ave.
P.O. Box 6222
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6222
317/917-6222
http://www.ncaa.org/
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
23500 W. 105th Street
P.O. BOX 1325
Olathe, KS 66051-1325
913/791-0044
http://www.naia.org/
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
P.O. Box 7305
Colorado Springs, CO 80933-7305
719/590-9788
http://www.njcaa.org/
Courtesy of National Association of Sports Officials (NASO).