Research youth sports programs in your city and volunteer as a referee for the sport that interests you most!

Volunteer as a referee.

Who's someone you admire in sports, music, film, or dance? Research how they hit the level they're at now. Did they start young? Take classes or train? What lessons can you learn from their journey?

Study a performer or athlete you admire!

It's critical for sports officials to stay up-to-date on any adaptations or changes to rules for that sport. Follow your favorite leagues on social media, subscribe to organization newsletters, and watch post-game specials on TV to stay informed.

Keep up with rule changes for your favorite sports.

The ability to see details at a distance.

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Officiate at competitive athletic or sporting events. Detect infractions of rules and decide penalties according to established regulations. Includes all sporting officials, referees, and competition judges.

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Athletes, Coaches, Umpires, and Related Workers

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers

Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.

Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.

Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.

Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.

Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.

Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.

Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.

Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.

Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.

Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.

Email software

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Adobe Acrobat

Video editing software

Microsoft Office software

Microsoft Word

Web browser software

Database software

Elbow pads

Hockey girdles

Shin guards

Umpire chest protectors

Protective sports helmets

Umpire masks

Countdown timers

Fitness treadmills

Electronic display boards

Measuring tapes

Sports flip coins

Hockey skates

Air gauges

Exercise bicycles

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

A lot of freedom

Some freedom

Limited freedom

Continually or almost continually

More than half the time

How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?

Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team

Extremely important

Very important

Important

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Every day

Once a week or more but not every day

Once a month or more but not every week

Once a year or more but not every month

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

Contact with others most of the time

Contact with others about half the time

Occasional contact with others

How regular are the work schedules for this job?

Seasonal (only during certain times of the year)

Irregular (changes with weather conditions, production demands, or contract duration)

To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?

Very close (near touching)

Moderately close (at arm's length)

How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?

To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?

Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Overview

Career

What Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Do

Other Job Titles Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Overview

Career

What Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials Do

Other Job Titles Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Related Careers

Related Leaders