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You’ve thought about becoming a football official and
need a place to get started.
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.
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.
Attend
meetings. At those meetings, some held before the season
starts, you can ask questions about rules, mechanics and
positioning. Those sessions will be a foundation to get you
started properly. |
| Physical Demands |
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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.
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| Initial Training |
| Lectures,
demonstration and exercises on the basic rules at local
association meetings.
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| Initial Equipment |
•
Polished, black athletic shoes, preferably cleated or Turf.
• WhiteHalf socks.
• Black Shorts Summer and Black Pants.
• Collared striped shirt, both short and long sleeves.
• A black hat with white piping.
• Officiating tools: flags, down indicator, beanbag,
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. |
| Game Fees |
|
Game fees vary widely based on the players’ age group,
competitive level and the state you officiate in. You can
expect the range of $28 for Younger youth games to $40-$45
for more competitive games. |
| Help And Assistance |
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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. |
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