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.

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.

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

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

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