Umpire, Referee, and Sports Official Classes
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials are in charge of an athletic event. They officiate or judge a specific sporting event and enforce penalties based on the rules of that individual sport.
Regardless of the sport, the officials have it tough. No matter what the call, they will always be upsetting the opposing team of that call. This comes with a high amount of stress in making split-second decisions, especially if they make a mistake. They have to be on their A-game for the entire event – one wrong call can cause the opposing team, players, coaches, and spectators to lash out. On the other hand, if you like an exciting, fast-passed career – this could be the career avenue for you!
If you are interested in more information on a career as an Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official, simply choose a school below and request information on financial aid, tuition costs, course offerings, and much more.
Is A Career as an Umpire, Referee or Sports Official Right For Me?
To officiate at the high school level, umpires, referees, and other officials must register with the state agency that oversees high school athletics and must pass an exam on the rules of the particular game. For college level refereeing, candidates must be certified by an officiating school and be evaluated during a probationary period. Some larger college sports conferences (D1) require officials to have certification and other qualifications, such as maintaining a residence in or near the conference boundaries, along with several years of experience officiating at high school, community college, or other college conference games.
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary in industries employing the largest numbers of umpires, referees, and other sports officials were as follows:
| Elementary and secondary schools | $29,170 |
| Local government | $23,770 |
| Spectator sports | $21,550 |
| Civic and social organizations | $19,590 |
| Other amusement and recreation industries | $19,500 |
The top 10% earned more than $50,350.
If you are interested in more information on a career as an Umpire, Referee, or Sports Official, simply choose a school below and request information on financial aid, tuition costs, course offerings, and much more.
Click on a school to request more information
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