Officials in American football help to keep each fast-paced game fair enforcing the rules through penalties, yardage measurements, and other aspects of the game. If you want to work as a football official, you must be in excellent physical condition, have a thorough understanding of the rules, and be a good communicator. After becoming familiar with the various duties of each role, you can try out each of the positions in which football officials serve.
To become a football official, no formal education is required. You must, however, be an excellent student of the game and memorize the rule book, from where the football should be placed at the start of each down to what illegal blocks look like to more obscure rules like tackle-eligible pass plays. Some communities provide classes on how to become a football official, and these classes can be a good place to start. Volunteering to officiate children’s football games is another excellent way to gain experience. Simply watching football games on TV and paying attention to the calls can help you understand the roles of football officials.
To become a football official, you’ll most likely have to go through training and testing with the organization you want to work for. Because a penalty can happen in a fraction of a second and you must throw your flag to note it, you will need to make quick decisions as a football official. You’ll need to be in great physical shape because you’ll be running a lot during each game to keep up with the other players. You’ll also need a good memory to recall your knowledge of the rules during the thrill of the game.
If you want to be a football official, you should be familiar with the positions and functions of the officials on the field. Officials serve in seven different positions at the higher levels of football. The referee is the head official who makes the penalty announcements and is considered the final authority on calls. In addition to recording the scores and penalties, the umpire lines up near the ball, usually on the defense’s side of the ball, and watches for penalties at the line of scrimmage. The head linesman, who stands on the line of scrimmage, ensures that each team stays on their side of the field before the ball is snapped and rules on out-of-bounds situations.
When you first start as a football official, you’ll most likely start as a judge. Because they assist the main officials with watching players and making calls, the line judge, back judge, field judge, and side judge have the least amount of responsibility. This is an excellent position for assisting you in adjusting to the game’s speed and improving your call-making abilities. Many officials start off calling youth or high school football games before progressing to college and professional games.