Each state has a state athletic association that issues officiating permits to referees after requirements are met. Talk with officials at a game, contact the athletic department of a local high school or contact your local recreation department. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Join the local chapter of the National Federation of State High School Associations to meet mentors and move into high school refereeing, where you can begin to earn part-time wages and be seen by conference recruiters. NFL officiating is a thankless job, but referees, umpires, down judges, line judges, field judges, side judges and back judges make pretty good money considering their pro … For example, if you generally have been refereeing middle school games, then you should see if you can referee high school games. If your association requires that you go to a clinic, then they will inform you of the registration process beforehand. Gaining Experience Volunteer to referee children’s games. Officiate high school games. Again, there are no official educational requirements to become an NFL official, but the schooling one receives comes through on-the-job training. You need to know the rulebook, along with the hand signals, but there is no formal education needed to become a referee. There are no age requirements, just experience requirements. An NFL referee must be accurate while millions of people judge their work. You can become an NFL referee at any age as long as you meet the requirements. However, if you are going to a professional clinic in order to better yourself, be prepared to pay a significant amount of money. Last Updated: March 28, 2019 The average age of an NFL official is 51 years old, and they earn between $4,000 and $10,000 a game. What’s the first step? I'm entering my second year of high school officiating, so the tips to get to college, then on. Generally, an official NFL Football Officiating Academy (FOA) clinic will focus on leadership, teamwork, and accountability along with the fundamentals. Now here's the bad news: they didn't. If you do, perhaps you … You should make note cards of plays and rules. With more than 30 years of NFL officiating experience combined, Mackie and Wyant lead the training and evaluation of over 65 national scouts from 31 … With practice, you will be able to rattle them off when asked. % of people told us that this article helped them. "Thanks for the tip. Their judgment affects teams, audience members, and the NFL’s reputation. NFL screening process includes a physical and a psychological evaluation Physical education majors often stir first interest in refereeing You can't just memorize the rulebook, put on … How much time does it take to be an NFL referee? To do that, referees typically start with pee-wee and junior leagues in their communities. Not only will this give you more experience, but you will also be showing an upward trajectory. Step 3: Take Officiating Exam - The class concludes with … You may also have to complete state registration. By playing football, you will be observing firsthand what it is like for a player. © 2021 National Football League. Former NFL official Jim Howey worked in various capacities during his 19 seasons in the NFL. "By 1994, he had progressed to being an Assistant Referee and was promoted to the Football League's Referees List in 1995. NFL Officiating Development Program (ODP): Select college officials that have shown the potential ability to officiate … If you want to become a basketball official, your first step towards it will be … Thought about becoming a sports official? Baines' career "in the middle" lasted for eight years. Officiating an NFL game takes years of training and experience. The NFL requires referees to have membership in a accredited football organization. The efforts of the scouts and NFL Officiating Department have led to a pool of about 4,000 officials at all levels that have been observed and evaluated. The complete 2020 NFL roster of officials. Former NFL referee Jerry Austin was on ESPN at the end of the game and he said the same thing. Referee college and semi-pro games. Cardio is what you should focus on. NFL officials are the best of the best — only 124 officials currently have the privilege of calling football games at the highest level. To make sure each game operates smoothly and fairly, there are some key skills and attributes each NFL FLAG official should be: In tip-top shape. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Of these 10 years, 5 years should have been spent officiating major college level games. The league works to develop former players and women as officials. These men have to have an understanding family and a regular job that offers flexible hours, at least during the football season. To become a referee, you'll need to be familiar with the rules, procedures, and signals used in the sport you want to referee for, and you'll need to get certified by the relevant sports association. Let's see if you can stay calm under intense pressure and whether you have an excellent memory and the vision of a hawk. A select few will demonstrate the skills, athleticism and strength of character necessary to officiate in the NFL. Ohio High School Athletic Association. They will be able to give you the name of the state governing body for high school athletics. Some clinics charge participants hundreds of dollars. Training and mentoring non-NFL officials to officiate football at the highest level. To get certified, you'll likely be required to take a training course, attend a rules clinic, and pass an exam. State or local athletic associations oversee hiring, referee rosters and game assignme… A major criterion for getting hired as an NFLreferee is that they should be in an excellent physical condition and should be membe… wikiHow's. All of these candidates will learn important personal and professional skills that will help them on and off the field. Fulfilling the Requirements 1. Step 2: Take OHSAA Officiating Class - Once registered, complete/edit any profile and contact information and click Choose Sports to indicate which sports you are interested in. The Officiating Department works closely with local, state and collegiate officiating associations to develop this pipeline of high school and college football officials across the country. See Part 2, Steps 3 and 4 above. Officials are an important part of NFL FLAG. Proper training and positioning prepare officials to be in the right place to make the right call. It is not impossible to become a National Football League referee, but it is not easy either. No one officiates forever, so the NFL’s Officiating Department continuously develops a robust talent pipeline to ensure that the next generation of officials is ready to step up when needed. By using our site, you agree to our. Could You Be an NFL Referee? NFL officials are the best of the best — only 121 officials currently have the privilege of calling football games at the highest level. Empathy for the players will help you make fair, rational judgments. As the PFT story and NBC’s Peter King stated, seven of the league’s 17 referees retired in a 13-month span, including John Parry, who was the referee for Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams in February 2019. The NFL has developed a regional network of officiating scouts to canvass the country in search of officials with the potential to advance to higher levels of football. 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