How to Become an NCAA Football Referee

Becoming a college football referee is a major step up for officials who may have only worked high school games in their career. Taking the field in stadiums that seat 80,000 fans or more is a shock to the system for any official who is used to working in front of 2,000 or 3,000 fans on a Friday night. However, while the game is played by bigger, stronger players at faster speeds, the game remains the same.

Instructions

1. Get a job as a high school referee and work as many games as you can to get experience. Attend officiating seminars whenever you can and meet as many people in college sports administration as as you can. By networking, you may find yourself in the right place at the right time.

2. Hook up with a college league in your area. There is no central officiating bureau within the college football community. Instead, leagues like the Big Ten, the Big 12, the Pac-10 and the Southeastern Conference hire their own officials. If you live in Michigan, you will want to associate yourself with the Big Ten.

3. Prepare for your interview with the head of officiating at the conference you are interested in joining. They will want to know that you are calm under pressure and they may try to find out if you can handle criticism. They also want to know that you can make quick decisions and keep the game moving.

4. Take any job you are offered. You may be a referee or an umpire at the high school level, but after studying your work and getting your references checked, the Big Ten may offer you a job as a head linesman. Realize that this is a step up and it gives you an opportunity to get your foot in the door.

5. Communicate your needs to your employers. Officiating is not a full-time job at the college (or professional) level. Your job may pull you away from time to time and you have to let those who schedule your officiating jobs know when you are not available.

Tips & Warnings

• Go to seminars to learn more about your job and network whenever possible.