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.

Also Known As:

Basketball Referee Diving Judge Dressage Judge Football Referee Horse Show Judge Major League Baseball Umpire (MLB Umpire) Referee Soccer Referee Softball Umpire Sports Official

Wages

Annual wages for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials in United States

Job Outlook Bright

New job opportunities are very likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

20,400

6% Change From 2024

Explore Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Research and study players and teams to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements.
Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.
Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.
Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.
Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.
Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.
Direct participants to assigned areas, such as starting blocks or penalty areas.
Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.
Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.
Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.
Keep track of event times, including race times and elapsed time during game segments, starting or stopping play when necessary.
Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.
Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
Start races and competitions.
Compile scores and other athletic records.
Verify credentials of participants in sporting events, and make other qualifying determinations, such as starting order or handicap number.
Research and study players and teams to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Customer and Personal Service - 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.
Psychology - 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.
Administration and Management - 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.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.