How to Become a Referee

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 References Approved

Referees, also called sports officials, are responsible for ensuring that the rules of a game are fairly and equitably enforced and that players stay safe. Most competitive sports, including soccer, tennis, swimming, and football use referees (in baseball they are called umpires). Sports officials take formal classes and examinations so they can be certified. Depending upon their level of certification, they may referee recreational, high school, college and even professional games.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Understanding Your Sport

1
Know which sport you want to referee. Each sport has different regulations and procedures, and you will need to be certified as a referee for a specific sport. If you are not sure which sport you want to referee, some things to consider may include:
- Which sport are you most passionate about?
- Which sport are you most familiar with?
- What refereeing opportunities are available in your area?
- Do you have friends/family/children that play a sport you could referee?
2
Attend games. The best way to become familiar with a sport is to attend games. For example, if you want to become an umpire in baseball, then attend baseball games. Observe how the game is played, the signals and procedures referees use, how calls are made, and how disputes are arbitrated. Attending games is also a good way to become acquainted with sporting opportunities in your area, and to meet fellow referees.

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3
Find your local sports association or sports officials association. To become a referee, you will need to be certified by a relevant sports association, such as the American Youth Soccer Organization, USA Rugby, or a state High School Association. If you are not sure which association certifies referees in the sport you are interested in (or how to contact it), attend games and ask coaches or referees.
- Some sports associations have regional representatives who can guide you through the process of becoming a referee.
4
Be open-minded about becoming a referee. Lots of people can be referees; you don't have to be perfect or even great at your sport. There can be great, unfilled opportunities for refereeing in your area, or ways that you can give back to your community by refereeing.
- For instance, a youth soccer league in your area might be in need of a referee. Even if you aren't a spectacular player or have no previous refereeing experience, you can learn to become a referee and make a difference in people's lives.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Getting Certified

1
Be at least a minimum age, if required. Some sports associations will require you to be above a minimum age (such as 21) in order to be certified as a referee. If you are below this minimum age, you can still find out everything you can about refereeing in your chosen sport while you wait.
2
Meet physical requirements. To become a referee for many sports, you must have normal vision, hearing, and mobility. Some certification processes will also involve physical fitness tests, so you should begin training even before you expect to become certified.
3
Take a training course.^{[1]
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Research source}^{[2]
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Research source} Sports associations typically expect referees to attend an officially sanctioned training program before becoming certified. These regularly-offered courses may be as short as a few hours, or be more extensive. Usually, there is a fee tor taking the course. You may be assigned books, websites, practice tests, or other materials to help you learn the rules and regulations of your sport.^{[3]
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Research source} Courses typically cover information such as:
- Making signals
- Using game time correctly
- Positioning
- Arbitrating violations
- Specific concerns depending upon whether you will be refereeing children or adults
4
Attend a rules clinic.^{[5]
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Research source} Rules clinics are opportunities to lean about current game rules, safety regulations, and concerns for your sport. Sports associations will post schedules of regularly held rules clinics. In some cases, rules clinics are held as face-to-face meetings, while in others they may be offered online.^{[6]
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- In many cases, you will need to attend a rules clinic regularly (such as once a year, or every other year) even after becoming a referee.
5
Pass a certification test.^{[7]
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Research source} An examination is usually the culminating part of a referee training course. In some cases, you will have to be periodically re-certified as a referee by taking an updated examination. Tests typically cover items such as:^{[8]
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- Regulations of your sport
- A physical fitness examination
- A practical evaluation, in which you demonstrate your ability to make sound calls
6
Complete a background check, if required. The referee certification process for some sports associations will entail a background check and/or fingerprinting. This is especially the case if the refereeing position will involve working with children. Your sports association and training program will explain this requirement and how to fulfill it.
7
Pay a fee, if required. Many sports associations require you to pay a fee to be licensed as a referee. The fee may cover either the cost of membership in the association, or a specific referee's fee. The fee amount will vary depending on the sport you are interested in.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Succeeding as a Referee

1
Get the appropriate gear. To actually serve as a referee for a game, you will need certain equipment. As a referee, you are expected to wear a uniform that meets your sport association's regulations. In addition, you may need other items particular to your sport, which may include:^{[9]
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- Flags
- Cards
- A whistle
- An approved watch
2
Understand the work a referee does. A referee is expected to be present and observant at games, make sure that players follow rules and treat each other fairly, and arbitrate any disputes that may arise. Referees can go beyond these basics by:
- Modeling fair and honest behavior, especially for youth
- Keeping records of all games officiated
- Refereeing tournaments in addition to regular games
- Making reports to the sports association when necessary
3
Get recertified. Since rules and safety regulations for a sport can change over time, it is a good idea for referees to take refresher courses. Many sports associations will require regular recertification if you want to continue as a referee.
4
Pass additional certifications to advance as a referee. For many sports, once you have served as a referee for some time, you may be able to advance to a higher level of referee. This can mean having the responsibility of directing other referees, the ability to referee non-local games, and other services.
- In order to advance, you must usually have refereed a certain number of games, attended regular rules clinics, and passed additional certification tests.^{[10]
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  Research source} Specific requirements can vary depending upon your sport.

Community Q&A

Question

What do I need to wear to referee class, and what should I bring with me?

Community Answer

Be prepared to take notes--have pencils, pens and a notebook. Regular pants and shirts are fine unless they have told you otherwise, but wear running shoes or sneakers.
Question

Do you need to go to college to become a referee?

Community Answer

No, for a standard soccer organization you would take a couple online courses or go to a class, but it's not something you need a college degree for. It can vary with the organization, though, especially if you're asking about intense professional refereeing.
Question

How much can basketball referees earn?

Community Answer

For a full basketball season, referees can make from $150,000 up to $550,000.