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Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

What They Do: 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 Called: Basketball RefereeDiving JudgeDressage JudgeFootball RefereeHorse Show JudgeMajor League Baseball Umpire (MLB Umpire)RefereeSoccer RefereeSoftball UmpireSports Official

Resource Details

On The Job

  • Core: Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.

  • Core: Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.

  • Core: Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.

  • Core: Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.

  • Core: Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.

  • Core: Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.

  • Core: Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.

  • Core: Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.

  • Supplemental: Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.

  • Supplemental: Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.