There’s not currently a place where anyone can go and get information on how to sign up to become a sports official. And, I say currently. here is something in the works that will accomplish this deficit. When SOPTI, the Sports Officials Professional Training Initiative, is fully implemented, there will be an easy-to-follow process to accomplish this task.
Right now, there are a few ways to do it. But the most important thing is having the right attitude. Do it because you want to. Don’t do it to merely make a little extra spending money. I’ll tell you now that you would be wasting your time. You’d be better off getting a part-time job close to home. However, if you like sports, want to get a little exercise, stay involved in your community, then officiating may be right up your alley.
You shouldn’t expect to work any “Championship” game in your initial years. You won’t have enough experience. When you apply yourself for the first couple of years, you’ll be ready for that opportunity when the door opens. If you make a mistake early in your career trying to do something you’re not ready for, that can follow you for a long time. Be patient.
So, how do you get started in today’s world of officiating? Let me give you several first steps you can take. 1. Go to a local park and simply ask one of the officials who they get their assignments from. 2. On social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.), search for “Local officiating associations. 3. Google “Officiating Associations near me.” 4. Go to your state high school athletic association’s website. Almost all of them have an officiating page. You can begin your search there.
Your goal should be to find a reputable association in your area. What is reputable, you ask? Well, how long have they been around, is a good question to ask. What’ ‘s their training program like, is another. Look at how many members they have and, if you can, find out how many games they are assigning officials to work.
Officiating can be an enormous experience. You’ll stay with the sport you love. You’ll stay active. You’ll give back to your community. You’ll make new friends and contacts. You’ll gain experiences that can be used in your everyday life to make things a little easier.
If you have questions, please reply in the comment section and I’ll try to give you some additional guidance. Good Luck!