What does a Referee do?

Referees work at all levels of play to officiate all types of sporting matches and events. While specific duties can vary based on the sport, their overall job is to ensure safe and fair gameplay based on the rules of the sport and the specific league. The Referee decides when to start and stop the game and may monitor the duration of the periods for the game. They also decide if a player breaks a rule that disqualifies them or earns them a penalty

Referees often have to make decisions that might not be popular. Coaches, parents, and players might not agree with the calls a Referee makes. They sometimes need to announce their decisions and stand by them even when others are upset. Referees are also responsible for keeping order in the match by minimizing poor behavior and making sure players follow the rules.

Referee skills and qualifications

Successful Referees come into the position with certain skills and qualifications to handle the duties of the job. Some examples of prerequisite skills and qualifications include:

• Knowledge of the sport and the rules of the game
• Decisive and confident in their decisions
• Impartial decision-making
• Ability to keep up with game play
• Interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate well verbally
• Attention to detail and focus
• Teamwork to collaborate with other game officials

Referee experience requirements

Referee applicants should have experience or understanding of the sports they officiate, even if they haven’t worked as a Referee before. For example, a candidate as a Referee in football might have experience as a football player. To be a successful Referee in soccer, an applicant might have coached a youth team or be very familiar with the rules from being a parent of a soccer player. Experience requirements might vary based on the level. Youth sports referees might not need any previous experience, while college or professional sports referees likely need years of previous refereeing.

Referee education and training requirements

Referees typically don’t need to meet any minimum educational requirements. Some organizations require candidates to complete a short referee course. It’s also common to require first aid and CPR training for referees so they can assist if a player experiences a serious medical situation during the game.

Job description samples for similar positions

If the Referee job description isn’t what you need, consider these additional samples for similar roles:

• Coach
• Assistant Coach

Referee job description FAQs

Are the duties of a Referee different in different sports?

In all sports, the Referee is responsible for enforcing rules and maintaining safe game play. They have to learn different rules and guidelines for different sports. How they follow play may also vary. For instance, a Referee in soccer runs up and down the field in all directions to follow the play. In baseball, the officials are called Umpires and have specific starting positions near the bases. Duties might also vary based on the level of play. Youth sports activities might have fewer rules than high school, college or professional leagues.

What qualities make a good Referee?

An effective Referee understands the rules of the game thoroughly. They also value sportsmanship and know what qualifies as unsportsmanlike conduct. Fairness and consistency allow a referee to call a game fairly without showing favoritism to one team. It’s also helpful to be focused and have attention to detail so they don’t miss infractions or scoring situations. Referees need to make decisions quickly and be able to back up those decisions if coaches, players or parents challenge them.

How can you make your Referee job post stand out?

Outline the level of play and any unique rules, regulations or characteristics about the league. Include special perks the official receives, such as season passes to sporting events or free Referee uniforms. It’s also important to include when the games take place, especially if game play typically happens in the evening or on weekends. This helps applicants decide if the game times fit their schedules.