Umpire / Referee / Sports Official

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.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such 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

Tasks

• Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.
• Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.
• Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.
• Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.
• Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.
• Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
• Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
• Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.

Knowledge

• English Language

Skills

• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Monitoring
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Abilities

• Oral Expression
• Far Vision
• Oral Comprehension
• Near Vision
• Problem Sensitivity
• Speech Clarity
• Deductive Reasoning
• Speech Recognition
• Flexibility of Closure
• Perceptual Speed
• Selective Attention
• Time Sharing
• Written Comprehension
• Inductive Reasoning
• Memorization
• Speed of Closure
• Trunk Strength