Sports Officials, Umpires & Referees
Education & Training Required to be Sports Officials, Umpires & Referees
Success can be achieved in your desired field only through education, even the field of sports demand some formal training that varies with type and level of sports . To be a professional umpire or referee or sport official an in-depth knowledge of the sport, its rules and regulation is required. Many officiating jobs demand umpires, referees or sports officials to go through vocational training.
- A high school diploma.
- Few Sports require umpire, referee, sport officials to pass sport knowledge test and rules test.
- Umpire, Referee, Sport officials voluntarily officiate at community and recreational league competitions to gain required experience in the beginning.
- Umpires need to attend a professional umpire training school if they want to officiate minor or major league games.
Certifications
- The umpires, referees, or sports officials should be registered with state agency to officiate high schools athletics events.
- The college level referees should commence their career with certificate from an officiating school and be evaluated during the probation.
- To officiate large college sports conference they need certificate with other qualification like several years of experience officiating at high school level, college level or other college conference games, should reside near the conference area and so on.
Work Experience
Experience of 7 to 10years in minor leagues is sufficient to enter the next level of refereeing or umpiring the major league. Boxing and tennis referees may work independently.
Advancement
The umpires, referees, and other sport officials look forward to achieve professional ranks. Umpires of games like, baseball gain experience officiating in the minor leagues and then they start officiating major leagues. Advanced level of competition raises the standard for umpires and other officials. Attendance is mandatory at a local or state academy to become a referee of school baseball team.
Pay of Sports Officials, Umpires & Referees
As reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor in May2010, the median annual wage of umpires, referees and other sport officials was $22,840.
Umpires, Referees and Sports Officials earnings (May 2010)
$33,840 Total, All Occupation
$28,390 Athletes, Coaches, Umpires and Related Workers
$22,840 Umpires, Referees and Other Sports Officials
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Industry wise Earnings of Umpires, Referees and other Sports Officials (May 2010)
Elementary and Secondary Schools $29,170
Local Government $23,770
Spectators Sports $21,550
Civic and Social Organizations $19,590
Other amusement and recreation industries $19,500
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Job Prospects of Sports Officials, Umpires & Referees
The number of schools may increase with the increasing population, which will result increase in number of jobs for sports officials. The employment opportunities for umpires, referees, and other sports officials may increase by 20 percent in this decade as reported by BLS.
Job prospects for umpires, referees and sports officials appear to be good in near future. Part time job opportunities for umpire, referee or sports officials are good at high school level. There are blooming career prospects for the women sport officials who will have lesser competition. The competition level may increase for officials linked with professional sports and high pay jobs at college level.
Industrial Overview of Sports Officials, Umpires & Referees
Umpires, referees, and other sports officials held about 19,500 jobs in 2010, out of which 19percent were self employed. In 2010, 19 percent of Umpires, Referees, and other sports officials were self employed. The outdoor umpires, referees or sports officials have to face all type of weathers.
For more information click here