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 * ==Sports Official== ||


 * Sports officials ensure that established rules and regulations are observed at sporting events (games or competitions). ||


 * **Also Known As:** || Figure Skating Official, Football Official, Hockey Official, Linesman, Referee, Umpire ||
 * **NOC Number(s):** || 5253 ||
 * **Minimum Education:** || Education/training requirements vary ||
 * **Employment Outlook:** || Job openings generated due to employment turnover. Occupational outlook currently unavailable. ||
 * [|**Interests:**] || M D s ||



Duties | Working Conditions | Personal Characteristics | Education | Employment | Salary | Other Information | Related Occupations | Related School Subjects | Related Field of Study ||

Depending on the sport, they also may: In some sports, officials use hand signals to communicate their decisions. ||
 * Duties ||
 * Sports officials are responsible for maintaining standards of play and enforcing the rules and regulations that govern their sport (for example, football, hockey, curling, baseball, figure skating, ski jumping). In general, sports officials:
 * ensure the sport is played in a safe and fair manner
 * ensure safe playing conditions
 * keep track of playing time and elapsed time, and start and stop play when required
 * award points
 * assess and enforce penalties when necessary
 * establish and maintain rapport with coaches, players and organizing committees.
 * keep track of the score and other athletic records
 * judge performance and determine results
 * verify calculations before medal presentations
 * respond to written protests
 * verify competitors' credentials
 * check that equipment follows guidelines for the sport.

Depending on the sport, officials may work indoors or outdoors. In some sports, officials routinely lift heavy items or wear protective gear to prevent injury. ||
 * Working Conditions ||
 * Officiating often is strenuous work that demands close attention to detail and involves a great deal of pressure and concentration. Evening and weekend work is common. Travel often is required.

They should enjoy having clear rules and guidelines for their work, analyzing and directing the performance of others, and dealing with people. ||
 * Personal Characteristics ||
 * Sports officials need the following characteristics:
 * a genuine interest in the sport
 * the ability to make quick, fair, correct judgments
 * confidence
 * good communication and interpersonal skills
 * a good memory for details
 * good vision
 * the ability to remain alert and focused on the competition
 * the ability to remain calm under pressure and maintain control
 * the ability to ask for feedback and accept criticism.

Requirements for registration and certification vary greatly from sport to sport. For example, In many sports, there are different certification requirements for different levels of competition. For specific information, contact the governing body for the sport or the official body representing the sport. ||
 * Educational Requirements ||
 * Sports officials must have extensive knowledge of their sport and its rules, and be certified and registered with the governing body or commission responsible for the sport.
 * **baseball umpires** must be trained through the National Umpire Certification Program administered in Alberta by [|Baseball Alberta].
 * **curling officials** for district and provincial playdowns, and national championship officials are appointed by the [|Canadian Curling Association].
 * **figure skating evaluators** must be members of [|Skate Canada].
 * **football officials** are members of local associations that are members of [|Football Alberta]**.** New members work under the direction of qualified officials and participate in various training seminars. The [|Canadian Football League (CFL)] requires its officials to have at least eight to twelve years of experience officiating amateur football games.
 * **hockey officials** also begin in provincial amateur leagues and participate in the [|Hockey Alberta] officiating program. To work in higher levels of competitive hockey, officials work their way through levels of the [|Canadian Hockey Officiating Program]to become senior officials (based on ability and experience as evaluated by the executive of the local association).
 * **ski jumping officials** must be members of the [|Ski Jumping Canada]. They must pass examinations to work at divisional, national and international levels.
 * **swim officials** are volunteers certified by [|Swim Alberta].
 * **volleyball officials** are governed by [|Volleyball Canada], and provincial and zone associations.

Sports officials may be selected to work at provincial and national tournaments as they progress through the levels of an officiating program. Officiating at the Alberta Summer or Winter Games or National Championships is an opportunity to showcase their skills and potentially receive an invitation to move to a higher level of their sport. For example, Sports officials are part of the much larger National Occupational Classification 5253: Sports Officials and Referees. In Alberta, 81 per cent of people employed in the classification work in the [|**Information, Culture and Recreation**] industry. The [|employment outlook] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including: Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years. ||
 * Employment and Advancement ||
 * Employment opportunities for sports officials at the professional level are limited. Most officials in amateur sports are volunteers or are paid per game. They officiate as a hobby or to supplement income from other sources.
 * Amateur **baseball umpires**may be recommended by the National Umpire Certification Program to umpire Provincial, Western Canada or National championships or for part time or fill-in positions for professional and semi-professional games in Alberta.
 * After they gain experience and expertise, **football officials** are assigned to officiate at more advanced levels (for example, college or university games). For the most part, these assignments are given only to officials who have extensive experience and knowledge of the rules of football. Amateur officials who have several years of experience are recommended by local amateur associations to the Canadian Football League (CFL) for consideration. A very small number are invited by the CFL to attend the training program held prior to each football season.
 * Hockey officials
 * can progress from officiating minor hockey to the Western Hockey League. National Hockey League (NHL) officials are recruited from the Western Hockey League. An average of one official per year is selected for full time employment in the NHL.
 * **Ski jumping officials**at the divisional level may progress to national and international levels.
 * All levels of **swim officials** are volunteers.
 * trends and **events**affecting overall employment (especially in the Information, Culture and Recreation industry)
 * **location**in Alberta
 * **employment turnover** (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
 * **occupational growth**(work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
 * **size of the occupation.**
 * Section revised November 2011 ||


 * Salary ||
 * Most sports officials are paid a set fee per game. Fees vary from one sport to another and depend on the level of sport. ||


 * Other Sources of Information ||
 * Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation website: [|www.asrpwf.ca] ||


 * Related Occupational Profiles ||
 * Bylaw Enforcement Officer ||
 * Coach ||
 * Professional Athlete ||


 * Related High School Subjects ||
 * Language Arts; Management and Marketing; and Physical Education ||


 * Related Post-Secondary Field of Study ||
 * Physical Education and Recreation ||


 * **Produced May 2011** ||
 * **Produced May 2011** ||