Sports Official

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.

Depending on the sport, they also may:

• 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.

In some sports, officials use hand signals to communicate their decisions.

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.

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.

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.

They should enjoy having clear rules and guidelines for their work, analyzing and directing the performance of others, and dealing with people.

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.

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,

• 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 1 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.

Sports officials are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 5253: Sports Officials and Referees. In Alberta, 83% 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:

• 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.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Sport Connection website: www.albertasport.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.