Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Officiate at competitive athletic or sporting events. Detect infractions of rules and decide penalties according to established regulations.

Job Task

• Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers in order to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.
• Direct participants to assigned areas such as starting blocks or penalty areas.
• Inspect sporting equipment and/or examine participants in order to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
• Judge performances in sporting competitions in order to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.
• Keep track of event times, including race times and elapsed time during game segments, starting or stopping play when necessary.
• Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.
• 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.
• Start races and competitions.
• Verify credentials of participants in sporting events, and make other qualifying determinations such as starting order or handicap number.
• Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.
• Compile scores and other athletic records.
• Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
• Research and study players and teams in order to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements.
• Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.

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