Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials typically perform the following 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. • Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results. • Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced. • Start races and competitions. • Compile scores and other athletic records. • Verify credentials of participants in sporting events, and make other qualifying determinations, such as starting order or handicap number. • Keep track of event times, including race times and elapsed time during game segments, starting or stopping play when necessary. • Direct participants to assigned areas, such as starting blocks or penalty areas. • Research and study players and teams to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements.