The referee is also known as Umpire in some sports like cricket is a professional responsible for smooth conducting of the game following all the applicable rules and regulation of the sport. To maintain the tempo of the game he has to make instantaneous decisions, resolve conflicts and deal with stress and pressure. The referee must be able to bring control to chaos, understand fairness, promote safety and encourage good sportsmanship. He can also postpone, stop, suspend or call off a match if there are weather or crowd problems. On the field, a referee alone has to play the role of a police officer, lawyer and judge all by himself.
Thus he is the overall in charge of the game on the field. He is the one to whom every player has to listen which makes him the most important person on the field. A lot of administrative skills, excellent knowledge of the sport and being fighting fit, is all that is needed to become a referee.
To get the necessary expertise one can go for one or more of the following short-term and full-time long-term courses to make this as a career. It requires a lot of hard work and effort but at the same time offers enormous scope for building one’s career.
Former players, as well as Young energetic people with a desire and capacity for hard work, can get both money and satisfaction along with name and fame now attached with this profession of Refereeing and Umpiring.
Referee/Umpire Eligibility
Educational Qualification
No formal qualification or training is required for aspirants who themselves have played the same or related sport up to a considerable level. Former and senior player of the sports can start their career in the field as an assistant referee to gain some on filed experience before handling the job independently. However, those aspirants who have a non-playing background but know and understand the game well can take some formal training to enter this profession.
Although 10+2 is the basic requirement for any aspiring candidate to enter the profession the Umpiring or referring but to participate in the national and international level games as a referee one should be at least a graduate.
Age Limits
The aspiring candidate should be at least 16 years of age before going for any kind of professional training in this field.
Other desirable traits to become a Referee
- Excellent knowledge of all the rules of the game whether it's football, basketball, soccer, boxing etc.
- Good communication, management, leadership and motivational skills.
- High level of physical fitness as officiating most sports like football, baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer, requires a lot of running and endurance.
- Good control over emotions as referees are placed in highly charged situations that are stressful. They have to remain calm under pressure. Sometimes they may have to take verbal criticism while confronting by others who are not in control of themselves.
How to become a Referee?
One has to do the following procedure to become a referee:
Step 1
As a first step into this profession, the interested candidate has to register with their local sports Association. Once registered one need to attend a Basic Referee's Course consisting of:
- Around a weak long classroom-based training session, usually held in the evening. However, the duration of the training can vary depending upon the sports and its association.
- Two examinations - one written and one oral
Tuition and examinations are free, but there is a small fee for registering with the County FA.
Step 2
On passing this exam one can start officiating in some lower level games. With experience and performance, individual referees can get steady progress and reach up to national and International level.
Institute offering courses for becoming referee or umpires are:
- Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports, Patiala Punjab, India.
Referee Job Description
Referees perform a vital role in the game at all levels and demand for their services is on the increase. He or she can be referred to as 'almighty' in the sports arena. Ignoring his instructions can bring trouble for the erring players. All this makes his job quite interesting and glamorous. Thus to maintain the respect his position commands he should have a thorough practical as well theoretical knowledge of the sport he or she is monitoring.
Referee Career Prospects
Increase in the organized sports activities and opening up of various sports clubs of virtually every game inside Europe and other third world countries have increased the demand of these professionals many time more than the existing supply. These there is a great scope of referees and umpires in the near future at all levels of sporting events.
Referee Salary
Pay packages and salaries of referees have no fixed limits. These purely depend upon the level and clubs they officiate. Referees can look for salaries keeping in view their own ability and demand in the game. Like an NFL referee salary ranges from USD 25,000 to USD 70,000 per season - a season with 16 games with one-week intervals. Whereas one officiating in NBA earn about USD 128,000 per annum.
