What Do Umpires and Referees Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Umpires and Referees officiate at competitive athletic or sporting events. Detect infractions of rules and decide penalties according to established regulations. Includes all sporting officials, referees, and competition judges. They also officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.

Other tasks include:

• Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.
• Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.
• Keep track of event times, including race times and elapsed time during game segments, starting or stopping play when necessary.
• Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.
• Start races and competitions.
• Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.

We asked Umpires and Referees how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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68% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 49% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

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On a daily basis, Umpires and Referees signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition. They keep track of event times, including race times and elapsed time during game segments, starting or stopping play when necessary.

A typical day for an Umpire, Referees and Other Sports Official will also include:

• Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.
• Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.
• Verify credentials of participants in sporting events, and make other qualifying determinations, such as starting order or handicap number.
• Compile scores and other athletic records.
• Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.

We asked some Umpires and Referees a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Besides their typical day, Umpires and Referees also start races and competitions. They may also direct participants to assigned areas, such as starting blocks or penalty areas.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Umpires and Referees Research and study players and teams to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements. They might also Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.

In addition, they Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Keep track of event times, including race times and elapsed time during game segments, starting or stopping play when necessary.

To some Umpires and Referees, it is also their responsibility to Verify credentials of participants in sporting events, and make other qualifying determinations, such as starting order or handicap number.

Less than 40 hours per week

Seasonal (only during certain times of the year)

In a typical work week as an Umpire, Referees and Other Sports Official, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.