Referee

Do you have a sport that you are particularly passionate and knowledgeable about? Are you constantly calling a foul before the Referee even blows the whistle? If so, a job as a Referee might be right up your field (or court, or ring).

Whether it’s soccer, boxing, football, or basketball, as a Referee, it’s your job to make sure the players follow the rules of the game. That means that you are an expert of the rule book, have excellent vision, and are able to stay focused at all times. This is a high-intensity, fast-paced job that keeps both your mind and body working.

You have immense control over the pace of the game, infractions that are called, and participation of the players. For example, you might evaluate a player’s injury and remove him or her from the game. Common violations include using up the time clock, personal fouls, unsportsmanlike conduct, and players being in the wrong position, or teams having the incorrect number of players in the game.

Although you don’t have to be an athlete yourself, you have to be able to keep up with those on the field. In fact, many sports require you to pass a physical exam along with your written test before earning your title of Referee. In addition to calling the shots during the game, you also write up a post-game report which outlines the action of the game, and behavior of the players and coaching staffs.