New Official FAQ
July 20th, 2006
What costs are involved in becoming an official?
Initial costs will be for your uniform items. Typically, you can find starter packages on-line ranging anywhere from $120 to $170. Check out the menu above for merchandise links to some of these vendors and a listing of items that you will need. You can also buy the same items individually for about the same costs either on-line or at local sporting goods stores. An FHSAA sponsored vendor will be at the FHSAA Rules Clinic selling everything you need. Additionally, you can sometimes find greatly discounted items being sold by veteran officials at our weekly meetings. Generally, you will have made enough to pay for uniforms by the time you have worked 5 youth league games (1 to 2 weeks).
Other costs are association dues that currently are set at $20 for SEFOA and $10 for FFFOA. These dues are not due until you have actually worked games. You will not pay dues to SEFOA unless you intend to call high school games. A registration fee of $32 is required if you register with the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) to call high school games. You cannot officiate varsity, JV, or freshman games unless you are registered with the FHSAA.
How much will I get paid for officiating games, and how often am I paid?
For youth league games, you will be paid an average of $28 per game depending on the age group. For varsity high school games you will be paid $60 per game. JV and freshman games pay $46 per game, and high school clock operators are paid $29. Certain parks located outside Pensacola pay travel money also. The youth league Jamboree pays $10 per game. You will be paid each week at our weekly meeting.
Example 1: 4 games per week X $28 per game X 9 weeks = $1,008 per season
Example 2: 1 freshman + 1 JV + 1 Varsity + 4 youth league = $264 per week
These are just examples of the earning potential.
How is scheduling handled, and how many games will I work?
Schedules are given out at our weekly meeting on Tuesday nights. For youth league games, you will typically be scheduled to work from 3 to 5 games on a Saturday. Depending on your experience and qualifications, if you are registered with the FHSAA, you will be scheduled as needed for JV and freshman games on Thursday evenings and varsity games on Friday night.
Will I have to take a test?
Yes and no. If you register with the FHSAA to officiate high school games, you are required to test each year. The test is 100 questions. In the past, it has always been 100 true or false questions, but there are indications that the FHSAA will include some multiple-choice questions in the near future. In order to work varsity games, you are required to score a 75 or above on the test. No test is required to work youth league games.
FHSAA also allows for an opportunity to take an open book exam rather than the closed book. You will not be eligible for high school playoff games, but this is not a realistic factor anyways.
What kind of training will I receive?
SEFOA and FFFOA conduct weekly training meetings throughout the summer in preparation for the upcoming season. This training includes both classroom and field training. Attendance at these meetings is crucial for you to improve your skills. Additionally, the FHSAA holds an annual Rules Clinic at Woodham High School and annual Field Clinics at various locations around the state. If you are registered with the FHSAA, attendance is mandatory at the Rules Clinic every year, and the Field Clinic once every 3 years.
Do I need insurance? Am I covered?
When you register with the FHSAA, your registration fee also includes registration with the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS). This registration includes insurance coverage as follows:
General Liability $1,000,000 Occurrence Limit
Excess Accident Medical $10,000 Accident Medical Expense Limit per injury $2,500 Deductible per injury
$2,500 Accidental Death and Dismemberment
If you are not registered with the FHSAA, you are not covered. Whether or not you obtain your own insurance coverage will be your call. The $32 registration fee with FHSAA would probably be the cheaper option.