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Are you passionate about sports? Can you make fast and fair rulings? Do you have excellent recall for details? If so, a career as a sports official could be right up your alley! Sports officials ensure that players adhere to the established rules and regulations at sporting events, such as games or competitions.
Sports officials have a variety of duties depending on the sport they specialize in, which can include football, hockey, curling, baseball, figure skating, and ski jumping. In general, their main responsibilities are to maintain standards of play and enforce the rules of the sport. This includes ensuring safe playing conditions, keeping track of playing time, awarding points, and assessing penalties when necessary. They also establish and maintain rapport with coaches, players, and organizing committees.
In addition to these duties, sports officials may also be responsible for judging performance, verifying calculations, responding to protests, checking competitors' credentials, and ensuring that equipment meets the guidelines for the sport. Some sports officials even use hand signals to communicate their decisions.
Working as a sports official can be physically demanding, requiring close attention to detail, and involving a great deal of pressure and concentration. Evening and weekend work is common, and travel to games or tournaments is expected. Depending on the sport, officials may work indoors or outdoors and may need to lift heavy items or wear protective gear to prevent injury.
To excel as a sports official, you should have an interest in the sport, confidence, a good memory for details, good vision, and strong communication and interpersonal skills. You must be able to make quick, fair, and correct judgments, remain alert and focused on the competition, and stay calm and controlled under pressure. It's also important to be open to feedback and willing to accept criticism.
If this sounds like the career for you, it's worth noting that there is no set education requirement for becoming a sports official, and the average salary can vary. However, certifications are not regulated, and approximately 20 sports officials are demanded per province each year.
So, if you're ready to combine your passion for sports with your ability to make impartial rulings, consider pursuing a career as a sports official. It's a role that offers the opportunity to contribute to the fairness and integrity of the game while enjoying the thrill of being in the midst of the action.