| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems. |
| Importance: 90 (%) | Description: Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport. |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations. |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations. |
Athletics and Team Sports Careers and Jobs
Select, Find and Prepare for Athletics and Team Sports Careers and Jobs - all on one page
For people who want to stay involved in sports professionally, whether on the field or in team operations. Use the tools below to see which athletics and team sports roles fit your background and goals.
Careers here split between coaching/instruction roles and the sports-business side (operations, management, scouting). Use the tools below to explore Athletics and Team Sports-related job titles sorted by growth rate, salary, or required education. You can start with entry points like Assistant Coach, or look ahead to advanced roles such as Head Coach or Sports Operations Manager. Along the way, you will see specific certifications, such as Coaching certification (e.g., NFHS or sport-specific), that can help you move up the career ladder.
Here is a short Helper Video 
This page will take you through 4 steps to (1) Select from Athletics and Team Sports careers/jobs, (2) Find Athletics and Team Sports job listings, (3) Prepare for Athletics and Team Sports careers, and (4) Provide Athletics and Team Sports career-specific resources.
Step 1: Select a Career/Job: This page starts with 4 ways for you to identify and select from listings of Athletics and Team Sports careers/jobs:
A) Fastest Growing Athletics and Team Sports Careers - 2023 to 2033 (est.)
These listings are based on job growth estimates and helps you to identify the fastest growing and evolving Athletics and Team Sports careers. Some careers may not initially seem related to Athletics and Team Sports, so relevant Athletics and Team Sports jobs are listed alongside each listing. This can also help us to identify which careers (bottom of the listing) may have negative growth - perhaps due to automation or planned obsolescence.
B) Median Annual Salary U.S. Athletics and Team Sports Careers
These listings are sorted (descending) by median annual salary in the U.S. This may help us to identify our ideal career. We may not qualify at this time for the desired career, but this listing and the results provided can help us to explore job details, as well as learn how to appropriately prepare for the career.
C) Athletics and Team Sports Career Ladders (Educational Requirements)
These listings will help us to identify Athletics and Team Sports careers sorted by educational requirements (with the most difficult to obtain listed first). This may help us to identify career ladders (as we scroll down the list), and help us to get jobs that we qualify for now.
D) Select From a Listing of 90 Athletics and Team Sports Jobs.
The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
Once you have identified a job title of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the chosen career. Information may include (not every career choice includes all of the elements below - updates occur quarterly):
Core Duties: Lists the primary worker-related tasks performed in this occupation
Supplemental Duties: Lists additional tasks that are performed but are secondary to the core duties
Work Activities: Summarizes the broad types of behaviors and actions related to this career
Specific Work Activities: Provides more granular day-to-day activities tied to the work performed
Essential Skills: Provides foundational skills that are core to performing this specific occupation
Transferable Skills: Provides career-portable skills that can be applied across multiple occupations and industries
Day-in-the-Life Summaries: Provides a snapshot of the key activities performed on a typical workday in this career
Knowledge Required: Provides the requirements regarding the acquisition of facts and principles
Software Skills: Lists software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized by category and priority
Preparation Required: Provides a summary of the required experience and education
Education Required: Detailed breakdown of the education required
Training and Experience Required: Detailed breakdown of the training and Training and Experience Required
Local Salary Information: Provides national and local salary ranges
Certifications: Provides appropriate government and private-sector certifications and/or credentials that may be required
Professional Associations: Provides professional associations that are related to the career selected
Job Listings: Provides links to active current job listings for the selected career, along with multiple similar job titles to explore. All information appears on this page without navigating away.
Related Careers to Consider: Lists up to 20 careers that might be of interest to you (related to your initial choice - what they do, what they know, and what they're called), ranked by best fit.
** If you clicked on a link from section D (as described in Step 1 above), you will see one or more links to an occupation that is usually a bit more general than your initial job selection - the link(s) is directly related to the specific job you identified through your prior selections.
*NOTE: It is possible that there may not be a career path identified for the specific job you selected in Step 1. If this is the case, scroll up the page and click on a different career/job.
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that provide detailed (updated) links specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview. Can also assist with coffee chats.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career/Job
19 Athletics and Team Sports careers are listed below (sorted by Percentage Change in Total Job Openings - 2023 to 2033 est.). Athletics and Team Sports-related jobs specific to each career are also provided. This shows which careers are emerging and growing the fastest. Please Scroll and Select below:
| Occupations | U.S. Job Openings 2023-2033 (% change) | Athletics and Team Sports-Related Jobs |
23 Athletics and Team Sports careers are listed below (sorted by U.S. National Median Salary). Athletics and Team Sports-related jobs specific to each occupation are also provided. Please Scroll and Select below::
| Occupations | National Median Salary | Athletics and Team Sports-Related Jobs |
23 Athletics and Team Sports careers are listed (sorted by Education/Preparation Requirements - descending) to provide career ladders. Athletics and Team Sports-related jobs specific to each career are also provided.
|
Education/Preparation Categories: 5 = Usually requires graduate school (e.g., Master's degree, Ph.D., M.D., or J.D.) 4 = Usually requires a four-year Bachelor's degree 3 = Usually requires vocational training, related on-the-job experience, or Associate's degree 2 = Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, but not always Please Scroll and Select below: |
||
| Occupations | Education/Preparation | Athletics and Team Sports-Related Jobs |
Scroll through the picklist (below). There are 90 specific Athletics and Team Sports job titles listed. Select those that may be of interest - you will get active job listing links, along with detailed resources to help you prepare for a career related to that job.
You can use this form two ways:
Filter - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the list of job titles below
Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply explore the list of job titles. There may be many that you might never have considered to be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title (Scroll and Select) :
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Find Job Listings:
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
Description: 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.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
20,200U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
26,200
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
6,000 (29.4%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
3,800
Core Duties
Supplemental Duties
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Research and study players and teams to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Keep track of event times, including race times and elapsed time during game segments, starting or stopping play when necessary. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Start races and competitions. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Direct participants to assigned areas, such as starting blocks or penalty areas. |
| Importance: 48 (%) | Description: Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced. |
| Importance: 48 (%) | Description: Verify credentials of participants in sporting events, and make other qualifying determinations, such as starting order or handicap number. |
| Importance: 38 (%) | Description: Compile scores and other athletic records. |
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Performing General Physical Activities: Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Coach others. | |
| Compile technical information or documentation. | |
| Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities. | |
| Determine operational compliance with regulations or standards. | |
| Discuss performance, complaints, or violations with supervisors. | |
| Evaluate skills of athletes or performers. | |
| Inspect facilities, equipment or supplies to ensure conformance to standards. | |
| Inspect work sites to identify potential environmental or safety hazards. | |
| Investigate personal characteristics or activities of individuals. | |
| Investigate work related complaints to determine corrective actions. | |
| Monitor activities of individuals to ensure safety or compliance with rules. | |
| Observe individuals' activities to gather information or compile evidence. | |
| Verify accuracy of data. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
Essential Skills
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
Transferable Skills
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Coach others. |
| Activity: Communicate with others about operational plans or activities. |
| Activity: Compile records, documentation, or other data. |
| Activity: Coordinate artistic or entertainment activities. |
| Activity: Evaluate personnel capabilities or performance. |
| Activity: Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data. |
| Activity: Inspect facilities or equipment. |
| Activity: Investigate individuals' background, behavior, or activities. |
| Activity: Investigate organizational or operational problems. |
| Activity: Monitor individual behavior or performance. |
| Activity: Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
| Emerging Tech Skills |
| Document management software: |
| Adobe Acrobat |
| Electronic mail software: |
| Microsoft Outlook |
| Office suite software: |
| Microsoft Office software |
| Presentation software: |
| Microsoft PowerPoint |
| Spreadsheet software: |
| Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software: |
| Microsoft Word |
| General Software Tools |
| Data base user interface and query software: |
| Database software |
| Electronic mail software: |
| Email software |
| Internet browser software: |
| Web browser software |
| Video creation and editing software: |
| Video editing software |
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed |
| Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. |
| Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. |
| Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. |
| These occupations involve following instructions and often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include dishwashers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, counter and rental clerks, dental laboratory technicians, and security guards. |
Education Required
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 42.9 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 23.8 (%) | Level of Education: Less than a High School Diploma |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.3 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 9.5 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate |
| Frequency of Attainment: 4.8 (%) | Level of Education: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 4.8 (%) | Level of Education: Doctoral Degree |
Training and Experience Required
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 38.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 10 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 9.5 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 9.5 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Professional Associations
| Professional Associations These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities? |
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Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)
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Job Listings
| Job Listings and Similar Occupational Titles - scroll and click to identify common requirements, keywords, and skills in current job listings |
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources
This section contains detailed external resources appropriate to "Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College and author of the Harvard Business Impact article "What to Do When Students Ask You for Career Advice." - Full bio. © 2026 About This Page
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