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.
- • Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.
- • Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.
- • 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.
- • Start races and competitions.
- • Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.
- • Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.
- • Direct participants to assigned areas, such as starting blocks or penalty areas.
- • Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.
- • Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.
- • Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.
- • Research and study players and teams to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements.
- • 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 game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.
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Arts, Entertainment, & Design
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
