Becoming a sports official in Texas offers a chance to participate directly in the state’s vibrant athletic culture. The role is rewarding, providing a unique perspective on the sports you enjoy while ensuring fair play for student-athletes. Texas has a consistent demand for trained referees, umpires, and officials across various sports, making this a viable path for supplemental income and continued engagement with athletics. This journey requires navigating specific regulatory bodies and completing a structured certification process tailored to the high school sports environment.
Understanding the Governing Bodies in Texas
The regulatory landscape for high school officiating in Texas is largely centered on the Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO). This independent organization is the primary entity responsible for training, certifying, and providing officials for public and private school athletic events. TASO works closely with the University Interscholastic League (UIL), the official governing body for all high school extracurricular activities in Texas’s public schools.
TASO ensures fair and safe competition by coordinating its efforts with the UIL and organizations like the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS). TASO covers seven major sports: baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball, volleyball, and water polo. Other sports, such as wrestling, may be managed by separate associations like the Texas Wrestling Officials Association. For those looking to officiate high school sports, aligning with TASO is the main path to receive assignments for UIL and TAPPS sanctioned games.
Essential Prerequisites for Officiating
Before starting the formal training and certification process, prospective officials must satisfy a few foundational requirements. The minimum age to officiate varsity games is typically 18 years old. However, some sports, like basketball and soccer, allow individuals as young as 16 to become certified to work lower-level games as auxiliary members.
All officials must undergo a mandatory criminal background check, which is typically initiated during the initial registration process with the chosen association, such as TASO. Officials must also be prepared for the physical demands of the job, as remaining active is important for successfully managing a game.
The Official Certification and Training Process
The certification process is sport-specific; an official must complete separate training and testing for each sport they wish to work. The initial step involves registering with the appropriate association, such as TASO, and paying state and association dues. These dues cover resources like rule books, study materials, and insurance, and for new TASO applicants, often include the cost of the mandated background check.
After registration, officials must complete mandatory training and education through instructional clinics, which may be held in-person or online. These sessions provide an in-depth review of the sport’s rules, mechanics, and proper officiating procedures. A core requirement is passing a written rules examination, typically requiring a score of 80% and allowing for multiple retakes. This process must be completed annually before the start of the season to maintain active status and eligibility.
Joining a Local Chapter and Securing Game Assignments
Certification requires joining a local chapter affiliated with the governing body, such as one of TASO’s more than 160 chapters. The local chapter serves as the official’s home base, providing a network for ongoing training, mentorship, and communication. New officials typically pay local chapter dues in addition to the state fees.
Local chapters secure and distribute game assignments within their geographic area, often using a dedicated online scheduling platform like ArbiterSports. This system allows officials to manage their schedule, accept assignments, and receive notifications. New officials should plan to begin with sub-varsity games, such as junior varsity or freshman contests, to gain experience before moving to higher-level assignments. The local chapter also holds regular meetings for continuing education, rule updates, and mechanical instruction.
Career Structure and Compensation for Officials
The career path for a sports official offers clear opportunities for advancement, moving from sub-varsity games to higher-profile varsity assignments. Advancement is tied to experience, performance reviews, and earning metrics used by the local chapter to determine division ranking and eligibility. The ultimate goal for many officials is to qualify for playoff games, which are assigned based on a demonstrated high level of proficiency and consistency.
Compensation is structured on a per-game basis, with pay rates varying depending on the sport, the level of competition, and the distance traveled. For high school sports, sub-varsity game fees might range from $65 to $75 per game, while varsity games typically offer higher pay, sometimes between $105 and $135 or more per contest. Officials are often reimbursed for travel, with the UIL utilizing a flat fee system based on mileage between the game site and the chapter’s center point. Maintaining official status and eligibility for assignments requires annual payment of dues and adherence to continuing education requirements.