re: What’s it like being a HS football referee?

My buddy has done high school for years and has moved up to working the chains at the college level. He worked the Sugar Bowl the last four or five years and said working big games like that is an absolute blast.

He has a day job but makes some decent cash working the college games.

I work the chain crew at times for HS games. Some visiting staffs chide and have exchanges w crew, but it is well within bounds of adult give and take some are just ignorant. The ignorant ones generally have terrible teams. The only exception I’ve seen was John Curtis, they were awful to the officials.

I run the chains for my old high school. I'm amazed that anyone would sign up to ref. They don't make nearly enough to take as much shite as they do for three hours on a Friday night. There's no way I could let somebody talk to me like that and just take it.

Years ago I did it for 4 yrs,it was fun. You get a new respect for officials after. You think them dudes look fast from the stands then when you're standing on the field and they fly by you,WOW. Have a thick skin, not gonna get any love. Paid good for 2 hrs,travel time, they make more now. Theres always a shortage of officials. Studied the rules and illustrations book, had the officials mechanics trainings, could work wed,thurs,fri,nights if your schedule allows. A couple of schools the whole time gave us tax forms, majority didn't, paid cash at halftime. A few had food and ice chest of drinks for officials. Very first game I worked the clock at s. Lafourche they got whooped and as always blamed the officials, our lives were threatened a lot on the way down after the game. Wish I could still do it. After the game take off the stripes, back to normal clothes a.s.a.p.just in case there's a nutcase fan around.

My uncle umped baseball for a few years and didnt quite care for it. He is my dads brother in law and one time he had to toss one of my moms former bother in laws from a game, i think that was the only thing about it he enjoyed.

quote:

---

HS football in Texas...those guys can make serious money from what I understand. Percentage of the gate in some cases,

---

Not exactly. Pay for varsity can range from $120 to $170 within 31 miles (most games). Each additional $5000 in gate receipts makes the ref another $45.

OP, you may want to start with JV games ($75-85 here depending on how long the quarters are). The parents in my school district seemed normal for all three years. Now, playing HS freshman ball, we've had one private school whose parents acted pretty ghetto, but the rest of the games so far have been pretty calm.

How well can you tolerate verbal abuse? Can you throw hands? How would you rate your fight skills against multiple attackers?

I am a retired teacher / Coach In Mississippi . This is my 5th year officiating HS FB. I call jr high during the week, HS games on Friday and Pee Wee on Saturdays Man I LOVE it! I do it to stay around the game and competition . You usually can make $160 for 7th, 8th, and jv combined. We get $125 for HS games and $180 cash on Saturday pee wee games . Pee Wee is god awful. Damn near fights about every weekend

We get HUDL film reviews from every HS game we work so it can be a little pressure packed at times but it makes you better . We have to pass two tests also at 80% to be eligible for playoffs

quote:

---

How well can you tolerate verbal abuse

---

I worked in ems, verbal abuse is what use to make my day.