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

I umpired baseball from the time I was 16 until I was 22. Mostly youth league but a few jr high / JV games.

I would work youth games every day pretty much all of May and June. Would make about $2000 after dues and uniforms / equipment,

When I got to college I got involved with officiating intramurals. I would do volleyball, flag football, softball. The college had a deal with one of the local youth flag football leagues where would work Saturday games. We also would work beer league softball games.

I’ve always said maybe when the kids are out the house I might get back to it.

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Do high school crews generally stick together or is it different people each week?

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. Varies by association some do some don’t. BR does (not for sub varsity though)

I know a guy who used to post on here that did high school football for years. He has worked his way up into NCAA level.

Another guy I worked with obviously started in high school and was a referee in last year's Super Bowl.

I officiate in MS… haven’t heard of any police escorts

Since 1998 have met had, needed or wanted an escort to the game…

Escorts out of stadium yes.

I believe the logic was to park at an undisclosed location before to make it a safe escort out afterwards.
Are you doing Thursday and Friday shifts these days?

Biggest blown call….ended in a flag pick up.

Blocking in front of me. Last second two different things taking place. Receiver on a track to make a questionable block……at the same moment another receiver blocks my view for a second. Action made it appear that first blocker contacted the DB. Reaction was the anticipated flag throw. Tackle…..blow, the whistle, snap shot. Ran to the second set of eyes on play. White Hat had the back angle. Asked one question. “ Did 42 make the block ? “
“ No, he missed.” “ pick up my flag, I got blocked at the moment of contact.”
Simple announcement “There was no flag on the play.”

The game is a counting game. Every play without fail. One night, counting defense, 9, 10, 11, 12….again, same result, flag whistle….illegal substitution. 12th man snuck off the field…he was behind the back judge, who never saw him. Count again 9,10, 11……punt returner on my sideline, left the field as we argued on the field. Call reversed…Coach tells me “our punt returner got on the field early….he was the one you caught…trouble ? No one else on field had counted on the play. Halftime….excuses by everyone else, distracted, conversation, now paying attention…….white Hat went ballistic at halftime. Every play in the second half….thumbs up.

I have a friend who does it. He's been trying to get me to do it for years. As he says, he loves it. He's a football fanatic, so he gets a close-eyed view for some fun competitive games. It takes a season or 2 to gain the confidence and to stop overthinking, but once you have the confidence, it becomes easy.

Dealing with coaches can sometimes be a pain, but for the most part, there's a general understanding that they can't go overboard. Fans will curse you out, but you don't even hear them the majority of the game.

The pay is trash, so if you're looking at it to be a side gig to make a lot of cash, it's not that.

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The game is a counting game. Every play without fail. One night, counting defense, 9, 10, 11, 12….again, same result, flag whistle….illegal substitution. 12th man snuck off the field…he was behind the back judge, who never saw him. Count again 9,10, 11……punt returner on my sideline, left the field as we argued on the field. Call reversed…Coach tells me “our punt returner got on the field early….he was the one you caught…trouble ? No one else on field had counted on the play. Halftime….excuses by everyone else, distracted, conversation, now paying attention…….white Hat went ballistic at halftime. Every play in the second half….thumbs up.

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that one time you don't count.... and yeah - that you have to see the whole action thing bites newer officials in big games often.

For fans, it’s kin to going to Daytona. Sit at turn one on the first row. Brilliant view of the straight away. But anything else on the track…you miss the race. Puff of smoke, by the time you look….five cars wrecked and you never know what happened.