First year official position

[jsg123]

What is the best position to choose for a very first year football official? We will be working the clocks some, but have to choose 2 on field positions as well. They say they need umpires and referees, but I am somewhat overwhelmed looking at rule book and case book, and want something that is easy my first year. Thanks for all the help! 

[bama_stripes]

Assuming 5-man, Umpire.  Especially if you like   

[Wingmanbp]

I did the wings my first year and seemed pretty easy to adapt. i guess it depends on how well you can handle coaches in your ear 

[Tom.OH]

I think it is best to learn and work as many positions as you can. In Ohio we can not work varsity games until our 3rd year. Not sure where you are , work as many games as you can and ask questions of the more experienced officials you work with. And most importantly, have fun.

[mardunn]

Our association starts all first-years off at Linesman.  Not sure why, honestly.  Seems like line judge would be better.  We also will half about half of our first years work varsity games just due to the numbers.

[HLinNC]

The two groups I have worked in both tend to start you at LJ.

That is unless you are "husky" and then it's  for you.

[ljudge]

Here's my advice in 16 years of doing this.  When I started I always wanted to be a referee (don't know why) and ended up being one for 8 years until promoted to work in college.  If you want to be a U then definitely try to work U if you can and as a second position take either wing.  Do you think you will have aspirations for college?  If so then I'd work wing and a back judge.  Here's a quick synopsis of my career for all it's worth.

Worked as high school LJ, hence my screen name.  I worked LJ for only 2 years then moved to R. After working 7 years I moved up to NCAA.  Although that was a nice move to work R it didn't quite prepare me for college (becoming a college R the choices are limited and I was already in my 40's). When I got to NCAA I applied to F knowing they needed deep guys. Having LJ experience it still helped me for working sideline so had those core competencies.  I worked F for 6 years in college and was promoted to B last year and now working D-1 (FCS).  The F helped me for learning this position and my boss knew I had what it took to work deep having worked D-II playoffs as an F.  Had some speed and excellent rules knowledge.  With "deep experience" I have given myself skills to work 3 positons (F, S, B).  If you want to be an R then I'd recommend for you work L (or H) and B.  A lot of B's become referees.   

If you think you might want to move to college (or if you want to work BJ anyway) I highly recommend you ask for H or L for the one positon, then B for your second position.  Absolutely.  You well be well-groomed to work the wing and if you ever want to move up to college (where they also have a field and side judge as I mentioned) you will have the skills necessary to work deep as I stated.

I wish you the very best of luck.

[jsg123]

Thanks so much for the great info guys! I am much more interested in my baseball umpiring career at this point, but a lot of guys I work baseball with do football, and it seems fun and I was encouraged to try it because I did a good job at baseball. I will report back throughout the year. I am sure I will have a boatload of questions.

[Ralph Damren]

Thanks so much for the great info guys! I am much more interested in my baseball umpiring career at this point, but a lot of guys I work baseball with do football, and it seems fun and I was encouraged to try it because I did a good job at baseball. I will report back throughout the year. I am sure I will have a boatload of questions.

Good luck , JSG , you'll find that ,where in baseball, 90%+ of the calls are objective (fair / foul, ball / strike , out / safe) ; probably only 50% of your football calls will be objective (in bounds or out, catch / no catch ' runner down or not) and the remaining calls subjective (holding or not , pass interference or not, etc). We start our new guys at linesman for the following reasons : (1) Set duties each play - checking downs marker and aiding in proper placement ; (2) In command of chain crew - adds responsibility ; (3) Yes, you'll have a coach in your ear - but it'll be usually on the visitors side where things are not as loud! Enjoy, it's a fun job in a great sport !!!

[VALJ]

Our association starts all first-years off at Linesman.  Not sure why, honestly.  Seems like line judge would be better.

Our JV assigner does this now, and I can't say I entirely agree with it.  I suspect it's a "baptism by fire" kind of thing, but as a rising R, I'd rather have the rookie at LJ or BJ and have a veteran to make sure I'm straight.  (Especially since our protocol is that the HL is the next man up if the R goes down for whatever reason.)

When I broke in 12 years ago - just typing me that makes me feel old - we worked everywhere but R for the first 2 years, mostly 5 man, but with an occasional 4 man assignment.  Really gave me a chance to find out that I was definitely NOT an umpire, and to realize that I HATED working HL on JV games.

[StripedOutlaw]

I would rather have a rook on the chains than LJ on a 4 man crew.  Kicking game can have a lot more issues.  If it is a 5 man crew, LJ would be a good spot

[spookemook]

The wings but I would say LJ before HL, it is just easier to learn not having to worry about the chains.

[fencewire]

First year on the field, on a 5 man crew, varsity game, I would want a rookie at BJ.  On a 4 man subvarsity game, on the wings or at U.  After the first year, anywhere as needed..

[Dommer1]

U. Mechanically, it's the simplest position, excluding the fact that you have to make sure you're not run over. You are also surrounded by other officials and the Referee is in a good position to talk to you a bit between plays. You won't have any coaches breathing down your neck.

[Rulesman]

You won't have any coaches breathing down your neck.

They'll just be hollering "HE'S HOLDING!!!!!!!!" on every play. 

[Dommer1]

Only the Back Judge is "immune" to that!