What Does It Take To Become A Football Official

The Northern California Officials Association- Sacramento Football is a nationally recognized organization that recruits, trains, evaluates and recommends individuals in the field of officiating football at the high school level in the greater Sacramento area.

Our group is currently seeking highly motivated and responsible individuals to join the over 180 individuals who comprise our ranks.  We are looking for individuals with or without previous experience as an official, to join us in providing quality officiating to the high schools in our coverage area.   Our officials service the football officiating needs of schools located within Sacramento city and county and points as far west as Vallejo and Napa; north to Yuba City, Grass Valley, and Colfax; east to Placerville and Garden Valley; and south to Elk Grove and Galt. The NCOA has a national reputation of producing top flight officials.   Some of our current and former members are well respected individuals within the college and professional arenas.

Membership in the NCOA requires the following: individuals must be at least eighteen years old; they should be in relatively good physical condition; possess sound judgment and good moral character ; enjoy the game of football and be willing to obtain a  more comprehensive knowledge of its rules; and have a genuine interest in assisting the young people of the greater Sacramento area) in learning the values of sportsmanship and team work, as well as obtaining the social skills essential to becoming responsible citizens, all while participating in the wonderful game of football.

Personal commitments of time, travel, and initial financial outlay are necessary to the success of an official associated with the NCOA.  The time commitment requires officials to participate in the following activities:   ten meetings/classroom instruction secessions during the course of a season, generally lasting two-three hours; preseason scrimmages; and game(s) lasting 2-6 hours on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday afternoon or evening throughout the course of the season.  Individuals may be expected to devote a small amount of time with game experience as the only compensation.  However, it had been proven that newer officials have benefited greatly from this practice.  In addition each member will be asked to travel at least one or two times a year to an out lying location to work a game(s), thus alleviating the burden on just a handful of officials. In addition members are financially responsible for membership dues and a uniform purchase.

Transfer officials and individuals new to the association, will be placed in a “new official’s” class.  The purpose of this class is to impart, to officials new to the NCOA, a fundamental knowledge of the rules, their intended application, and a familiarization with our approved field mechanics.  This time is also use to evaluate the expertise of the transfer officials in order to place them in more experience related classroom settings. 

Additionally individuals new to our association will be required to attend two preseason scrimmages conducted on two consecutive Saturdays.  Generally the first scrimmage, hosted by the instructional committee, takes place the Saturday prior to the Labor Day holiday.  The second scrimmage, hosted by the rating committee, occurs on the Saturday of the Labor Day weekend.  The scrimmages are conducted at Jesuit and Roseville High Schools respectively.  The purpose of the Jesuit scrimmage is to expose new officials to the on field experience; and transfer officials to the mechanics approved and followed by the NCOA.  The information individuals are taught in the classroom, in the first few weeks of summer meetings, is now put to practical use on the field.  Veteran NCOA officials are present to assist with on field instruction and provide feedback.  At the Roseville scrimmage, evaluations of officiating candidates are conducted and a recommendation as to a candidate’s readiness to work games for the NCOA is then forwarded on to the assignor.

The initial financial commitment on the part of the candidate(s) includes dues and uniform(s).   Dues are approximately $50.00 to $60.00 a year, and include the cost of on field liability and some minor medical insurance coverage, and the instructional materials; rulebooks and mechanics manuals.  Additionally the cost of a uniform, (required of all officials and generally costing between $180.00 and $200.00) may be incurred by individuals lacking said uniform.  Vendors regularly attend our August meetings during the second and third week of August allowing individuals a close examination of the uniform(s) and accessories and the opportunity to purchase said items.  Additional uniform suppliers can be located on the internet

New officials can be often overwhelmed with the amount of information and situations they are exposed to as they embark on this avocation.  It generally takes a new official about five years to become proficient at football officiating.  However, newer officials are aided by experienced officials, who themselves are constantly honing their own skills in experienced appropriate classrooms, as well as on the field.   Each year the National Federation High School rules committee updates the rules of the game, and the instructional committee disseminates the new information to our members.   As an NCOA member you will benefit from the experience of our network of top ranked officials.

There is a huge sense of fulfillment and pleasure received when you participate as an official in a game of football.  The satisfaction of all your hard work and dedication culminates with the sound of the final gun.   This rewarding experience will enrich your life and the lives that you touch. Additionally the NCOA Sacramento -Football’s sense of camaraderie is unparallel in sports officiating, friendships made here can last you a lifetime.  Officiating can be a very enjoyable and rewarding avocation.

If you meet the requirements as described above, NCOA Football Sacramento is looking for dedicated individuals such as yourself. Please contact Joel Miller at jemcowboytex@yahoo.com or at (916) 812-3828.  We hope to see you soon.