What level of education is required to be a ref or to be considered? Give a percent on how many refs have another "primary" job?

The answer to your first question is "roughly the same as is required to be a coach." As to your second question, I'd say a rough guess would be that 99.999999999999% have "primary" jobs.

I'm not done high school, and I ref.

I heared of a guy who worked part-time in a gas station, and officiated football and basketball for the rest of his income.

The point, in order to ref, you need to be able to see, run, point, and read. Anyone can ref, they won't kick you out because you dropped out of school.

What level of education is required to be a ref or to be considered?

You have to have graduated Cum Laude from the "School of thickis skinnis and common sensus." Most of us majored in a degree called "fan ignorus."

Give a percent on how many refs have another "primary" job?

Of all the ones I know, 100%. Everyone I know does it for the love of the game and to give back to the game. Other than NBA refs, I don't know any that do it for a living. It would be hard to survive on officiating alone unless you wanted to "live in a van down by the river."

Z

I know some guys that have retired and still ref, so technically its their primary job, as its their only job. But they still are making more on their retirement check so maybe that makes retirement their primary job.

I was under the impression that the BIG time Div 1 officials make over 100G... isn't that enough to live ?? I'd say a guy getting a fairly good Div 1 sked.. along with Div 2/3 mixed in.. pluse maybe some summer stuff mixed in.. has to make AT LEAST 40G. I could live on that..
Any comments ?? I may be off on the figures.. but, i'd say close. Those with definite knowledge.. please set me straight.

The big time refs - you're absolutely right. I'd guess there are fewer than two dozen NCAA refs making that much money, though.

Also, I don't know where you live, but 40 grand/year wouldn't get you much out here in D.C. Just saying . . .

The most important thing, though, is to have something to fall back on. A bad call will get you dropped from a league 20x faster than a bad pass will get a player cut from a team.

One thing to remember...no benefits..
<LI>No health insurance
<LI>No paid vacation
<LI>No sick pay
<LI>No pension
<LI>Self Employment taxes (that your employer normally pays)
<LI>etc.

So, 100K for them is NOT equal to a salary of 100K as an employee. All of the benefits that so many take for granted actually cost a LOT of money. Benefits alone could effectively reduce that by 20-30% or more.

[Edited by Camron Rust on Mar 22nd, 2004 at 04:27 PM]

Even worse than a bad call putting a speed bump in your new career is an injury ending it.

The people that I know that work fulltime as a ref work the WNBA in the summer. That way they work about 9-10 months out of the year. The WNBA refs probalby work on average 5 D-I conferences.

I know a few people that work 3 or 4 conferences but still have other fulltime jobs.

You need to have an understanding job to be able to do that though.

I'm looking for about 5 games a year at $20,000 each. Then I will make this my primary job.

Yea, wouldn't we all...

Heck - I'll take one game a year at $20,000!

I can tell that you have not passed your English class yet.

LOL! From one of the best skits ever on SNL.