How to break into College Football
 

I live in Florida and am very motivated to break into the collegiate ranks. I have been searching online trying to find info on camps, specific conferences in the Southeast, etc.

I have done HS for 2 years and am currently doing games in 2 semi-pro leagues in FL. What do I need to do to break into the college ranks?

My initial thought is that 2 years of high school is probably not enough experience to break into the collegiate ranks but that depends upon a lot of things so I won't discount it all together.

If you haven't visted the Refstripes NCAA forum, I recommend it. There is plenty of advice to be found there. http://www.refstripes.com/forum/index.php?board=2.0

While you're browsing, I also recommend checking out the Classics forum.

Good luck to you!

I assume that process is different in each region so I would network with your local officials more than asking questions on this site. There have to be some officials in your association that work small college football in your area and they will be your best source for information on moving up to that level. They will also let you know what clinics they recommend. Your first goal should be to find out how to get into the local small college conference and go from there.

In your third or fourth year of doing varsity high school ball, start to attend local study groups/meetings for NCAA.

In your fifth year start to try and get JV or scrimmages. I would not attend a clinic that has on field evaluations until I had worked at least a half dozen JV games.

In your sixth year, start building up references and at seasons end, send out resumes.

Continue to take JV games, attend the meetings and be willing to work anywhere at anytime.


J.M.H.O.

I worked an on-field clinic before I worked my first HS varsity game and got some helpful comments from college evaluators. I think if there's a clinic like that, start going to it. The more they see you, the better your chances are.

It’s a catch 22. Yes you will get experience and instruction, but first impressions are hard to shake. If you are being evaluated by someone that you want to work for in the future, I’d be careful. I think you want to be very prepared the first time they see you on the field.

I think the simple direct answer is, keep up what you're doing, but the bottom line is 2 years is not sufficient experience. Enjoy the HS experiences and some of the advice you get from good, more experienced, officials you work with at other levels for an additional 5-7 years and see how you progress

Reality is that most things really worth having, are not easy to get, and you're at the bottom of a really wide pyramid, with a really finite number of opportunities at each level above you. Be patient and enjoy the ride.

Did we ever figure out how wide that pyramid is?

NFL-119
BCS-280
nonBCS-200
FSC-500
D2-620
NAIA/D3-1400
HS-

In Ohio, an official cannot even work a high school varsity game with less than two years on field time. After two years, and an advancement test, along with field evaluation, then you can work varsity as a Class 1 official.

Please tell me they don't make officials that move into the state wait 2 years to work a varsity game...

I'm at the bottom of the chain, but depending on experience, maybe not.

No, Ohio is a reciprocating state with sports licenses.

What part of the state are you moving to?

A few years back there was an outstanding article in Referee Magazine written by John Bible about moving up. In his article, it was his stance that in order to have a successful college career you should have at least 10 years of high school experience before moving up.

From personal experience, I moved in the NAIA ranks after 4 years of high school experience and looking back, I probably wasn't ready. I only worked two years of college before stepping back and going back to school to get my specialist degree.

Don't rush it. Things will happen in time.

I wish you the best of luck!