Questions about College officiating?
 

Advice needed from college official:

I have been working as a hs official in Ohio for 13 yrs. May be interested in working at the college level in the near future.
Ratings have been positive, outstanding experience,
and crew has been great.

1. How would I go about finding the right fit for a college conference?
2. How do you get info and break in?

Thanks for your help!

Not a college official but those that have moved up in my area started out working spring scrimmages in the South Atlantic Conference (D2) and Southern Conference (D1AA nee' FCS) schools. You have to be willing to work as many as you can stand and drive as far as they ask. The supervisors make their rounds at these scrimmages and the college officials you work with will also give him input.

It doesn't hurt to get to know the college officials who still also work your local HS area or at least used to. They will be a much more useful source of info.

1. Not your decision in most cases. If someone hires you from a conference, that is how you get to work games. Usually you do not get to decide what is the right fit, the person assigning makes that determination. And if you want to work college you will work whatever is given to you. Lower level college is often a mixed bag based on the teams that you will see and the level you actually work (NAIA, D3, D2, JUCO).

2. You have to talk to local officials that know the assignors and how it works. It works differently all over the country and there is not magic formula.

This is really the key as all we can give you here are generalities. Even my system changed drastically in the past 2 or 3 years.

Peace

Call your local D-III or JUCO school's athletic department. Explain to them that you're interested in becoming a football official and ask them who assigns their games. Contact that person, see what you need to do.