Sports Umpire
What the work is
Officiates at sporting events such as netball, hockey, football, basketball, cricket, boxing and wrestling matches, by interpreting and enforcing match rules.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Interprets and enforces match rules at sporting events
- Observes and assesses player actions to determine rule violations
- Makes decisions on penalties, fouls and other infractions during matches
- Communicates with players, coaches and officials to clarify rules and resolve disputes
- Signals and announces decisions and penalties to players and spectators
- Monitors the safety and fair play of the game, intervening when necessary
- Keeps accurate records of match events, including scores, penalties and player actions
- Attends training sessions and meetings to stay updated on rule changes and officiating techniques
- Assists in the training and development of other sports officials
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a country race day at a fictional racecourse, and the junior sport fields beside it. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A big game finishes without a single argument over a decision
- A young player thanks you for explaining a call at the end of the match
- A race day where every runner is checked, safe and starts on time
Hard days
- Being shouted at from the sideline over a call you made in a split second
- Standing in the wet with nobody to say thank you at the end
- A decision you were sure about, but which the replay seems to question
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 462532, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.