Amidst players moving in their colorful jerseys stands a black-and-white-striped student referee overseeing the game. For some students, officiating youth sports games makes up their weekly routine.

Several South students referee sports including Junior Titans Flag Football and USA Hockey. Becoming a student referee often starts with a sign-up process and some training, James Petrungaro, Referee Coordinator for Junior (Jr.) Titans Flag Football, said. Students complete an exam on the rules and mandatory training—usually on Zoom—before officiating games, junior Ashlyn Eum, Jr. Titans Flag Football Student Referee, said.

Being a student referee requires confidence, the ability to stay calm under pressure, and communication, senior Caleb Sit, USA Hockey Student Referee, said. Sit began officiating two years ago. When students are refereeing, there is also a field marshal on the field with them, who is in charge of answering any questions people may have, Eum said.  When there is a disagreement over a call the student referees make during games, student referees use these skills to back up their decisions and ensure the game continues smoothly, senior Clancy Rogers, Jr. Flag Football Student Referee said.

“There is normally another referee with me whenever I am refereeing a game,” Rogers said, “If there is a call that coaches or parents do not agree with, I talk it over with the other referee and confirm the call.”

Although it requires tough skin and the ability to handle intense situations, the flexibility of student refereeing makes it a worthy job for a high school student, Sit said. Student refereeing not only provides good pay, but students can choose their own schedule, making the job more manageable alongside schoolwork and other extracurricular activities, Sit said.

When refereeing for younger kids, the student referee’s job is to stay alert at all times and keep an eye on the entire field, Eum said. Since the athletes are younger, they can misunderstand the rules, so it is up to the student referees to explain the rules and help if they are confused, Eum said. As the athletes get older, the student referee’s job becomes less of clarifying the rules and more maintaining control of the game, Sit said. The job helps students gain more knowledge of their sport, and lets them help young athletes grow, Eum said.

“It’s fun to see the younger kids play,” Eum said. “When you referee for seventh and eighth graders, they are more advanced, and you see the progression between the two groups.”

Student referees look over the rules to prepare, which helps them be more assertive, preventing arguments—usually brought up by coaches—during games, Rogers said. Student referees need to be physically and mentally able, and confident, and those three things all lead to credibility, Sit said.

“If you are credible, you will get the respect of the players, coaches, parents, and you will have a good game.”