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Professional Sports Referee Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Manage games professionally and consistently to the standards of Arena Sports * Review game ... Referee games while assisting league players in understanding rules specific to indoor soccer

Manage games professionally and consistently to the standards of Arena Sports * Review game ... Referee games while assisting league players in understanding rules specific to indoor soccer

Referee

WA · On-site

Manage games professionally and consistently to the standards of Arena Sports * Review game ... Referee games while assisting league players in understanding rules specific to indoor soccer

Manage games professionally and consistently to the standards of Arena Sports * Review game ... Referee games while assisting league players in understanding rules specific to indoor soccer

REFEREE

Poulsbo, WA

$20 - $32/hr

DESCRIPTION A City of Poulsbo referee ensures youth sports are safe, fair, and fun by enforcing rules, maintaining professionalism, and managing game situations. Key duties include managing ...

People with a passion for sports and social activities * Must value punctuality and professionalism * Prior referee experience a plus, but not required * Experience in diffusing challenging ...

Opportunity to be a part of a professional sports organization and contribute to the growth of ... Referee?

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

People with a passion for sports and social activities * Must value punctuality and professionalism * Prior referee experience a plus, but not required * Experience in diffusing challenging ...

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

As a Vetta Referee, you will be responsible for officiating and controlling soccer games, ensuring ... Sports staff, addressing inquiries and concerns professionally. * Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties:

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Professional Sports Referee information

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How much do professional sports referee jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for professional sports referee in the United States is $20.93, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.02 and $22.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much do pro sports refs make?

Professional sports referees typically earn between $20,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on the league, level of experience, and the sport. Major league referees in sports like the NFL or NBA tend to earn higher salaries, often supplemented by per-game pay and benefits, while referees in lower leagues or amateur levels earn less. Certification, experience, and the sport's popularity influence earning potential.

What are some of the biggest challenges a Professional Sports Referee faces during games, and how can they be managed?

Professional Sports Referees often face intense pressure to make quick, accurate decisions in fast-paced and emotionally charged environments. Managing conflict with players, coaches, and fans requires excellent communication and impartiality. Staying physically fit, keeping up with evolving rules, and participating in regular training sessions help referees perform at their best. Building resilience and a strong support network among fellow officials is also key to handling the stress and scrutiny that come with the role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Professional Sports Referee, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Professional Sports Referee, you need a deep understanding of the sport's rules, strong observational skills, and often formal certification from a recognized officiating body. Familiarity with video review systems, timekeeping devices, and communication headsets is typically required. Excellent decision-making, impartiality, and clear communication allow referees to maintain control and fairness during high-pressure games. These skills are vital to ensure the integrity of the sport, player safety, and the smooth flow of competitions.

What is the difference between Professional Sports Referee vs Umpire?

AspectProfessional Sports RefereeUmpire
CertificationsSports-specific referee certificationsUmpire certifications, often sport-specific
Work EnvironmentStadiums, arenas, sports fieldsField, court, or pitch during games
Industry UsageMajor sports leagues (football, basketball, soccer)Baseball, cricket, tennis, and other sports
Job RoleEnforce rules, make calls, ensure fair playMake calls related to plays, outs, or faults

While both Professional Sports Referees and Umpires enforce game rules and ensure fair play, referees typically oversee sports like football and basketball, whereas umpires are common in baseball, cricket, and tennis. Both roles require sport-specific certifications and are essential for maintaining the integrity of the game.

How do I become a professional referee?

To become a professional sports referee, you typically need to complete relevant training and certification programs offered by sports governing bodies, gain experience through officiating at lower levels, and demonstrate strong knowledge of the rules and good decision-making skills. Many leagues require passing exams and maintaining physical fitness to officiate at higher levels.

How much does a D1 ref get paid?

Division 1 referees in college sports typically earn between $2,000 and $4,000 per game, depending on the sport and conference. They often work multiple games per week during the season and may receive additional compensation for postseason tournaments. Experience, certifications, and the level of competition influence pay rates for college referees.

What sports refs make the most money?

Professional sports referees in high-profile leagues such as the NFL, NBA, and Major League Baseball tend to earn the highest salaries, often reaching six figures annually. Referees in these leagues require extensive experience, certification, and often work full-time, with earnings influenced by the league, level of competition, and game frequency.

What are professional sports referees?

Professional sports referees are officials responsible for enforcing the rules and maintaining fair play during sporting events. They make decisions on infractions, monitor gameplay, and ensure the safety of the participants. Referees must have a thorough understanding of the sport’s rules, strong communication skills, and the ability to make quick, impartial judgments under pressure. Their presence is essential to uphold the integrity and flow of professional sports competitions.
What cities are hiring for Professional Sports Referee jobs? Cities with the most Professional Sports Referee job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Sports Referee jobs? The most popular types of Sports Referee jobs are:
What states have the most Professional Sports Referee jobs? States with the most job openings for Professional Sports Referee jobs include:

Part-time

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

GENERAL SUMMARY
Arena Sports Referees are an essential part of what makes us great. They provide a safe, fun, friendly, and structured environment for League players, helping to ensure a great customer experience while promoting sportsmanship and fair play, per indoor-specific soccer rules of play.
Alongside refereeing games, they also support League management and operations. They help ensure a smooth, successful soccer season while maintaining high standards in officiating, customer service, and staff development.
Our Culture
Our unique culture is at the heart of all we do and is guided by our values and behaviors. It's what we expect of ourselves and each other every day. We call it our "Code of Culture".
Our Code of Culture includes Our Mantra, Our Actions We Live By, and Pete's Promise:
Our Mantra:
Respect The Past
Accept Responsibility
Pay it Forward
Our Actions We Live By:
Actions We Live By. It's who we are when we step into our full power.
Keep It Real. Always. We need open and honest discussions. We need courage to speak up and to call things out that aren't good enough. And we navigate tough conversations with empathy and grace.
Think Ahead. Be An Owner. Always be proactive, not reactive; be on the front foot. If we want to be an owner of this business, we must act like it!
Stay Humble. Hustle Harder. Show up and do the hard workBe a gritty, roll-up-your-sleeves kind of crewKnow it's never about one person-we are a part of a powerful team.
One Team. One Voice. Be ONE united team. When we move in the same direction, there are no limits to what we can accomplish.
Be Curious. Ask Why. Stay member curiousWe seek to understand, and we never settle. We ask questions to truly understand the core of a matter.
Pete's Promise:
Service Forward
Ruthlessly Consistent
Do the Right Thing
Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
PRIMARY JOB FUNCTIONS
  • Manage games professionally and consistently to the standards of Arena Sports
  • Review game schedules and rosters for games
  • Identify players that need waivers or need to make payment for the league
  • Greet teams while entering the field
  • Referee games while assisting league players in understanding rules specific to indoor soccer
  • Provide an exceptional league experience for players and spectators
  • Communicate information to League Managers such as customer follow up, team payments, or foul play
  • Maintain a clean and organized field and player bench area
  • Perform other related duties as assigned by the Supervisor or Manager

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary job function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
  • Problem Anticipation/ Deductive Reasoning - Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong and then apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. Uses logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and considers the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Written Comprehension and Expression - Ability to read, understand and communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Oral Comprehension and Expression -Ability to understand and communicate so others can understand ideas and information.
  • Computer - Ability to develop and maintain computer records in Word, Excel and other software required by TBCC and regulatory agencies.

EXPERIENCE
  • Youth League Leads are professional, passionate about the game, reliable, able to communicate effectively with players, and can manage stressful situations.
  • Prior experience as a referee is not required (training provided).

WORKING CONDITIONS/ PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • This position deals with outside personnel such as residents and clients on a regular basis with contact in various forms such as in person, phone and email.
  • Extreme environmental conditions do not exist.
  • It is sometimes necessary to deal with unpleasant or angry people with the need to problem solve difficult situations.
  • It is necessary to adapt to a frequently changing environment.
  • Sitting and standing is as needed.

JOB DESCRIPTION REVISION
This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with this job. While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change. This job description replaces all previous descriptions for this position.
An Equal Opportunity Employer
The Bay Club Company ("TBCC") provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race (and all traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, creed (including, but not limited to, religious dress and grooming practices), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, and breastfeeding, and other related medical conditions), sexual orientation and identity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, actual or perceived national origin/ancestry, accent or ability to speak English, age, disability, marital/familial status, source of income, veteran status, citizenship status, political activities or affiliations, medical condition, genetic information, persons with AIDS or AIDS-related condition, or persons who are victims of domestic violence.