Kentuckiana Football Officials Association

Officiating provides a unique opportunity to positively influence young people. The official is a role model who is charged with enforcing the concepts of fair play and good sportsmanship. Officials play an important role in teaching young people both how to win and how to lose with class. Successful football players must be disciplined, have the ability to follow rules, and work with others in a team environment, and the official plays a key role in helping young people develop these skills.

If you love football, officiating is the greatest way to stay involved in the game. Many adults may choose to stay involved in football as coaches, administrators, trainers, or just as a fan. The great thing about being an official is that you actually get to be on the field and not on the sidelines. Each official is actively involved in every play of the game and has a direct influence on the outcome of the game. It is an exciting opportunity and an enormous responsibility. Many officials see their participation as an opportunity to “give back” something to a game that may have provided them with meaningful experiences as a player.

Officiating appeals strongly to the competitive spirit that all of us possess. The successful official is a fierce competitor who enjoys the opportunity to work with teammates toward a common goal of officiating a good game. The officiating crew assigned to work a game is very much like the two teams that are participating in every game. Successful football officials work as a “team” in the sense that they spend time together preparing for the game, “strap on” their game equipment and uniforms, work on the field as a true team to meet the challenge of calling the perfect game. Of course, successful officials have no interest in which of the teams actually wins the game. They are only concerned with making sure that each team abides by the rules, that neither team gains an unfair advantage, ensure that player safety is maintained, and do their best to insure that good sportsmanship is followed.