How to Become a Game Official
There are a number of ways to become a game official. You can learn about the roles of the Umpire, Crew chief, and Replay center. You can also learn about the job of a referee. These professionals have a great understanding of the game and can adjust to the tempo. They help promote respect for players and ensure that the game is played according to the rules.
Crew chief
As a crew chief of game officials, you are responsible for a multitude of tasks, including maintaining a sense of community and leading by example. You will also be responsible for the safety of your crew members. You will need to know how to delegate your work to help them succeed, but you also need to be humble. Avoid acting like a big shot and don’t bring up big games; instead, steer the conversation back to your fellow officials. Your job as crew chief is to facilitate communication within the group, and to share ideas that will make their lives easier.
It is important that you have confidence in your crew. As crew chief, you need to be able to rely on your team members, especially when it comes to important decisions. Don’t be afraid to ask for their opinions. Often, your fellow officials will be the best ones to give you an idea of what they think.
Referee
Referees are the most important people on the field during a game. They stay on the field throughout the entire game and must be in top physical shape to be effective. Their job also requires that they have a clear line of vision at all times. In addition to their other responsibilities, they must be well-trained and up to date on field code and safety.
Referees are primarily responsible for ensuring that the rules are observed and that the game is played in a fair manner. They are also responsible for maintaining the order of the game. They typically wear a black and white striped shirt and black pants with black belts. The referee is usually accompanied by at least two assistant referees, but they may also be aided by a fourth official or a video assistant.
In addition to keeping score, referees also keep score of free throws and field goals made by players. They also keep track of personal fouls called on each player. When a player commits their sixth personal foul, they notify the referee. Timeouts are also recorded and charged to each team. If a player uses up all six of their timeouts in a game, they must inform the referee in order to continue playing.
Umpire
Umpires are people who oversee and enforce the rules of a game. They are responsible for ensuring that all players follow the rules and that the game is fair. They also monitor indiscipline. For example, in cricket, umpires are responsible for judging whether a ball has been hit over a boundary line. In addition, umpires must keep track of time and may be required to add up time wasted.
Umpires are needed for a wide range of different sports. In addition to keeping track of time, they must also be able to assess infractions and impose penalties. In the United States, approximately 12,800 people hold the job of game officials. The history of sports goes back to the ancient Olympics, the ritualistic ball games of Central and South America, and the gladiator battles of Rome, although umpires weren’t used at that time.
Umpires are required to wear a uniform. Traditionally, umpires have worn light blue dress shirts. However, in 1970, umpires began wearing all-blue uniforms, which are still the standard today. In 1970, the National League added a large patch to their coat with a league logo and a number on the left sleeve. In the early 1970s, American League umpires started wearing short-sleeved shirts. In addition, their uniforms became more colorful, with many of them wearing blazers with maroon pants.
Replay center
The NBA’s Replay Center for Game Officials is home to some of the league’s top officials. The facility houses an impressive array of replay equipment, and officials can review any play up to 600 times. The facility also has television trucks on site at each game to allow officials to view the replays in real time. Its senior vice president for replay operations visits the center on a regular basis, and every referee on its staff is scheduled there at least a couple of times a season.
The NBA Replay Center is a vast space that looks like a secretive CIA control room. The 2,300 square-foot space is lined with 94 Samsung monitors and 16 wall-to-wall flat screens, and is divided into 20 work stations. Each operator has four monitors.
There are 15 different situations that trigger automatic replays, which require clear visual evidence. The NBA Replay Center reviews 20 to 30 close calls per game. These situations aren’t always obvious, but their reaction to the game can give clues that the officials missed something.