Youth Sports Official

Boys And Girls Clubs Of•Orlando, FL

21h•$25 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Sports Official (Referee) officiates Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida youth sports practices and games, including basketball, soccer, flag football, and volleyball. The official applies and enforces rules, protects participant safety, and maintains a fair, positive, well-managed environment for players, coaches, and spectators. This role models sportsmanship, composure, and impartiality and supports the developmental goals of Club athletics, emphasizing participation, skill-building, and character. Officials age 18 and over may be assigned to mentor minor youth officials ages 16–17 during their ramp-up period. Mentoring is separate from the trained adult game-day supervisor assignment, which requires additional training and designation. The position is part-time and seasonal or ongoing according to league schedules, with work at assigned Club gyms, fields, and league sites across Central Florida. Games are scheduled primarily on weekday evenings and weekends, and schedules may change due to weather, facility availability, and league play. The role requires travel between assigned sites and may include holidays as needed.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old.
Must be enrolled in high school or have a high school diploma or GED.
Demonstrated working knowledge of rules of play and game-management fundamentals for at least one assigned sport.
Prior experience officiating, coaching, playing at an organized level, or working with youth in a sports, recreation, or educational setting.
Experience communicating with coaches, parents, and participants in a live, high-energy environment.
Complete BGCCF or league sport-specific officiating certification or rules training for each assigned sport before the first assigned game.
Obtain CPR/AED and First Aid certification within 60 days of hire and maintain it thereafter.
Maintain current concussion-recognition and emergency-response awareness training.
Complete BGCCF-assigned online policy modules, including child safety, mandated reporting, code of conduct, and electronic communication.
If designated as a trained adult game-day supervisor for minor youth officials, complete the Spillett Leadership University supervisor learning journey before assuming that assignment.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills, including calm and effective communication with participants, coaches, and parents.
Knowledge of youth developmental stages and ability to apply age-appropriate expectations to game management and rule enforcement.
Sound, decisive judgment under pressure and ability to remain impartial and composed when challenged.
Ability to serve as a consistent, positive role model for young people.
Basic recordkeeping accuracy for score sheets, game reports, and timekeeping entries.
Ability to read, understand, and apply sports rule books, safety rules, emergency procedures, and policy manuals.
Willingness to work a flexible schedule that may include evenings, weekends, and holidays, and to travel between assigned Club and league sites.
Ability to operate a motor vehicle to travel to assigned game sites.
Ability to perform CPR or first aid if needed.
Successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening and Florida Department of Children and Families Level 2 background screening, including fingerprint submission to FDLE and the FBI, and complete an Affidavit of Good Moral Character.
Meet ongoing drug-screening and Florida Department of Children and Families employment-eligibility requirements.
Provide references before hire due to direct, repetitive interaction with youth.
Meet additional Youth Worker Policy boundary and communication requirements if mentoring or working alongside minor employees.
Ability to stand, walk, jog, and run for extended periods and to change direction, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, push, pull, and grasp during games.
Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 20 pounds frequently.
Sufficient visual acuity and depth perception to judge play and auditory acuity to hear whistles, communication, and safety signals, with or without correction.
Ability to project the voice and use hand signals clearly across a playing area.
Ability to remain focused, composed, and decisive in busy, noisy, and occasionally confrontational environments and make rapid independent decisions while managing multiple responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Certification through a recognized officiating association such as FHSAA, USSF, USA Volleyball, NFHS, or comparable.
Ability to officiate more than one sport.
Experience mentoring, training, or evaluating newer officials.

Responsibilities

Officiate assigned games in designated age divisions and sports, applying rules consistently and impartially.
Make decisive calls, stop play immediately for safety, and maintain control and composure during games.
Explain officiating expectations to coaches before games and communicate calls briefly and professionally during play.
Facilitate or lead the youth sports pledge and start games on time.
Monitor play and enforce BGCCF program rules and policies.
Promote a positive, developmentally appropriate environment emphasizing sportsmanship and effort.
Arrive on time in the required uniform with necessary equipment.
Inspect equipment, fields, and courts before games and report unsafe conditions to the game-day supervisor.
Verify age-appropriate goal and basket heights and the correct ball size and type.
Complete score sheets, record final scores, identify winning teams, and initial games officiated.
Complete and submit accurate game and incident reports the same day.
Assist with setup, teardown, equipment checks, and assigned cleaning tasks.
Protect participant safety; stop play for suspected injuries or unsafe conditions and summon the game-day supervisor for injuries.
Follow concussion and weather protocols, recognize and report heat illness, and support water breaks and shaded rest.
Perform CPR or first aid when needed and within the scope of current certification.
Immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect according to Florida mandated reporter requirements and BGCCF policy.
Apply BGCCF’s zero-tolerance standard for abuse, harassment, intimidation, threats, or physical contact directed at officials.
Address coach and spectator conduct professionally, escalate issues to the game-day supervisor or Director of Sports & Athletics, and route post-game complaints to them.
Protect minor youth officials from adult confrontations and immediately involve the game-day supervisor.
When assigned, mentor minor youth officials by modeling officiating techniques, providing appropriate feedback, and reporting readiness observations.
Maintain professional boundaries with minor employees, including avoiding one-to-one contact, personal contact exchanges, and one-to-one transportation.
Accurately record all hours worked, including training, preparation, post-game duties, and travel between sites during a shift.
Build positive relationships with participants, coaches, and parents and model welcoming, motivating, and affirming conduct.
Complete required training, meetings, clinics, and rules updates.
Participate in assigned events, tournaments, and league play.
Communicate availability and assignment decisions promptly and give notice when unable to fulfill an assignment.
Represent BGCCF professionally on personal social media and do not post content about games, participants, calls, or incidents.