Youth Sports Official

Boys And Girls Clubs Of•Kissimmee, FL

16h•$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, applying and enforcing rules, protecting participant safety, and maintaining a fair, positive, well-managed environment for players, coaches, and spectators. The official models sportsmanship, composure, and impartiality; communicates respectfully; and supports the developmental purpose of Club athletics, emphasizing participation, skill-building, and character over competitive outcomes. Officials age 18 and over may be assigned to mentor minor youth officials ages 16–17 by modeling game mechanics and providing on-site support during the new official’s ramp-up period. Mentoring is separate from the trained adult game-day supervisor assignment, which requires designated approval and completion of the applicable Spillett Leadership University learning journey. This is a part-time, seasonal position with ongoing assignments according to league schedules. Work takes place at assigned Club gymnasiums, fields, and league sites across Central Florida, with the listed location at Tupperware Brands Branch in Kissimmee. Games are scheduled primarily on weekday evenings and weekends; schedules may change due to weather, field availability, and league play. The position reports to the Director of Sports & Athletics.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must be enrolled in high school or have a high school diploma or GED.
Demonstrated working knowledge of rules and game-management fundamentals for at least one assigned sport.
Prior experience officiating, coaching, playing at the 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 all BGCCF-assigned online policy modules, including child safety, mandated reporting, code of conduct, and electronic communication.
Officials designated as trained adult game-day supervisors for minor youth officials must complete the Spillett Leadership University learning journey “Ensuring Safe Work Experiences for Youth Workers – Supervisors” before assuming that assignment.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to communicate calmly and effectively with participants, coaches, and parents.
Knowledge of youth developmental stages and ability to apply age-appropriate expectations to game management and rules 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 work a flexible schedule that may include evenings, weekends, and holidays, and travel between assigned Club and league sites.
Must operate a motor vehicle to travel to assigned game sites.
Must pass pre-employment drug screening and the 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.
Continued employment is contingent on applicable ongoing drug screenings and maintaining the state employment designation of eligible for employment.
Reference checks are required before hire for positions involving direct, repetitive interaction with youth.
Ability to read, understand, and apply sports rule books, safety rules, emergency procedures, and policy manuals.
Ability to perform CPR or first aid if needed.
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.
Close visual acuity and depth perception to judge play, and sufficient 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.
Mental resilience to remain focused, composed, and decisive in busy, noisy, and occasionally confrontational environments, and capacity to make rapid independent judgments 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 as referee, umpire, or judge, applying sport rules consistently and impartially.
Make decisive calls, stop play immediately for safety concerns, and maintain control and composure during games.
Explain pre-game expectations and provide brief, professional explanations of calls during play.
Lead or facilitate the youth sports pledge, start games on time, and enforce BGCCF program policies.
Maintain a positive, developmentally appropriate environment that reinforces sportsmanship and effort.
Arrive on time in the assigned uniform with required equipment and inspect equipment, fields, and courts for safety before play.
Confirm appropriate goal and basket heights and proper ball size and type for the age division.
Complete score sheets, game reports, and incident reports accurately and submit reports the same day.
Assist with setup, teardown, daily equipment checks, and assigned cleaning tasks.
Stop play for suspected injuries or unsafe conditions, summon the game-day supervisor for injuries, and follow concussion and weather protocols.
Recognize and report signs of heat illness, support water breaks and shaded rest, and perform CPR or first aid within the scope of current certification.
Immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect under Florida mandated reporter requirements and BGCCF protocol.
Address coach and spectator conduct professionally, enforce the zero-tolerance standard for abuse or intimidation of officials, and escalate concerns to the game-day supervisor or Director.
Protect minor youth officials from adult confrontations and immediately signal the game-day supervisor when needed.
When assigned, mentor youth officials by modeling positioning, signals, and game management; provide developmentally appropriate feedback and communicate readiness observations.
Maintain professional boundaries with minor employees, including no one-to-one contact, personal contact exchanges, or one-to-one transportation.
Accurately record all hours worked, including training, preparation, post-game duties, and travel between game sites during a shift.
Build positive relationships with participants, coaches, and parents and model welcoming, connecting, motivating, and affirming behaviors.
Complete mandatory staff training and attend required officials’ meetings, pre-season clinics, and rules updates.
Participate in special events, tournaments, and league play as assigned.
Communicate availability and assignment decisions promptly and provide advance notice when unable to fulfill an assignment.
Represent BGCCF professionally on personal social media and do not post content about games, players, calls, or incidents involving Club participants.