Interested in officiating high school tackle and/or flag football in Orange County?
You’ve come to the right place
Whether you are curious and want more answers or are ready to start your officiating journey – Orange County Football Officials Association gives you the training and the tools to officiate all levels of high school football including boys tackle and girls flag football.
Registration for the 2026 season has closed. We encourage you to browse the frequently asked questions below if you are curious about officiating high school football.
Should you still have questions not answered below, please use the contact form to ask your questions.
How to become an OCFOA Official
Frequently Asked Questions
Orange County, Calif. produces some of the top-level football talent in the nation and OCFOA has to maintain that same level of excellence when it comes to training and producing high quality officials.
A number of OCFOA alumni have gone on to officiate Division 1 college football conference championships and bowl games while other OCFOA alumni have officiated in the NFL including in the Super Bowl.
If you’re curious about officiating high school football and would like to learn more, read below the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding officiating CIF tackle or flag football.
Who can officiate high school tackle or flag football?
Pretty much anyone can officiate high school football.
You need to be age 18 and out of high school. You do not have to be a resident within Orange County but need to have a willingness to drive to and officiate games within Orange County.
You do not need to have played football prior to becoming an official. Many OCFOA officials did not play football and have become very successful officials.
What type of training will I receive?
OCFOA is a member of the California Football Officials Association and provides a training program for new and returning members.
Training classes specifically tailored for first-year officials typically start in the Spring and continue through the season. Training includes classroom as well as on-field instruction and clinics. Both classroom and on-field training are taught by veteran officials.
Leading up to and during the season, the association also meets in person and via online video meetings. These meetings are a combination of association business and instruction.
Instructional program for first-year officials remains focused on rules and officiating mechanics. Upon completion of your training and passing exams, you will be ready to start officiating lower level games like Freshman and Junior Varsity games your first week.
OCFOA prides itself on a robust Mentorship and Training Program. Your initial Freshman and JV assignments will pair you directly with seasoned, veteran officials who act as on-field coaches to guide you through mechanics, positioning and game management.
Many first-year officials credit the training and encouragement they received from veteran officials in their inaugural season as motivation to return and officiate the following season.
What geographical area does OCFOA cover?
The Orange County Football Officials Association (OCFOA) provides officiating coverage for public and private CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) high school tackle and flag football programs throughout all of Orange County, California.
Because assignments are spread across the entire county, the outer borders of our coverage area includes:
North Border: Up to La Habra High School and Sonora High School, located right on the Los Angeles County line.
South Border: Down to San Clemente High School, resting on the absolute southern tip of the county bordering San Diego County.
East Border: Out to Yorba Linda High School and Esperanza High School in the northeast, as well as Tesoro High School pushing into the southeastern canyon foothills.
West Border: Along the coast to Los Alamitos High School (bordering Long Beach) and Marina High School in Huntington Beach.
How far do OCFOA officials travel to officiate games?
OCFOA football officials work both public and private high school games throughout Orange County, Calif.
Your willingness to travel and your distance tolerance will determine how often you officiate high school football games.
OCFOA assignors utilize a scheduling software called Arbiter. Within Arbiter, you can set a travel limit radius from your home or work zip code depending on the day of the week.
You determine and set the distance you are willing to travel within Arbiter. The tackle and flag assignors respect those restrictions and will never assign you a game you consider to be too far to travel for your liking.
When can I expect to officiate games?
OCFOA tackle and flag football officials work games in the afternoons and evenings.
The bulk of CIF varsity tackle football games play on Thursday and Friday evenings and sometimes Saturdays. Freshman and JV tackle football games normally play on Thursday and Friday afternoons, usually 3:15 PM kickoff times.
CIF flag football games usually take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the afternoons. Flag football tournament games typically take place on Saturdays and can go all day depending on the number of teams participating.
Flag Football games are scheduled mid-week because due to the lack of field availability, schools generally reserve Fridays for traditional tackle football games.
Why should I officiate high school football?
The reasons why someone chooses to go into officiating tackle or flag football are as diverse as our membership.
The top six reasons officials choose to go into officiating include:
Remain connected to the game: Many officials are former athletes or lifelong fans who want to remain deeply connected to their sport. Officiating allows you to be on the football field rather than watching from the stands, offering the “best seat in the house”.
Stay healthy, active and fit: Officiating is a highly active hobby or side gig. Moving up and down the field provides consistent cardiovascular exercise, making officiating an excellent way to maintain health and fitness. Many officials have credited officiating as the main source of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Flexible scheduling and extra income: Officiating provides flexible, part-time work where individuals act as independent contractors, choosing how many games they want to work. Pay rates can be lucrative depending on availability. Officials can choose to work as many or as few games as their scheduled permits.
Giving back to the community: Many officials want to pay it forward to the sport that shaped them. Officials of all sports play a vital role in ensuring that youth and amateur games are played safely and fairly, which helps guide the character of the next generation of student-athletes.
Camaraderie and personal development: Officiating fosters a tight-knit community of peers who share experiences and mentor one another. It also pushes individuals out of their comfort zones, cultivating strong conflict-resolution, split-second decision-making and stress-management skills.
Career advancement: Numerous OCFOA alumni have advanced to officiate at the next level including collegiate National Championship Bowl Games and even in the Super Bowl. If you have the desire to officiate football at the highest levels, OCFOA can help you get there.
What is my time commitment as a first year official?
As a first-year official, you’ll be expected to accrue at least 18 hours of instruction and training. You will also need to pass a 100 question rules and mechanics exam specifically geared towards first-year officials.
Freshman and JV tackle football games begin around 3:00 or 3:15 pm and each game last roughly 90 minutes to two hours. Flag football games typically start at 3:00 pm as well and are typically scheduled back-to-back with the JV and varsity games lasting roughly an hour each.
As a first-year official, you have the opportunity to work games, and you’ll decide how much you want to work depending on your desire and availability, travel limits and the number of game assignments that are available.
During the season, you will be asked to work games in a variety of stadiums and schools throughout Orange County. This distribution of games will help you become familiar with and receive training from many of our veteran officials.
Can I officiate just CIF tackle football or just CIF flag football? Can I officiate both?
The simple answer is yes to all of those questions. You can officiate just tackle football, just flag football or you can do both.
If you are only interested in tackle or flag football, you can officiate just that sport. If your schedule permits, OCFOA highly encourages you to officiate both as this gives you the best opportunity to learn and grow as an official. Getting more snaps, whether it be tackle or flag football, helps you develop as an official.
Officiating more games also can be quite lucrative which leads to our next frequently asked question…
Do OCFOA officials get paid to officiate high school football games?
Simply stated, YES!
Although many officials claim they love officiating so much they would do it for free, OCFOA officials do get paid. Pay rates vary depending on the type of football you are officiating and how long the games typically last.
Varsity tackle football officials get paid roughly $150 per game while Frosh / JV tackle football pays around $100.
Flag football games typically pay around $45 – $65 per game depending on the level.
Of course, the more flexible your schedule and your travel limitations will determine how much you can earn.
In addition to officiating high school games, the training you receive from OCFOA puts you in an excellent position to officiate youth flag and tackle football games.
Many OCFOA officials will officiate Pop Warner and Junior All-American games on Saturdays. Many Orange County middle schools also offer flag football during the week and OCFOA officials can earn additional income that way.
OCFOA encourages all officials to officiate youth tackle and flag football games to help sharpen their officiating skills while earning additional income.
Are my dues and uniforms tax deductible?
We do not claim to provide legal or tax advice but generally things like dues, insurance and uniforms are tax deductible. Mileage and other expenses associated with officiating can be claimed as well.
Please check with a tax advisor or tax professional for clarity and certainty when claiming deductions associated with officiating.
When does the registration window open and when will it close?
Registration for the upcoming football season usually starts in the early spring of that year. This gives first-year officials the maximum amount of time to receive proper training and instruction in order to be ready for their inaugural season.
The registration window typically closes in August before the high school football seasons start. Hopefully all prospective first-year officials registered early in order to receive the most training they can before officiating their first games.
How much does it cost to become a high school football official?
First year officials receive a deep discount compared to veteran officials regarding association dues.
First-year tackle only officials can expect to pay $105 ($70 discount) which includes instruction materials, clinics, and membership dues.
Flag Only first-year officials can expect to pay $165 which encompasses $105 dues plus an assignor deposit.
If you choose to officiate both tackle and flag football, you can expect to pay $170 which includes a first year officials discount plus a tackle/flag bundle discount.
All officials, no matter if a returning official or first-year, must pay a $30 CIF registration fee. This fee covers the costs of enrollment, statewide testing and a background check.
Uniform costs can vary depending on purchase locations but at minimum you will need a shirt, pants/shorts, whistle, bean bags, flags, hat, etc. that can run $100 – $150 depending on brand preference. Black athletic shoes are part of the uniform so please factor that in as well.
What is my legal employment status as an official?
OCFOA officials are registered as Independent Contractors (1099) and are not employees of the association or the schools. You are responsible for managing your own schedule, transportation and tax reporting.
How and when do officials get paid for the games they work?
Most game fees are processed electronically through ArbiterPay. Some schools, not many, still issue and mail a paper check to officials that have worked their games.
Payout structures and schedules vary depending on the school districts and leagues. Setting up your ArbiterPay account is a mandatory part of your onboarding process and ensures you are compensated for officiating.
How are coaches or spectators handled if they cross the line with unsportsmanlike behavior?
Respect, safety, dignity and integrity of our officials are our highest priorities. CIF and OCFOA have strict, zero-tolerance policies regarding abuse towards officials.
Site management at host high schools is legally required to provide security and protect game officials. Furthermore, OCFOA and CIF-SS provides an immediate reporting system to document abusive environments.
This reporting feature has directly led to the decrease in negative interactions with officials.
What does the CIF background check involve and what is required?
To ensure student-athlete safety, the CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) mandates that every sports official pass a comprehensive background check before stepping onto a high school field or court.
How it works: When you pay your $30 CIF registration fee, you will receive instructions to complete a digital background screening. The process takes less than five minutes to submit online.
What it looks for: The screening specifically reviews national criminal registries and sex offender databases to ensure the safety of minors on school campuses.
Will past minor infractions disqualify me? No. Traffic violations, misdemeanor citations, or non-violent past incidents typically do not disqualify you from officiating. CIF is strictly looking for major criminal history or offenses that pose a safety risk to students.
Privacy & Portability: Your background check is securely processed through CIF’s approved screening partner. Once cleared, your eligibility is valid statewide across all CIF high school sports for the current school year.
What physical fitness level is required to officiate?
High school football, whether flag or tackle football, requires more mobility and higher fitness levels than other sports like Volleyball or Track & Field. That stated, you do not need to be an Olympic-level athlete to officiate.
You will be moving with the student-athletes as they play the game but do not let that discourage you from becoming an official. Many officials are older or retired and officiate as a way to stay connected to the game of football.
Some officials cite officiating as a way to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Does OCFOA provide uniforms for officials just starting out?
Unfortunately, no. First-year officials do receive a significant discount on their registration fees and dues to help offset the initial costs of uniforms.
A number of online retailers do specialize in outfitting officials along with carrying officiating accessories like whistles, flags, down indicators, etc.
Some of the more popular online retailers that cater specifically to sports officials include Honig’s, Gerry Davis and Ump Attire among others.
What if I have a question that is not covered in here?
If you still have a question that we did not answer here, feel free to reach out and send us an email.
I’m ready to start officiating football. What are my next steps?
As the 2026 season comes to a close, registration for 2027 will open in the spring.
Click the button below to send an email requesting to be placed on the list to be alerted once registration opens up.
We are looking forward to you joining our ranks