Registration for Fall 2024 is closed for all officials. Registration for 2025 will open in January

Want to Become an official?

Chris Salio

Laird Hayes(NFL) - OCFOA Alumni

Todd Prukop(NFL) - OCFOA Alumni

Radames Gutierrez

Troy Leonard

Chris Coyter TD NCAA Championship

OCFOA Alumni Chris Coyte at 2019 NCAA Championship as Referee

Chris Coyte Coin Toss NCAA Championship

OCFOA Alumni Chris Coyte during the Coin Toss at 2019 NCAA Championship as Referee

Rich Brown

Jeff Scherer

Mark Andrews

Jim Wharrie, OCFOA Alumni, Pac12 Center Judge. 2019 National Championship

Tony Bryant

Rod Ammari(PAC-12) - OCFOA Alumni

Sal Figueroa

Jim Wharrie NCAA Championship

OCFOA Alumni Jim Wharrie works as the Center Judge in the 2019 NCAA Championship Game

Andy Bruer, Greg Welty

Super Bowl XLVI Side judge Laird Hayes, OCFOA Alumni, watches Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham make the catch of the game. Laird ruled this a catch and was upheld on replay

Bill Vinovich, OCFOA Alumni, NFL Referee, Super Bowl 49 & Super Bowl 54 Referee

Tom Innocenti

Chris Coyte, OCFOA Alumni, Pac 12 Referee. Referee of 2020 National Championship game. Coin toss at the 2019 Washington vs Utah game

Jeff Bundy

Vic Barruga

Chris Coyter TD NCAA Championship Chris Coyte Coin Toss NCAA Championship Jim Wharrie NCAA Championship

ORANGE COUNTY FOOTBALL IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE PREMIER PROGRAMS IN THE STATE AND THE NATION

OC football produces many Division 1 players and the Orange County Football Officials’ Association produces many topflight officials who go onto college and the NFL. If you’re enthusiastic about football then officiating is an excellent outlet. Earn extra money, give back to a sport you love, develop a secondary career with a chance to advance to the highest level. High school football in Orange County is some of the best in the nation. We think Orange County football officials match that level of excellence.

What Type of training will I receive?

The OCFOA, as a unit member of the California Football Officials Association, provides a training program for new and returning members.

Training classes meet on (6) Wednesday nights. Typically, there’s one meeting in July; one in August; one in September and two in October. There are also four non-mandatory springtime meetings held in April and May. Training includes classroom as well as on-field instruction. Starting in May and going up to your first high school game in August, you will have many opportunities for on-field training. Both classroom and on-field training are taught by veteran officials.

Our initial focus for first-year officials is on mechanics. We will explain what to do and then why you do it. If you would like to see an example of this type of training, watch this YouTube video from the OCFOA YouTube Channel that covers dead ball mechanics https://youtu.be/YPAtZaux8Zo

Where Will I officiate?

OCFOA football officials work both public and private school games throughout Orange County typically on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday afternoons and evenings. OCFOA uses a scheduling tool known as Arbiter. Using Arbiter you will be able to indicate the areas of Orange County you prefer to work.

Pop Warner and Junior All-American games are not directly associated with our association but are assigned by members of our chapter. These games, typically on Saturdays, provide great training for new officials and offer the opportunity to make some additional income. We encourage you to work Flag football, Junior All American, and Pop Warner. The more snaps you get the quicker you will become a proficient official.

How Can I Begin Working Varsity Football Games?

OCFOA members advance based on attending officiating instructional meetings and examination scores as well as camps, clinics, and passing league participation. Additionally, on-field evaluations affect rankings, too. During your first couple of seasons, attempt to work as many scrimmages, freshman, and JV games as you are assigned as well as youth level games. You are also encouraged to “shadow” crews during evening varsity games. Be there for the pregame, possibly work the chains, observe from the sidelines, and be present for the postgame wrap-up.

Why Become A Football Official?

You need not be an ex-player or coach to become a great official and have a memorable officiating career.
Working around student-athletes at all levels of football is gratifying, plus you will develop lifelong friendships with other officials who share your passion for the game. Prior officiating experience is good but not required. Our training program will prepare you for an enjoyable and successful officiating career. Officiating football is also a great way to stay in shape, be a positive role model for student-athletes, retain your competitive edge, and earn additional income.

What is My Time Commitment?

As a first-year official, you’ll be expected to attend Wednesday night training meetings and study rules related to classroom discussions. There are 5 tests totaling 200 questions that must be completed.  Testing is done online and you can retake the tests as many times as you need to in order to pass. There will be testing group study sessions that will help you pass the tests and begin to become familiar with the rules.

Freshman and JV level games are scheduled Thursday through Saturday. The freshman and JV games begin around 3:00 pm and each game will be 1-1/2 to 2 hours. 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 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.

Officiating is fun, it’s the best seat in the house, it’s rewarding and the game doesn’t get played without us. Almost every OCFOA member regrets waiting to start training to become a football official. Don’t make their mistake and wait another season to start the process of becoming an Orange County high school football official.

For more information fill out the form below or reach out to  Mark Andrews, our instructional chairman directly.


 

OCFOA