Youth Sports Official

Since 1944, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida has provided children and teens, ages 6 to 18, with a safe place to learn and grow during non-school hours. Today, more than 15,000 young people call our 39 Clubs across five Central Florida counties home. The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring adults. Every day after school and all summer long, our members walk through the blue doors at little or no cost to their families and find academic support, enrichment, and caring adult role models who believe in what they can become.

How we do it matters as much as what we do. Our Clubs deliver quality programming grounded in evidence across six core pillars of focus: education and career development; character and leadership development; sports, fitness, and recreation; health and life skills; the arts; and mental health. That work is reinforced by practices informed by trauma research, mental and emotional wellness support, and an unwavering commitment to safety. The results show up in graduation rates, college and vocational school enrollment, grades, and young people who tell us they feel emotionally safe at their Club. As part of the national Future Ready movement, we are growing bigger, better, and bolder, and we know none of it happens without exceptional people. That is why we invest in our team through comprehensive training, leader development, competitive compensation and benefits, and a workplace culture built on excellence, belonging, and accountability. If you want your work to change the trajectory of a child's life, there is a place for you here. Great futures start here, and they start with you.

TITLE: Youth Sports Official (Referee)

PERFORMANCE PROFILE SOURCE: Individual Contributor

DEPARTMENT: Club Operations

WORK LOCATION: Assigned Club gymnasiums, fields, and league sites across Central Florida

REPORTS TO: Director of Sports & Athletics 

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt Hourly

WORKER CATEGORY: Part-Time

EMPLOYMENT TERM: Seasonal / Ongoing by league schedule

EMPLOYMENT FUNCTION: Program Support

LOCATION: Tupperware Brands Branch 

ADDRESS: 2411 Dyer Boulevard, Kissimmee, FL 34741

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Youth Sports Official (Referee) officiates Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida (BGCCF) youth sports practices and games, including but not limited to basketball, soccer, flag football, and volleyball, by applying and enforcing the rules of play, protecting participant safety, and maintaining a fair, positive, and well-managed game environment for players, coaches, and spectators.

Officials are the most visible representatives of BGCCF sports programming. This position models sportsmanship, composure, and impartiality; communicates clearly and respectfully with coaches and players; and supports the developmental purpose of Club athletics, in which participation, skill-building, and character matter more than competitive outcome.

Officials age 18 and over may also serve as assigned mentors to BGCCF minor youth officials (ages 16–17), modeling game mechanics and providing on-site officiating support during a new youth official’s ramp-up period. Mentoring is an officiating support role. Serving as the trained adult game-day supervisor required by the BGCCF Youth Worker Policy is a separate assignment that requires completion of the Spillett Leadership University supervisor learning journey and designation by the Director of Sports & Athletics.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Game Officiating and Rules Enforcement

• Officiate assigned games as referee, umpire, or judge in the age divisions and sports assigned by the Director of Sports & Athletics, applying and enforcing the rules of play consistently and impartially.
• Make decisive calls, stop play immediately for safety, and maintain control of the game while keeping composure under pressure.
• Explain to coaches before the game how the contest will be called, and explain calls to players and coaches during play in a brief, professional, and non-argumentative manner.
• Facilitate or lead the youth sports pledge before each game and start games on time.
• Enforce BGCCF program rules and policies by maintaining constant surveillance of the playing area and participants during play.
• Maintain a positive, developmentally appropriate game environment that reinforces sportsmanship and effort over outcome.

Pre-Game and Post-Game Duties

• Arrive on time and prior to the first scheduled game, in the assigned officiating uniform and with required equipment.
• Complete pre-game equipment, field, and court safety inspections, and report any unsafe condition to the game-day supervisor before play begins.
• Confirm that goal and basket heights are adjusted according to the age division and that the proper size and type of ball is used.
• Complete score sheets at the score table, recording the final score, circling the winning team, and initialing each game officiated.
• Complete game reports and incident reports accurately and submit them to the game-day supervisor or Director of Sports & Athletics the same day.
• Assist the supervisor with setup, teardown, daily equipment checks, and assigned cleaning tasks.

Participant Safety and Incident Response

• Ensure the safety of participants at all times, and stop play immediately for any suspected injury or unsafe condition.
• Summon the game-day supervisor for all injuries. Follow BGCCF concussion protocol and defer all return-to-play decisions to the designated adult supervisor or medical personnel.
• Recognize and report signs of heat illness in participants, fellow officials, and youth officials, and support scheduled water breaks and shaded rest.
• Suspend play and clear the playing area for lightning or severe weather in accordance with BGCCF weather protocol and the direction of the game-day supervisor.
• Perform CPR or first aid if needed and within the scope of current certification.
• Report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect immediately in accordance with Florida mandated reporter requirements and BGCCF reporting protocol.

Spectator and Coach Conduct

• Apply BGCCF’s zero-tolerance standard for verbal abuse, harassment, intimidation, threats, or physical contact directed at any official.
• Address coach and spectator conduct calmly and professionally within the scope of officiating authority, and escalate to the game-day supervisor or Director of Sports & Athletics rather than engaging in prolonged confrontation.
• Route post-game questions and complaints regarding calls, rules interpretation, or officiating decisions to the game-day supervisor or Director of Sports & Athletics.
• Never allow a minor youth official to be drawn into a confrontation with an adult. Intervene, separate the youth official from the situation, and immediately signal the game-day supervisor.

Mentorship of Youth Officials (as assigned)

• Serve as the paired veteran official for a minor youth official during the ramp-up period established by the Director of Sports & Athletics, modeling positioning, signals, and game management.
• Provide encouraging, specific, and developmentally appropriate feedback to youth officials after each game, and communicate readiness observations to the Director of Sports & Athletics.
• Understand and reinforce the boundaries of a youth official’s role: applying the rules of play only, with no responsibility for supervision, discipline, spectator management, or medical response.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with minor employees at all times, including no one-to-one contact, no exchange of personal phone numbers or social media contacts, and no one-to-one transportation.

Administration and Professional Expectations

• Accurately record all hours worked, including required training time, pre-game preparation, post-game duties, and travel between game sites during a shift, in BGCCF’s timekeeping system. Per-game rates are reconciled against actual hours worked.
• Build effective, authentic relationships with participants, coaches, and parents, and model welcoming, connecting, motivating, and affirming behaviors on behalf of BGCCF.
• Complete all mandatory staff training and participate in required officials’ meetings, pre-season clinics, and rules updates.
• Participate in special events, tournaments, and league play as assigned.
• Communicate availability and accept or decline assignments promptly through the designated assignment process, and provide as much notice as possible when unable to fulfill an assignment.
• Represent BGCCF professionally on personal social media. Do not post photographs, video, or commentary about games, players, calls, or incidents involving Club participants.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: (Knowledge, Education, Experience & Skills)

Education:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Enrolled in high school or have a high school diploma or GED required.

Experience:

• Demonstrated working knowledge of the rules of play 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.

Certification and Training:

• Completion of BGCCF or league sport-specific officiating certification or rules training for each sport assigned, prior to the first assigned game.
• CPR/AED and First Aid certification required within 60 days of hire, and maintained thereafter.
• Current concussion-recognition and emergency-response awareness training.
• Completion of all BGCCF-assigned online policy modules, including child safety, mandated reporting, code of conduct, and electronic communication.
• Officials designated by the Director of Sports & Athletics to serve as the trained adult game-day supervisor for minor youth officials must additionally complete the Spillett Leadership University learning journey “Ensuring Safe Work Experiences for Youth Workers – Supervisors” before assuming that assignment, as required by the BGCCF Youth Worker Policy.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and calmly with participants, coaches, and parents.
• Knowledge of youth developmental stages, with the ability to apply age-appropriate expectations to game management and rules enforcement.
• Sound, decisive judgment under pressure, and the 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.

KEY ROLE COMPETENCIES:

• Instills Trust: Gains the confidence of players, coaches, parents, and fellow officials through consistency, impartiality, and honesty. Calls the game the same way in the first minute and the last, follows through on stated expectations, and acknowledges and corrects errors without defensiveness.
• Manages Conflict: Handles disagreement, challenge, and emotion during live play without escalating it. De-escalates coach and spectator conduct within the scope of officiating authority, escalates appropriately to the game-day supervisor, and protects minor youth officials from confrontation with adults.
• Decision Quality: Makes accurate, timely calls with incomplete information and in real time. Prioritizes participant safety over game flow, applies the rules consistently across teams and situations, and stops play without hesitation when safety is in question.
• Situational Adaptability: Adjusts approach and demeanor to the age division, skill level, sport, and competitive temperature of the contest. Responds effectively to weather, facility, staffing, and schedule changes while maintaining consistent standards of play and safety.
• Communicates Effectively: Delivers clear pre-game expectations, concise in-game explanations, and accurate written game and incident reports. Uses signals, voice, and positioning so that players, coaches, and the score table understand every ruling.

ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal: Maintains close contact with the Director of Sports & Athletics, the assigned adult game-day supervisor, fellow officials, minor youth officials, scorekeepers, and Club staff to receive assignments, interpret program standards, discuss issues, and provide and receive information. Maintains regular direct contact with participating Club members during play.
• External: Maintains professional contact with coaches, parents, spectators, league representatives, and host facility personnel. Serves as a visible representative of BGCCF and of the standards of conduct expected at Club athletic events.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work is performed primarily in gymnasiums, on outdoor fields and courts, and in other athletic facilities, with regular exposure to heat, humidity, sun, and varying weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
• Ability to read, understand, and apply documents such as sport rule books, safety rules, emergency procedures, and policy manuals.
• Work occurs in environments frequented by children and families, requiring adherence to safety and conduct standards that ensure a child-friendly and family-oriented atmosphere.
• Games are scheduled primarily on weekday evenings and weekends. Schedules change with weather, field availability, and league play.
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed, and to travel between assigned Club and league sites.
• Rain-out, forfeit, and short-notice cancellation practices, including any reporting-time pay, are communicated in writing at hire.
• Required to operate a motor vehicle to travel to assigned game sites.
• Must be able to perform CPR or first aid if needed.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to stand, walk, jog, and run for extended periods on gymnasium floors and outdoor fields, and to change direction, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, push, pull, and grasp throughout a game.
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 20 pounds frequently, including goals, standards, nets, benches, and equipment bins.
• Close visual acuity and depth perception sufficient to judge play, and auditory acuity sufficient to hear whistles, verbal communication, and safety signals at normal spoken-word levels, with or without correction.
• Ability to project the voice and use hand signals clearly across a playing area.
• Mental resilience and the ability to remain focused, composed, and decisive in a busy, noisy, and occasionally confrontational environment.
• Capacity to make rapid, independent judgment calls and to manage multiple game responsibilities simultaneously.
• Regular exposure to outdoor weather conditions, including heat and humidity.

Pre-Employment and Ongoing Compliance Requirements:

• Candidates must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening.
• Candidates must successfully complete a Florida Department of Children and Families Level 2 background screening through the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse, including fingerprint submission to FDLE and the FBI, and must complete an Affidavit of Good Moral Character.
• Continued employment is contingent upon passing randomized, reasonable-suspicion, and post-accident drug screenings as part of BGCCF’s commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace. A moving violation while operating a vehicle on BGCCF business requires a drug test within 48 hours.
• Continued employment is also contingent on the Florida Department of Children and Families’ employment designation of “eligible for employment” as a state-licensed youth-serving organization. BGCCF is notified by the Clearinghouse of any subsequent infraction and will remove an employee from the work environment within 24 to 48 hours of notification.
• Reference checks are required prior to hire for positions involving direct, repetitive interaction with youth.
• Officials who will mentor or work alongside minor employees are subject to the additional boundary and communication requirements of the BGCCF Youth Worker Policy.

Disclaimer:

The information presented in this job description is intended to illustrate the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job. Job responsibilities and requirements are subject to change based on the needs of the Club, the direction of the Supervisor, and the Chief Executive Officer.

Notice to Applicants:

Please note: Submission of an application does not create an obligation for BGCCF to provide individual status updates. Our hiring managers carefully review all applications received, and only candidates selected to move forward will be contacted regarding next steps.

Due to the high volume of applications, BGCCF is unable to respond to emails or calls requesting updates on application status. Applicants who repeatedly contact BGCCF HR or BGCCF staff to request status updates, or who email staff members with whom they do not have an existing professional relationship solely to announce that they have applied, may be removed from consideration and have their application archived.

If you have an existing professional connection with BGCCF, you are welcome to reach out to that contact directly for networking purposes. However, all candidates must still follow the formal application and selection process outlined in this posting.

Department of Children and Families Level II Background Check Notice:

Please see the link below to the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness website. This site was implemented under the directive of House Bill 531 (2025). https://info.flclearinghouse.com