How hard is it to become a college football referee? Let's find out how smart you are.
Umpires are often the target of fan frustration when they make questionable or incorrect calls, but most of the time, the correct calls go unnoticed.
You will be asked to take a real referee quiz to learn the kind of decisions an umpire must know and make instantly.
Earlier this summer, I attended a Mountain West/Conference USA umpire clinic outside Dallas. The clinic was hosted by Mike Defee, the umpire coordinator for both conferences and a former Big 12 umpire. The clinic focused on standards, new rules, training tips, and game logistics. It also included a multiple-choice quiz for the umpires, covering questions about various situations during a game. Other conferences are hosting similar clinics.
“The test is designed to comprehensively test you through the rulebook and make sure you've invested the time to develop a good working knowledge of it,” Defey said. “If you don't pass, you don't get a schedule.”
The passing grade is 70 percent, with crew head umpires required to score higher. Defee said all of the Mountain West and CUSA head umpires passed this year, but several developmental umpires did not.
When I took the quiz at the clinic, I was surprised with my score of 48%, but you won't see me on the field. The original quiz had 27 questions, but I've narrowed it down to 15. I've also clarified some of the language to make it easier to understand the game situation. Come and see if you're smart enough to be a college football referee!
(Note: readers using the app on Android devices may need to use two fingers to scroll through the quiz. If you still can't get to the survey, try this direct link.)
(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
