Steps for New Officials
Contact us! Let us know that you are interested and we can answer any questions that you have and help you along the way.
Register with TASO at https://taso.org/ and click on "Apply" under the New Applicants box. The TASO annual dues are $75 through March, and then $100 after that.
Go to meetings. Meetings are on Monday nights starting in July, and once the season gets well underway, they will be every other Monday night, continuing through November. Attendance is highly recommended, especially for new members, as this is where training is conducted and questions are answered.
Attend an In-Person Regional Clinic. It is an 8-hour course taught by an accredited TASO trainer that will discuss the rules, new rules, and rule changes. We will have one clinic in Brownwood at Texas State Technical College (click here for more info).
If you do not complete the In-Person Regional Clinic, you will either have to attend one at a different location, or complete the on-line clinic once it is available.
Get uniforms. You will be required to purchase your own uniforms. Assistance can be provided by the chapter on a case-by-case basis, with repayment after you receive your first game check. There is usually a uniform vendor at the Regional Clinic, but they are not guaranteed to have all items or sizes. You should use one of the Gold Vendors on the TASO home page, but there are other vendors available as well.
Read the rule book. We use the NCAA Football Rules Book. But don't forget to also read the UIL Exceptions, 6-Man Rule Exceptions, 3, 4, 5, and 7-Man Mechanics Manuals. These books explain the differences between NCAA and High School Football.
Take the test! You will need to complete the Football Rules Test on the TASO website. You must score a 70 or higher to begin refereeing below varsity, 80 to referee varsity games, and 90 to become eligible for the playoffs.
Scrimmages - It is recommended that all officials participate in scrimmages. It is unpaid training, but is valuable on-field training to refresh, sharpen up or develop your skills and to gain more experience.
Game time!!! Once you complete all of the steps above, you are ready to call football games. All referees call Jr. High, Freshman, and Junior Varsity games, which will mostly be on Thursday nights. Then get ready for the Friday Night Lights! You may end up on a crew, or you may be a floater until you gain more experience. Either way, just make sure to have fun out there!