Referees, Umpires and Other Sports Officials
8AI USED FOR8%moving to48%
THE DOOR, NOWB
THE DOOR, 20 YRSC
STARTING PAY£20,000 - £30,000
REGULATORY MOATThe law requires human oversight. That human could be you.
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CAREERMASH (EN)FROM SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE →
Referees, Umpires and Other Sports Officials
Referees and umpires make sure sport is fair. They know the rules inside out, make split-second decisions during matches, and keep the game under control - whether it's a local football game or a big international tournament.
THE DOOR: A easy to E extremely hard, now and in 20 years
This job holds up well against AI
AI is used for very little of what this job actually involves today, and the law requires human oversight. That human could be you. That is about as safe as careers get right now, though it is still worth learning to use the tools well.
Who hires for this
The Football AssociationGoverning body for football in England, responsible for officiating standards.UK AthleticsGoverning body for athletics in the UK, offering officiating courses and resources.Rugby Football UnionGoverning body for rugby in England, providing training for referees.England NetballGoverning body for netball in England, focusing on officiating development.British BasketballGoverning body for basketball in the UK, offering officiating pathways.Local Sports ClubsVarious community sports clubs looking for referees and umpires for local matches.University Sports TeamsUniversities often require officials for their sports events and competitions.Local Authority Sports ProgrammesLocal councils running sports programmes that need qualified officials.Community Sports LeaguesGrassroots leagues that provide opportunities for new referees and umpires.Youth Sports OrganisationsOrganisations focused on youth sports that require officials for various events.