Being a college football referee can be a challenging job. Officials are often the target of fans’ anger, particularly when calls are perceived as questionable or missed, despite the vast majority of calls being correct. In an effort to give an insight into the complexities of the job, a quiz has been presented which mirrors the types of decisions officials have to make instantly.
The quiz was developed using content from the Mountain West/Conference USA officiating clinic that took place earlier this summer. The clinic, which was led by Mike Defee, a former Big 12 referee and current coordinator of officials for both conferences, focused on maintaining standards, understanding new rules, training tips and the logistics of game management. The clinic also included a multiple-choice quiz for the officials based on various in-game situations. Similar clinics are held by other conferences as well.
Defee remarked that the purpose of the test is to ensure that officials have thoroughly familiarized themselves with the rule book. Officials must pass the test in order to receive a schedule. A passing grade on the test is 70 percent, with crew head referees expected to score even higher. He also noted a few developmental officials were unable to pass this year, even though all of the core officials from Mountain West and CUSA did.
Drawing on personal experience, the writer shared that he struggled with the quiz, scoring a humbling 48 percent and thereby highlighting the difficulty level of the test. He stated that the original quiz had 27 questions; however, for the purposes of this article, the number of questions has been reduced to 15, coupled with a few language adjustments for easier comprehension of game situations.
The writer then invites readers to test their knowledge and see whether they could potentially officiate a college football game. A technical note was made for readers using an Android device to access the quiz, recommending a two-finger scroll for smoother navigation. If the quiz still doesn’t appear, a direct link to the quiz has been provided.
As evidenced by the writer’s score, being a college football referee is by no means an easy task. It requires an in-depth understanding of the game’s rules, along with a sharp ability to make quick and correct decisions in the heat of fast-paced in-game situations. These referees, who are often unnoticed when they make correct calls and vilified for perceived mistakes, are truly masters of their craft.
