Expert: Vic Winnek - 12/16/2005

Question
I was just wondering if you could tell me exactly what you have to do to become a college official.  I have really enjoyed being a high school official and would like to go to the next level.
Thank you for your time and info.
nathan

Answer
FOLLOW UP:  I hope my answer helped.  If you need any further information or a follow-up, please feel free to ask.
Thanks,
Vic Winnek
Football Official

PS. If you'd be so kind as to rate or comment on my response I and AllExperts would greatly appreciate it.  Thanks.

Follow up:  I hope I was able to answer your question.  If there are no college officials on your area, another source
to help locate a college officials instructional association might be be contacting NASO.


Nathan,
This is a common and a loaded question.  First where do you live and what college associations are close to you?  I suggest you contact them and let them know you are interested in becoming a college official.  Also contact your local JC or Div. III football office and ask them for the name and address of their local assignor and write to that person.

You should find a mentor who is in your high school association who works college football and ask him to mentor you and let him know you would like to begin working college football.

If you want to move to the next level you must have excellent Rules knowledge (know the rules, the Approved rulings and study, understand and know the play situations that serve as questions for the NCAA Rules) and master your high school mechanics.  You must become a student of the game.

What you do off the field is also important.  Look the part of an offical, carry yourself like an official.  Learn to network and market yourself.  Be a yes guy - that is if you have opportunities to work a scrimmage or paractice (Fall, Summer or Spring) don't turn down the opportunity.  These opportunities may mask themselves as high school games when a college official is in attendance or working the game/practice, etc.  Learn to "pay your dues".

In my opinion, there is nothing better than working college football.  In my 5th year I began attending the college class & study groups.  I got my 1st JC assignment in my 7th year at 11 AM one Saturday morning.  The JC commissioner had been given my name and he called me out of desperation to see if I could make a 1:00 PM game that day.  I said yes!  I was not an umpire but was willing to work the position.  I cancled my afternoon plans to attend a friend's wedding with a date.  I worked the game and the assignor remembered that the following season and gave me a full schedule.  Four years later I was working Div. III, and in my 12th season I began working Div. 1-AA.  The point is you never know when or how the opportunity will present itself.  Be willing to commit and sacrifice your social life for college football.

Another thing I would recommend doing is attending football officiating camps.  This is the place to learn and network.  Camps such as Chad Brown's Personal Touch Camp at UCLA; Ken Rivera's Fresno or Reno camps; Dick Honig used to have a camp in the Big Ten area.  Also the NFL's GrassRoot 1 day camps are a good starting point.

Hope this helps.