So, you want to be a ref? Here’s how you do it

“We’re not getting the people (to fill officiating spots),” said Stamer who, while now working with a San Francisco organization, spent years reffing football on the Peninsula and still works Peninsula baseball games.

“The impression I get is that (people) think officials are just there, and we’re not. What I’m afraid is going to happen, there is going to be a sporting event, probably at the lower level, where it won’t go off because of (a lack) of officials.”

To that end, Stamer and the NCFOA is holding an informational meeting about his organization specifically, and information about youth officiating in general, during a meet from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 29 at City College of San Francisco in the Wellness Room, #103.

“Do I want it (this recruiting pitch) for Nor Cal? Yes,” Stamer said. “But do I know (officiating) associations all over are hurting? Yes. I’m looking at the big picture.”

The meeting, however, is not just for football referees. It’s a recruitment vehicle for officials in all sports. He will have a list of all the various organizations, with contact information, with many of the neighboring area as well.

Whether a prospective referee signs up with NCFOA or chooses to join a different organization, Stamer’s meeting will provide basic information that relates across every sport and every officiating group.

And just know going in, being a high school official is no cake walk. There are a number of meetings and training sessions officials attend throughout the season and even in the offseason.

Your performance will be scrutinized and before you think you’re going to waltz in with no experience and go officiate the Little Big Game, think again.

“When I first got involved in high school football, it was three years before I did my first varsity game. That’s because there were a lot of officials there and I worked my way up. You gotta prove yourself,” Stamer said. “If you’re coming right out of the gate, no officiating experience, we’re not going to throw you in the fire.

“I’ve talked to coaches and told them all we do (as officials) and they say, ‘You do all that?’” Stamer said.

Stamer estimates it takes at least a year for learn the mechanics of officiating a game before an official is ready for the varsity level.

In the meantime, it’s all about honing one’s craft. It means starting out at the Pop Warner or Little League level, working your way up to the freshman and junior varsity levels and, if you’ve proven you have what it takes, varsity-level athletics is in the cards.

Officials don’t get rich, but it can be a nice supplement. On the Peninsula, for example, umpiring high school-level baseball — Joe DiMaggio or American Legion — pays about 70 bucks a game. The scale slides depending on the level of play, but making a few thousand dollars is not out of the question.

“And you’re an independent contractor. Your (officials uniform) can be a write-off. The mileage to and from games is a write-off,” Stamer said.

Stamer said the biggest turnoffs to any potential new official are the hard work and time spent becoming a top-notch official and the verbal abuse sports officials take from fans.

“The No. 1 topic is, when I ask people why they don’t come out (to be an official) is, ‘I don’t want to get yelled at,’” Stamer said.” They don’t want to take the verbal abuse that comes with it.”

Mike Adams, president of the Silicon Valley Sports Officials Association, which handles many of the sports in the Peninsula Athletic League, tries to get people to understand that no one is perfect and that once they take the pressure off themselves to be so, they tend to find the job more enjoyable.

“No official has ever had a perfect game,” Adams said. “Half the fans are happy and the other half aren’t happy after every call.”

Adams and SVSOA will be holding its own recruiting meeting for officials across a range of sports at 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at the San Mateo County Office of Education office in Redwood Shores.

Stamer admits it takes a certain personality to be a successful official. First off, they need a passion for the game because it’s going to take some time to reach the top. People skills are another highly-sought-after trait and someone mentally strong enough to weather the inevitable slings and arrows that accompany being a game official.

“The most important thing is to be approachable on the field,” Stamer said. “Someone who has good people skills, is willing to learn, willing to take critiques — because you’re going take criticism. You can’t have thin skin.”

Nathan Mollat can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: 344-5200 ext. 117.