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For the last 8 years I’ve been a football official (AKA referee).
It’s one of the least understood jobs with the highest visibility.
Today, Sarah Thomas is the first woman to officiate the Super Bowl.
Here’s the story of her amazing journey, with a few annodotes from me
It’s one of the least understood jobs with the highest visibility.
Today, Sarah Thomas is the first woman to officiate the Super Bowl.
Here’s the story of her amazing journey, with a few annodotes from me
Sarah was a stand out athlete as a teenager. She received a basketball scholarship to University of Mobile.
She graduated as the 5th leading all-time scorer.
After she graduated, she wanted to remain in sports. But didn’t know what to do.
She graduated as the 5th leading all-time scorer.
After she graduated, she wanted to remain in sports. But didn’t know what to do.
At 23 years old, she went with her brother, a high school football referee, to a meeting.
She was immediately intrigued. She loved how they talked what-ifs and discussed rare plays.
She thought it would be a great way to give back to organized sports, so she signed up.
She was immediately intrigued. She loved how they talked what-ifs and discussed rare plays.
She thought it would be a great way to give back to organized sports, so she signed up.
This isn’t too uncommon for most officials. Most are former athletes and have a friend/relative already active.
However, her age was rare. Most officials, even new ones, are over the age of 40.
I signed up at 24 years old and was the youngest in my class of 50 by ~10 years.
However, her age was rare. Most officials, even new ones, are over the age of 40.
I signed up at 24 years old and was the youngest in my class of 50 by ~10 years.
For 3 years Sarah officiated middle school and sub-varsity games. In 1999, she got her first varsity game.
Her path is common. Officials are ranked with points and tiers at the high school level.
Until you earn enough points you can’t work advanced games.
Her path is common. Officials are ranked with points and tiers at the high school level.
Until you earn enough points you can’t work advanced games.
As a result, turnover is high. 3 years after my class of 50 started there were less than 20 left.
Those meetings Sarah loved, they’re every week. And you have to attend.
Those middle school games? You make $45 and you have to leave work at 2:30 get to a game that starts at 4.
Those meetings Sarah loved, they’re every week. And you have to attend.
Those middle school games? You make $45 and you have to leave work at 2:30 get to a game that starts at 4.
This is why most officials are entrepreneurs. The schedule is brutal and the pay is bad in those early years.
Ed Hochuli, the famous ref with the huge arms, owns a law firm of 100+ staff.
He also raised a son who is reffing today’s game with Sarah. Family business.
Ed Hochuli, the famous ref with the huge arms, owns a law firm of 100+ staff.
He also raised a son who is reffing today’s game with Sarah. Family business.
In 1999, Sarah got her shot on the varsity level. She was a Line Judge.
If you didn’t know, there are positions for officials. Referee is the position with the white hat, the captain of a crew.
Being on a varsity crew is a large commitment.
If you didn’t know, there are positions for officials. Referee is the position with the white hat, the captain of a crew.
Being on a varsity crew is a large commitment.
The same group work together week in and week out.
You travel, you study hours of film each week, read and memorize the 250+ page rulebook, and hold each accountable for mistakes.
It’s a commitment that makes you feel like a family.
You travel, you study hours of film each week, read and memorize the 250+ page rulebook, and hold each accountable for mistakes.
It’s a commitment that makes you feel like a family.
At the varsity level, the pay is better. You get a % of the gate fee.
The biggest games of the year in Austin you can make $300. But the average game is $130.
Last year, if you count all my costs (uniform, microphones, travel, time) I made $4.50 an hour.
The biggest games of the year in Austin you can make $300. But the average game is $130.
Last year, if you count all my costs (uniform, microphones, travel, time) I made $4.50 an hour.
After 7 years on the Varsity level, Sarah had the reputation as one of the best officials in Mississippi.
She earned the highest praise, the state championship game.
Soon after Conference USA called and in 2007 she became the first woman to officiate a college football game.
She earned the highest praise, the state championship game.
Soon after Conference USA called and in 2007 she became the first woman to officiate a college football game.
In 2011, she continued to rise through the ranks and was selected to work a bowl game.
She got a bonus of $3,000 for the game on top of her $37K salary for the season.
She also established herself as one of the bests.
She got a bonus of $3,000 for the game on top of her $37K salary for the season.
She also established herself as one of the bests.
In 2015, Sarah finally reached the pinnacle.
After nearly 20 years of officiating, she was selected to join the NFL. She’s 1 of 124 at that level.
The odds of going from the NCAA to pro as an official is 1.2%, compared to 1.6% as a player.
And the pay is great.
After nearly 20 years of officiating, she was selected to join the NFL. She’s 1 of 124 at that level.
The odds of going from the NCAA to pro as an official is 1.2%, compared to 1.6% as a player.
And the pay is great.
The average NFL official makes more than $150,000 a year. And, most, still have a full-time job doing something else.
But the tenure isn’t easy. Most NFL officials don’t make it to 4 years in the league.
But the tenure isn’t easy. Most NFL officials don’t make it to 4 years in the league.
In high school you get graded by a supervisor 1-2X a year, in the NFL it’s every play.
Imagine this, 20+ years perfecting a craft and you have a bad day or two. And your career is done. It’s that easy and that fast.
Which makes Sarah Thomas even more impressive.
Imagine this, 20+ years perfecting a craft and you have a bad day or two. And your career is done. It’s that easy and that fast.
Which makes Sarah Thomas even more impressive.
She’s passed 4 years, working on the best crew in the world, and there’s no end in sight.
It took 25 years from working middle school games to the Super Bowl.
In the middle of that was a lot of angry coaches, laughs in the crew, and dedication unlike no other.
It took 25 years from working middle school games to the Super Bowl.
In the middle of that was a lot of angry coaches, laughs in the crew, and dedication unlike no other.
So today if Sarah makes a call you disagree with, remind yourself that she is the best in the world and spent most of her life working for this moment.
