I haven't joined the SCFOA yet but I'm interested in officiating football. How do I join? During July and August, you may also come directly to one of our apprentice meetings and bring cash, check or money order for $40 to cover the cost of registration, rulebook and training.  Contact us for more information at:

Snohomish County Football Officials Association
303 91st Ave NE, G701, PMB #156
Lake Stevens, WA 98258

Assignor: Mike Johnson
Phone: (425) 359-0184

Do I need previous experience as a football official? Previous experience is good but is not a requirement. We provide a comprehensive training course for new officials that’s included in your registration fee.

What sort of time commitment would I have to make to officiate football? In addition to the preseason apprentice meetings and regular membership meetings games are typically played as follows. Most week day afternoon contests typically kick off around 3:30pm. The following list is a typical breakdown of when each age group plays their games.

Of course you can work as much or as little as possible depending on your desire and availability.

What are the criteria for membership? The SCFOA bylaws spell out all the association rules.  However, here are some basic requirements for membership.  Read Our Current Bylaws

What about the rules exam? Each year SCFOA officials are required by the Washington State Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) to pass a written National Federation of High Schools Football rules exam in order to work varsity games. This exam is prepared for during meetings prior to the season beginning. A passing score of 70% is required.

How do I receive pre-season scrimmage assignments?
Prior to the beginning of the regular season there are typically pre-season scrimmages that the assignor will assign as needed. This is a great opportunity to practice officiating skills before the real games begin.

How do I receive game assignments? The SCFOA Assignor assigns all games.  During the season you will periodically receive emails letting you know that you have been assigned a game. Using our web based assigning system you will then need to login and accept or decline your assigned games. Prior to, and during, the season each official has the ability to determine which days they are unable to work. These dates are noted in the assigning system, and the assignor will not assign you to games on those dates. It is also important to note that you should always contact the assignor immediately if you are unable to make a scheduled assignment.

When does the Washington state rules interpreter address the SCFOA? Each year SCFOA members are required to attend a Washington State Officials Association (WOA) rules meeting.  This information will be published well in advance of the meeting date, and is required by all members in order to work varsity games.

I've been assigned a game. How do I get directions to the school? We use a web based assignment system called Arbiter. When you receive a game assignment you will be able to view the address of the school, map links to the school you will be officiating as well as the other officials you will be working with that day.

What equipment will I need to officiate? The uniform required to officiate consists of the striped shirt, white pants, striped socks, black shoes, black hat with white piping and a whistle. Of course, with any profession there are always extras that can be purchased, but the typical setup to get started will cost approximately between $150-$200. This cost can easily be offset by working approximately 6-10 games.

When should I arrive at an assigned game? For all varsity games you should arrive 1½ hours prior to kick-off.  This will allow ample time to dress and run through a pre-game meeting with your crew.  For all sub-varsity games it is best to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to kick-off and be on field dressed and ready 15 minutes before the scheduled kickoff.

How do I get paid? At the end of each season officials will receive a pay sheet generated from our assignment system. Each official should verify it for accuracy and notify the Treasurer if there are any discrepancies. Checks for wages earned will be distributed typically by the end of the calendar year, or early January. We bill schools for games worked at the end of the year and as money is received check begin being distributed.

Is my officiating income taxable? Each official receives an IRS form 1099 at the end of the year. As an independent contractor, each official is responsible for the reporting of the income, typically on a schedule C of their IRS tax return. A copy of each 1099 form will also be filed with the IRS as required by law.

How do I get into the members only section of the website? Once you sign up as a member of the SCFOA you will be contacted by our webmaster with your username and password to access all the member only information.