Ten reasons to learn how to officiate sports

If you love the game, officiating is a way to give back.

Officiating pays. Doing youth games or tournaments can get you several games in a day at one location. Some old timers actually paid for second homes with what they made officiating.

Even for sports that don't use crews, like football does, you'll meet a good deal of good people who are generally supportive of one another.

And get away from the office. A nice change of pace, and some days a reason to get out of bed.

If there aren't officials, the games will go away. The kids are mostly good, respectful, and work hard at their sport.

I've been to almost every high school in Northern NJ, as well as a lot of great diners before Saturday games and pizza joints and bars after Friday night games.

Keeping up on rules, philosophies, and mechanics keeps the mind fresh. And using them on the fly when you need to make a call.

A football game is worth about 10K to 12K steps, running, changing directions, backpedaling in some instances.

Dealing with coaches and players who are competitive and not happy about a call gives you plenty of practice in people skills under pressure.

Usually have some good discussions when people learn you officiate. And you can tell your stories (you'll have many) about "what happened" at "that game."