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How an umpire / referee / other sports official can use AI, task by task

O*NET 27-2023.00: Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports OfficialsMedian pay $40,710/year (BLS, May 2025)16 tasksJob Zone 2: Some preparation

Officiate at competitive athletic or sporting events. Detect infractions of rules and decide penalties according to established regulations. Includes all sporting officials, referees, and competition judges.

Your job title Type your own title and every prompt on this page updates to match. Also called: Basketball Referee, Diving Judge, Dressage Judge, Football Referee, Horse Show Judge, Major League Baseball Umpire (MLB Umpire), Referee, Soccer Referee, Softball Umpire, Sports Official.

Where AI fits in this job

AI-ready 12%AI-assist 5%Stays human 83%

Share of the job's tasks, weighted by how important and how frequent each task is (O*NET ratings). 3 AI-ready, 1 AI-assist and 12 human-led tasks out of 16. This measures where AI can help, not whether the job will disappear.

Information & paperwork

Thinking & planning

People & communication

Leading & teaching

Hands-on & physical

Shape of the job: importance of each kind of work activity (O*NET, 1 to 5).

🗓 Start here on Monday

The most frequent, most important tasks where AI can help right away.

Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.Review & check · Weekly
Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.Crunch the numbers · Monthly
Verify credentials of participants in sporting events, and make other qualifying determinations, such as starting order or handicap number.Review & check · Weekly

💪 Lean into these

Core tasks that stay human. These skills get more valuable as the routine work gets automated.

Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.Lead people · Weekly
Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.Lead people · Weekly
Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.Lead people · Weekly

Skills to build & where you could move ↓

AI can draft these 3

AI produces a usable first pass. You review it, fix it and own it.

Verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.

Weekly

AI is a tireless first-pass checker.

📊 Real AI use (Anthropic Economic Index, Apr 2026 to May 2026): AI completed the task directly in 41% of those conversations; the rest were back-and-forth with the person.

Show prompt & steps

AI is a tireless proofreader. It catches inconsistencies, missing fields and errors across documents and data, so your review time goes on what matters.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to verify scoring calculations before competition winners are announced.

Context: We use Adobe Acrobat.
Data: [paste sample entries]
Source: [what it was entered from]

Find likely errors and suggest validation rules. Make a table: requirement, met / not met / unclear, and the exact evidence.

10-minute exercise: Data entry verification

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you verify scoring calculations (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Data] and [Source] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Do your usual review too, and note what AI caught and what it missed.

AI can miss things and sound sure about it. Use it to catch extra problems, not as the final check.

Importance 4.4/5 · O*NET work activity: Verify accuracy of data..

Verify credentials of participants in sporting events, and make other qualifying determinations, such as starting order or handicap number.

Weekly

AI is a tireless first-pass checker.

Show prompt & steps

AI is a tireless proofreader. It catches inconsistencies, missing fields and errors across documents and data, so your review time goes on what matters.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to verify credentials of participants in sporting events, and make other qualifying determinations, such as starting order or handicap number.

Context: We use Adobe Acrobat.
Data: [paste sample entries]
Source: [what it was entered from]

Find likely errors and suggest validation rules. Make a table: requirement, met / not met / unclear, and the exact evidence.

10-minute exercise: Data entry verification

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you verify credentials of participants (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Data] and [Source] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Do your usual review too, and note what AI caught and what it missed.

AI can miss things and sound sure about it. Use it to catch extra problems, not as the final check.

Importance 4.1/5 · O*NET work activity: Verify accuracy of data..

Compile scores and other athletic records.

Weekly

AI handles forms, records and routine paperwork for you to verify.

Show prompt & steps

Forms, records, data entry, scheduling and routine paperwork are where AI saves the most time. It drafts, sorts, extracts and reformats while you verify.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to compile scores and other athletic records.

Context: We use Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Excel.
Project: [system, production, investigation]
Materials: [scripts, settings, notes]

Organize into a documentation structure with a table of contents and gaps. Point out anything missing or inconsistent and suggest a template I can reuse.

10-minute exercise: Technical documentation pack

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you compile scores and other athletic records (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Project] and [Materials] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Save the template and use it on the next one. Time both.

Personal, financial and health data shouldn't go into AI tools unless your employer has approved one for it.

Importance 4.1/5 · O*NET work activity: Compile technical information or documentation..

AI can help you prep these 1

AI speeds up the prep, drafting or thinking. The core of the task is still yours.

Report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.

Monthly

AI does the arithmetic and suggests what to look at; the conclusions are yours.

Show prompt & steps

AI can do the arithmetic, build the spreadsheet formula and suggest what to look at. Deciding what the numbers mean for your situation is still you.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made, and actions taken or needed, such as fines or other disciplinary actions.

Context: We use Microsoft Excel.
Complaint: [describe, no names]
Facts gathered: [what I know]

Organize the facts, find the cause, and suggest corrective actions and how to respond. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Complaint investigation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you report to regulating organizations regarding sporting activities, complaints made.

Step 2Fill in [Complaint] and [Facts gathered] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Pick one corrective action and follow it through. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Investigate work related complaints to determine corrective actions.. Also involves: Discuss performance, complaints, or violations with supervisors..

These stay human 12

They need your hands, your presence or your accountable judgment. Lean into them: they get more valuable as routine work is automated.

📏 Measured in this job (O*NET work context): Standing: more than half the time · Face-to-face discussions: once a week or more but not every day · Contact with others: contact with others most of the time · Physical closeness to others: moderately close (at arm's length)

Officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.

Weekly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to officiate at sporting events, games, or competitions, to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules are observed.

Team: [sport, level]
Focus: [skills, conditioning]

Plan a practice with drills and timings. Give me the key message in 2 sentences, how people might react, and how to respond to each.

10-minute exercise: Practice session plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you officiate at sporting events, games and competitions (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Team] and [Focus] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change.

Importance 5.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities..

Signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.

Weekly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to signal participants or other officials to make them aware of infractions or to otherwise regulate play or competition.

Team: [sport, level]
Focus: [skills, conditioning]

Plan a practice with drills and timings. Give me the key message in 2 sentences, how people might react, and how to respond to each.

10-minute exercise: Practice session plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you signal participants or other officials (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Team] and [Focus] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities..

Confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.

Weekly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to confer with other sporting officials, coaches, players, and facility managers to provide information, coordinate activities, and discuss problems.

Team: [sport, level]
Focus: [skills, conditioning]

Plan a practice with drills and timings. Give me the key message in 2 sentences, how people might react, and how to respond to each.

10-minute exercise: Practice session plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you confer with coaches, players and facility managers (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Team] and [Focus] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change.

Importance 4.0/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities..

Resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.

Weekly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints by participants and assess any necessary penalties, according to regulations.

Team: [sport, level]
Focus: [skills, conditioning]

Plan a practice with drills and timings. Give me the key message in 2 sentences, how people might react, and how to respond to each.

10-minute exercise: Practice session plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you resolve claims of rule infractions or complaints (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Team] and [Focus] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.5/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities..

Inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.

Weekly

Needs your eyes on site. AI can build the checklist and the report.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can build your inspection checklists, explain standards and turn your notes and photos into clean reports.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to inspect game sites for compliance with regulations or safety requirements.

Site: [construction, plant, facility]
Hazards of concern: [geotechnical, radiation, chemical]

Make a hazard inspection checklist with tests to run and escalation thresholds. Group it by area, say what 'good' and 'bad' look like for each item, and add a short template for writing up what I find.

10-minute exercise: Hazard survey

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you inspect game sites (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Site] and [Hazards of concern] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Take it with you next time, tick it alongside your usual routine, and add anything it missed. Check it against the manufacturer's manual and your site procedure before you rely on it.

Safety-critical: AI output is a starting point. Follow your site's procedures and the manufacturer's guidance.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.6/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Inspect work sites to identify potential environmental or safety hazards.. Also involves: Inspect facilities, equipment or supplies to ensure conformance to standards..

Inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.

Weekly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to inspect sporting equipment or examine participants to ensure compliance with event and safety regulations.

Area: [workplace, venue]
Rules: [policies, regulations]

List what to watch, how to correct people respectfully, and what to record. Give me the key message in 2 sentences, how people might react, and how to respond to each.

10-minute exercise: Compliance walk-round

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you inspect sporting equipment (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Area] and [Rules] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Note one correction and how it landed. Check it against the manufacturer's manual and your site procedure before you rely on it.

Safety-critical: AI output is a starting point. Follow your site's procedures and the manufacturer's guidance.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Monitor activities of individuals to ensure safety or compliance with rules.. Also involves: Determine operational compliance with regulations or standards..

Judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.

Weekly

Your accountable call. Use AI as a sounding board beforehand.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: Use AI as a sounding board before you decide. Ask it to argue the other side, list what you might be overlooking, or organize the evidence.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to judge performances in sporting competitions to award points, impose scoring penalties, and determine results.

Discipline: [sport, position, performance type]
Observations: [stats, video notes, strengths, weaknesses]

Organize the assessment, suggest drills or focus areas, and a feedback outline. I make the final evaluation.

10-minute exercise: Assess an athlete or performer

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you judge performances (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Discipline] and [Observations] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Give the feedback yourself and track one focus area.

Importance 4.9/5 · O*NET work activity: Evaluate skills of athletes or performers..

Keep track of event times, including race times and elapsed time during game segments, starting or stopping play when necessary.

Weekly

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to keep track of event times, including race times and elapsed time during game segments, starting or stopping play when necessary.

Team: [sport, level]
Focus: [skills, conditioning]

Plan a practice with drills and timings. Give me the key message in 2 sentences, how people might react, and how to respond to each.

10-minute exercise: Practice session plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you keep track of event times (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Team] and [Focus] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change.

Importance 4.0/5 · O*NET work activity: Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities..

Teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.

Monthly

Human connection. Use AI only before and after, to prepare.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: Use AI before and after, not during. Prepare talking points, practise a hard conversation, or turn your notes into a follow-up.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.

Who I'm coaching: [staff member, teammate; no names]
Skill or goal: [sales tactic, performance]

Prepare open questions, specific feedback, a practice exercise and a follow-up. Then play the person. Suggest ways to open, phrases to avoid, and how to handle it if things get tense. Then play the other person so I can practice.

10-minute exercise: Coaching conversation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you teach and explain the rules and regulations governing a specific sport.

Step 2Fill in [Who I'm coaching] and [Skill or goal] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Agree one thing they'll try before your next check-in. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.3/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Coach others..

Start races and competitions.

Daily

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to start races and competitions.

Team: [sport, level]
Focus: [skills, conditioning]

Plan a practice with drills and timings. Give me the key message in 2 sentences, how people might react, and how to respond to each.

10-minute exercise: Practice session plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you start races and competitions (today).

Step 2Fill in [Team] and [Focus] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change.

Importance 4.3/5 · O*NET work activity: Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities..

Direct participants to assigned areas, such as starting blocks or penalty areas.

Daily

Leading people runs on trust. AI can prep the paperwork around it.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can prep the paperwork around leading: meeting agendas, feedback drafts, rotas, briefings and difficult-conversation rehearsals.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to direct participants to assigned areas, such as starting blocks or penalty areas.

Team: [sport, level]
Focus: [skills, conditioning]

Plan a practice with drills and timings. Give me the key message in 2 sentences, how people might react, and how to respond to each.

10-minute exercise: Practice session plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you direct participants (today).

Step 2Fill in [Team] and [Focus] with the real details, then run the prompt.

Step 3Afterward, note one thing people responded to and one thing you'd change.

Importance 4.0/5 · O*NET work activity: Coordinate athletic or sporting events or activities..

Research and study players and teams to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements.

Weekly

Needs your eyes on site. AI can build the checklist and the report.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can build your inspection checklists, explain standards and turn your notes and photos into clean reports.

Prep prompt

I work as an umpire / referee / other sports official. Part of my job is to research and study players and teams to anticipate issues that might arise in future engagements.

Who and what I observe: [students, players, staff, activity]
What I'm looking for: [behaviour, performance, rule compliance]

Create an observation checklist with clear behavioural indicators, a rating scale, and a notes template. Remind me how to keep notes objective.

10-minute exercise: Observation checklist

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you research and study players and teams (this week).

Step 2Fill in [Who and what I observe] and [What I'm looking for].

Step 3Use it once and compare with your usual notes. Keep what helped.

Importance 2.9/5 · O*NET work activity: Observe individuals' activities to gather information or compile evidence.. Also involves: Investigate personal characteristics or activities of individuals..

Get the full prompt pack for Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials

Every task, prompt and 10-minute exercise on this page in one PDF, formatted to print or keep on your desktop. Free.

Your next moves

Skills to build

From O*NET's ratings of how important each skill is in this job, matched to which part of the work it supports.

Stays human Deepen these

They power the human-led work, which is the part of the job AI can't take over.

Critical Thinkingimportance 3.4/5
Used in: Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
Active Listeningimportance 3.2/5
Used in: Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
Monitoringimportance 3.1/5
Used in: Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
Speakingimportance 3.6/5
Used in: Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others

With AI Use these to work with AI

When AI does the first draft, these are the skills you use to brief it and check what comes back.

Mathematicsimportance 2.5/5
Used in: Processing Information

Where you could move

Related jobs from O*NET with the closest skill profile, favouring ones where more of the work stays human. No step down in preparation.

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Your skills already line up
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Your skills already line up

Getting into this job

High school diploma is most common (43% of workers)

High school or less 67%
Certificate or some college 10%
Associate's 5%
Bachelor's 14%
Graduate degree 5%

On-the-job training: 3–6 months
Related experience: 3–6 months

What workers in this job report, from O*NET surveys (typical values).

Software in this job

In-demand tools from O*NET. Many now have AI built in, so check what yours can do before adding a new tool.

Adobe AcrobatMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft Word