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Sports official

Also called judge, umpire, referee

Sports officials are responsible for administering the rules and laws of a sport and for ensuring fair play according to the rules and laws. The role includes applying rules during the sport or activity, contributing to health, safety and protection of participants and others during the sport or activity, organising sport events, establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with competitors and others, and communicating effectively.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects52 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,400 (Bulgaria) to €6,600 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree.Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionalsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Sports coaches, instructors and officials · ILO

What you'd do

Sports coaches, instructors and officials · ILO
  • Identifying strengths and weaknesses of athletes or teams
  • Planning, developing and implementing training and practice sessions
  • Developing, planning and co-ordinating competitive schedules and programmes
  • Motivating and preparing athletes or teams for competitive events or games
  • Formulating competitive strategy, developing game plans and directing athletes and players during games or athletic events
  • Analysing and evaluating athletes' or teams' performances and modifying training programmes
  • Monitoring and analysing technique and performance, and determining how future improvements can be made
  • Officiating at sporting events or athletic competitions to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules and safety regulations are observed
  • Recording lapsed time and keeping score during events or competitions
  • Judging the performance of competitors, awarding points, imposing penalties for infractions and determining results
  • Compiling scores and other athletic records
Contribute to the development of a sporting estateApply sport games rulesCommunicate information during sport gameAssess the quality of sport competitionsCreate relationships with sport competitors+ 4 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Mostly outdoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually under 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals in the EU
3.99m3.83m4.95m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
915,000 new jobs 1,198,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals52
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of sports coaches, instructors and officials, 9 a surplus.
Sports coaches, instructors and officials · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,400 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,600 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree is the usual route.

Highest qualification of legal, social, cultural and related associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 44%Vocational 33%General secondary 15%Basic schooling 8%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.37 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 11 tasks
Compiling scores and other athletic records0.67
Developing, planning and co-ordinating competitive schedules and programmes0.50
Monitoring and analysing technique and performance, and determining how future improvements can be made0.44
Planning, developing and implementing training and practice sessions0.39
Analysing and evaluating athletes' or teams' performances and modifying training programmes0.36
Identifying strengths and weaknesses of athletes or teams0.32
Formulating competitive strategy, developing game plans and directing athletes and players during games or athletic events0.30
Recording lapsed time and keeping score during events or competitions0.30
Judging the performance of competitors, awarding points, imposing penalties for infractions and determining results0.29
Motivating and preparing athletes or teams for competitive events or games0.29
Officiating at sporting events or athletic competitions to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules and safety regulations are observed0.26

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for sports coaches, instructors and officials. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).