2025 Season Info

Hello Future Officials,

Thanks for expressing your interest in becoming a football official with the New Hampshire Football Officials Association (NHFOA)! My name is Kyle Scofield, and as the Apprentice Chair, I'm thrilled to be your guide as we recruit and train new officials like you.

Football officiating is an AWESOME way to stay deeply involved with the sport you love. It’s a fantastic opportunity to:

• Stay active and get outdoors

• Challenge yourself and learn new skills

• Meet a great community of people

• Learn more about the game than you ever imagined

• Make some extra money

• Give back to the game and our young athletes 

• Have a lot of fun in the process

Whether your goal is to enjoy Friday night lights, work a Pop Warner National Championship, or even aspire to the higher levels of college football, you're starting in the perfect place! The NHFOA serves high school games across New Hampshire and also provides officials for youth leagues and some semi-professional leagues throughout the Northeast.

Ready to Get Started? Your First Huddle:

Our Kick-Off Meeting is the perfect first step to learn more and meet the team:

• Date: Sunday, July 13th

• Time: 3:00 PM

• Location: Memorial Field, Concord (This meeting is highly encouraged, but if you can't make it, don't worry – we'll get you caught up!)

Your Roadmap to Taking the Field:

We've developed a comprehensive training program that mixes in-person sessions, online learning, and essential on-field training to get you game-ready. Here’s a brief overview of the process (we'll cover all these steps in detail during our classes):

1. Attend the Kick-Off Meeting (details above).

2. Complete the Apprentice Registration Form: https://forms.gle/3TvvzSD4zUk7kDbS7 - Please complete this at your earliest convenience!

3. Official Registrations: We'll guide you through registering with the NHFOA ($20) and the NHIAA ($65 – for high school games). Hold off on the NHIAA registration for now; we'll cover it in class.

4. Get Your Gear: We’ll provide a detailed equipment list and guidance (approximate cost $250). No need to purchase anything yet!

5. Learn the Rules & Procedures:

   • Pass a background check (details provided after NHFOA registration).

   • Attend virtual meetings for new officials (July - October).

   • Register on ZebraWeb (our assignment platform – we'll show you how).

6. Gain On-Field Experience:

   • Participate in scrimmages (starting around August 20th).

   • Officiate youth, freshman, and JV games (starting August/September). Our goal is to have you ready for Week 1!

Training & Game Schedule Insights:

• Flexible Calendar: Our training calendar is adaptable. We'll determine the best weekly meeting day (e.g., Monday or Thursday) after discussing preferences with the group. View the evolving calendar here: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=k06jlv1spjogttpnmah53uni3o@group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/New_York

• Virtual Meetings: During the season (through October), our meetings will be virtual via Zoom for your convenience.

• Game Opportunities: As a first-year official, you'll have plenty of opportunities to work youth, freshman, and JV games. While varsity games in the first year are less common, they are a possibility later in the season.

• Time Commitment: Expect weekly apprentice meetings and game assignments. You can work as many games as your schedule allows – typically one weeknight and perhaps Saturday games (mostly late morning/early afternoon). If you need to take a week off or can only do Saturdays, that’s okay too!

The Investment & The Return:

Officiating involves an initial investment of time and money:

• NHFOA Fee: $20 (covers books and registration)

• NHIAA Fee: $65 (for high school game eligibility)

• Equipment & Uniform: Approximately $250 (purchased on your own – we'll guide you through the purchasing process)

The good news? You get paid for the games you officiate (excluding training scrimmages and classes).

• Pay ranges from ~$60 and up for a youth/JV game to $93 for a varsity game.  Some youth league game fees are as much as $100 per official per game.

• It's possible to work 2-4 youth games on a weekend.

• With ample availability, most officials are in the black by the middle of their first season!

Your Next Step:

You've already taken an important first step by showing interest. This is a truly rewarding hobby and critically important for the athletes we serve – without us, it's just practice!

Please take a moment to complete the NHFOA Apprentice Registration Form: https://forms.gle/3TvvzSD4zUk7kDbS7

Our goal is to help you succeed on your officiating journey, wherever it may lead. If you have conflicts, questions, or just want to talk football, please reach out. We are here to help you get on the field!

We look forward to welcoming you to the NHFOA team!