Vermont Football Officials
Rules, mechanics and getting-started information for high school football officials in Vermont.
Varsity football here is worked by crews of five. Nobody starts out knowing the job — the crew teaches you.
New to officiating
You do not need to have played football and you do not need experience officiating anything. First-year dues are waived. These four pages, in order, are the whole path from curious to on the field.
Becoming a Football Official
What the job is, what it costs, what it pays, and how to start.Equipment for New Officials
What to buy, where to get it, and what to do if the cost is a problem.Your First Season
What to study and in what order, plus what your first game looks like.Getting Assigned
How games actually reach you — availability, turnbacks and fees.Email us about officiating
Most people who do this started by asking one question of one person.
Already officiating
Field reference for officials on a crew: the cards you print and carry, the rules you look up mid-week, and the machinery around the game.
Position Cards(5)
Your spot, your keys and your jobs — one card per position on a crew of five.Crew Cards(5)
Who has what, one phase of the game at a time, for crews of five and four.Cliff Notes — NFHS Football Rules Book
The rule book boiled down, with penalty enforcement in one table.Clock Officials Cheat Sheet
For the person on the clock — starts, stops and the untimed down.Getting Assigned
Availability, turnbacks, mileage, playoffs and how you get paid.Foul Weather Procedures
Lightning, delays and when the game stops.Quizzes
Rules questions with a fully cited answer key. Good for a crew meeting.Browse by topic
Getting StartedRulesMechanicsCrew CardsPosition CardsGame ManagementPrintable