The Park Ridge Football program provides an opportunity for young men and women to be a youth football referee for our flag football games. Football officiating can provide a person with a sense of pride, self-respect, and most importantly, confidence.

Park Ridge Football will provide a referee shirt, flag, whistle, and the initial instruction necessary to officiate a football game at our mandatory meeting in mid-August. It is the responsibility of each individual to know and understand the rules of the game, and to commit to improving their skills.

We are looking for 8th – Seniors in HS with past or current football experience to ref Flag games on Fridays and Saturday’s. Pay is a flat $25 per game regardless of experience level or tenure, and each game should have 2-3 refs assigned thru RefTown. 

We appreciate your interest in becoming a referee in the Park Ridge Football program. 

2023 Pre-season Referee Mtg is in August TBD. Instructions and uniforms will be given out then and there. Prior 🏈 experience is preferred – games start week after Labor Day, ends at Halloween.

For 8th- 12th graders interested in officiating in Park Ridge Football, there will be a mandatory pre-season Youth Referee meeting scheduled for early August at Prospect Park- O’Connor Room. 

At the meeting, we will walk you thru USA Football Flag Rules and some of our local rule modifications (Flag Rules Exceptions and Guidelines) , including discussing some IHSA rules, common calls, and provide guidance thru a lively Q&A session. 

In addition, you will receive your whistle, hat, shirt (only the shirt needs to be returned at end of the season), and detailed instructions for how to use RefTown. 

RefTown is how games are scheduled for officials and MUST be used by each referee to confirm games, manage availability, and get paid.

Pay schedule and general information are contained in the Ref Manual – see below.

Please note that game assignment for each youth referee will be at the Director’s sole discretion, but usually based on a youth referee’s experience and performance. 

No premium will be paid for wearing a ‘white hat’.

Failure to perform as expected can result in no future game assignments, and YOUR understanding of all rules is a prerequisite.  Notecards will be available to you in the Fall to help remember common rules and infractions.

A mid-season Youth Referee meeting will be scheduled to include: 1st paycheck distribution, program feedback, and a Q&A session.  2nd / last paycheck will be provided with return of your shirt and flag (you keep your hat and whistle) at end of season.