NFL Flag Referee

Girls Play Flag – NFL FLAG Referee

Job Summary

As an NFL FLAG Referee, you will play a critical role in officiating games, promoting fair play, enforcing league rules, and protecting the safety and well-being of our athletes.

Referees are expected to demonstrate sound judgment, professionalism, appropriate adult-to-youth boundaries, and respectful communication at all times. This position requires regular interaction with minors and is therefore subject to applicable background screening, training, and youth-safety requirements.

Responsibilities

• Officiate flag football games in accordance with NFL FLAG and Girls Play Flag rules, policies, and guidelines.

• Monitor gameplay closely to protect player safety and penalize infractions appropriately.

• Make quick, consistent, and impartial decisions regarding fouls, out-of-bounds calls, scoring plays, and other game situations.

• Manage player, coach, and spectator conduct professionally and address unsportsmanlike behavior appropriately.

• Treat every athlete with dignity and respect and maintain professional adult-to-youth boundaries at all times.

• Follow all Girls Play Flag child-safety, abuse-prevention, and participant-protection policies.

• Maintain interactions with athletes in open, observable, and interruptible environments whenever possible.

• Never engage in inappropriate physical contact, sexualized comments, harassment, hazing, grooming behavior, favoritism intended to create inappropriate access to a player, or any other conduct that could compromise an athlete's safety.

• Do not initiate or maintain private or inappropriate electronic, social-media, or personal communication with minor athletes outside approved league communication channels.

• Do not isolate a player from parents, guardians, coaches, staff, or other participants except when reasonably necessary to address an immediate health or safety emergency.

• Do not transport an individual minor athlete in a personal vehicle on behalf of the league unless specifically authorized under league policy and applicable emergency procedures.

• Immediately report suspected abuse, misconduct, boundary violations, or other player-safety concerns according to Girls Play Flag policy and applicable law. Failure to report a known or suspected safety concern may result in immediate removal from officiating duties.

• Cooperate fully with league safety procedures, investigations, and requests from designated league leadership.

• Communicate professionally with players, coaches, parents/guardians, fellow officials, field managers, and league staff.

• Assist with field and equipment setup and cleanup as needed.

• Comply with all referee uniform and equipment requirements.

• Maintain required NFL FLAG certification and training and remain current on official rules and regulations.

• Accurately record game scores and report results to the Field Manager.

• Attend required referee training and development sessions throughout the year.

• Attend weekly officiating calls while in season or review the complete recording when unable to attend.

• Maintain appropriate availability for league games, tournaments, evenings, and weekends.

Safety & Screening Requirements

Requirements may include, as permitted or required by applicable law and league policy:

• Successful completion of required background screening.

• Identity verification and/or reference checks.

• Completion of required trainings.

• Compliance with all mandatory-reporting requirements applicable to the individual's role and jurisdiction.

• Agreement to and compliance with the Girls Play Flag Code of Conduct and Youth Protection/Safe Sport policies.

• Periodic re-screening or updated training as required by league policy.

Employment, contracting, volunteering, or game assignments may be denied, suspended, or terminated based on failure to satisfy applicable screening, training, conduct, or youth-safety requirements.

Required Qualifications

• NFL FLAG certification/training or equivalent officiating training, or willingness to complete required certification before officiating.

• Knowledge of flag football rules and regulations or the ability to successfully complete league training.

• Strong judgment and conflict-resolution skills.

• Ability to interact appropriately and professionally with children and teenagers.

• Ability to understand and consistently maintain appropriate adult-to-youth boundaries.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to make quick and accurate decisions under pressure.

• Professional, dependable, and impartial demeanor.

• Ability to accept coaching, feedback, and ongoing performance evaluation.

• Availability to work evenings and weekends as required.

• Ability to attend required in-season meetings or review meeting recordings each week.

• Ability to perform the physical requirements of officiating, including considerable walking, jogging, and running throughout games.

• Prior flag football officiating experience is preferred but not required.

• CPR/AED and First Aid certification is strongly preferred.

Our Commitment to Athlete Safety

Every Girls Play Flag athlete deserves to compete in an environment where she feels safe, respected, supported, and protected.

All referees, coaches, employees, contractors, and volunteers share responsibility for maintaining that environment. Anyone who observes concerning conduct is expected to report it through the league's designated reporting process. Retaliation against an individual who makes a good-faith safety report is prohibited.

By accepting a position with Girls Play Flag, referees agree that access to our athletes is a privilege—not an entitlement—and that protecting players takes priority over games, schedules, competitive outcomes, or personal relationships.

If you are passionate about youth sports, committed to fair competition, and prepared to uphold high standards of professionalism and athlete safety, we encourage you to apply to become a Girls Play Flag Referee.