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Is officiating experience necessary to join the MVFOA?
Absolutely not! Although having prior officiating experience with football or other sports is a plus, we welcome any individual that feels that he/she would enjoy the many rewards associated with officiating high school football and offer an ongoing training program geared towards preparing every one of our officials for any situation that may arise on the football field. As with any association, we strive for a mix of experience and knowledge levels that ensures that every one in the association is constantly learning and moving upwards through the ranks. As an inexperienced official, you will study and train alongside our most experienced officials, both in a classroom environment as well as on the field.

Our association is small compared to most other associations, allowing our officials a far greater amount of individual attention and as a result, many of our new officials gain the necessary experience and competency necessary to begin their movement upwards through the ranks after only one season! Officials who join the MVFOA with prior officiating experience will be immediately afforded an opportunity to demonstrate their experience and competence level and will be assigned to higher-level games based on an assessment of their capabilities.

How much do officials get paid for their services?
Sports officials are independent contractors who work through the organization that has a contract to provide qualified officials to the schools and leagues. Depending on the level of the game, MVFOA officials receive anywhere from $50.00 to $68.00 per contest. All officials working a game, no matter what their experience or position, receive the same compensation. Officials are typically paid at the end of each season and an IRS 1099 form is provided to any official earning greater than $600.00 in total fees. Officials are responsible for the payment of appropriate taxes on their earnings but certain expenses, such as the cost of uniforms, are deductible. Arrangements can be made to assist with or defray up front costs if necessary. Since we do get paid for officiating, we consider ourselves as professionals, and proudly carry out our responsibilities as such.
Is there any expenses that an Official incurs personally?
Each of our officials are required to pay annual dues of $75.00 that are used primarily for rule books and other study aids that each official may keep and secondarily, for our end of season banquet, an evening that allows us to celebrate our enjoyment of officiating with our spouses or significant others. Each official is also responsible for the cost of their individual uniforms and equipment, a one time expense that generally runs around $150.00 for a starter package.

How much travel to individual games is involved?
Our association is responsible for all high school games played in the Mission Valley Athletic League which is comprised of American, Mission San Jose, Irvington, Kennedy, and Washington High Schools in Fremont, Newark Memorial High School in Newark, and James Logan High School in Union City. We are also proud to be able to provide our officiating services for games played at the California School for the Deaf which is also in Fremont. For officials desiring the opportunity to gain additional game experience, the Fremont Football League, which plays their games at Robertson Park in Fremont, welcomes our officials to work any of their Saturday youth football games. As a result, travel is typically limited to the Tri-City area.

How much time will be required to become an official?
The MVFOA is certified by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) as an accredited officiating association. At the very minimum, our officials are required to complete 18 hours of training each season to retain our certification. We enable each of our officials to complete this requirement by offering training meetings during the week in August prior to the season and 1-2 other meetings during the season. We also schedule several scrimmage sessions prior to the beginning of the season, not only to help complete the training requirement, but to give our new officials the opportunity to gain some on field experience prior to taking the field in a real game.
When are games played?
Depending on the level, games are played on either Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, in the late afternoon or evening. Generally, officials with limited experience will be assigned to officiate Freshman games that are played on Thursday afternoons at either 3:30PM or 4:00PM. Since game experience is critical towards being able to move up to the next levels, ideally a new official will have the ability to adjust their schedules to be able to work these games. Junior Varsity games for the most part, are played at 5:00PM on either Friday or Saturday evenings followed by the Varsity contest at 7:30PM. As indicated earlier, valuable game experience can also be gained by officiating Fremont Football League youth games that are played all day on Saturdays.

How can I get started or get more information?

Feel free to contact either Kevin Lopez @ 510-427-3455 or Glenn King @ 925-736-7008. Each of these gentlemen can answer your questions as well as get you started towards becoming an official. If you attend a game, speak to any of the officials after the contest and they will help you to get started as well. Ideally by having the chance to watch us work, you will witness first hand why each of us enjoy the challenge of football officiating and return year after year to the MVFOA.