The City of Umatilla Parks and Recreation Department recently provided local students with a unique opportunity to get involved in the community while gaining valuable job experience. Through their NFL Flag Football program, the city partnered with Umatilla High School to train students, ages 14 and older, to become game referees. This not only supports the city’s growing youth sports program but also gives young people a pathway to employment.
To become a referee, interested students attended training sessions after school, organized by the city’s Parks and Recreation team. The sessions included watching officiating videos, reviewing game scenarios, and learning about penalties and proper rule enforcement. At the end of the training, students took an exam, and those who passed were officially hired as Recreation Aides with the City of Umatilla.
Once hired, these students are assigned a game schedule and will referee flag football games on Saturdays through the end of the season, which wraps up around Memorial Day weekend. Becoming a Rec Aid also gives students the chance to work at other city events, such as Landing Days, the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, and Rock the Locks.
This program goes beyond refereeing—it equips students with real-world skills that will benefit them in the future. "They are employees, so they’re learning job skills, professionalism, and how to interact with the public," said Luke Romero, Recreation Manager. "It’s something they can put on their résumé, and they gain experience in teamwork and leadership."
Another advantage of the program is accessibility. Many businesses don’t hire students as young as 14, and even those that do may struggle to accommodate their school schedules. By creating this opportunity, Parks and Recreation is providing young teens with a chance to earn a paycheck while being involved in something they enjoy.
The city plans to expand this opportunity beyond flag football. This summer, they will offer soccer referee training for students, allowing Rec Aids to gain even more experience officiating games.
In addition to benefiting the students, this program brings the community together. “It’s exciting to come watch,” said Carrie Holmes, Recreation Coordinator. “This is co-ed, so everybody gets involved.”
Families are encouraged to come out and support the young referees and players as they participate in this growing community program. Whether it’s on the field or from the sidelines, Umatilla’s Parks and Recreation Department is making sure everyone has a place in the game.
