FFTRA YOUTH OFFICIATING ACADEMY
AGES 16–25 • NO OFFICIATING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Learn the game. Build confidence. Develop leadership. Become an official.
MORE THAN A WHISTLE.
The FFTRA Youth Officiating Academy is about more than learning how to make a call. We're giving young adults ages 16–25 an opportunity to develop confidence, leadership, communication skills and accountability — while creating a pathway into sports officiating.
You don't need experience. You just need the willingness to learn.
BUILT FOR THE FIELD. BUILT FOR LIFE.
The FFTRA Youth Officiating Academy combines structured instruction, mentorship and hands-on field experience to prepare young officials for the game — while developing skills that carry far beyond it.
RULES & GAME KNOWLEDGE
Learn flag football rules, philosophies, penalties and how to recognize game situations.
OFFICIATING MECHANICS
Learn positioning, signals, coverage responsibilities and how an officiating crew works together.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
Build the communication skills and confidence to handle coaches, players and challenging situations professionally.
ON-FIELD TRAINING
Put your training into practice through supervised field sessions and real-game environments.
FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE FIELD
A clear pathway from learning the fundamentals to stepping onto the field as a confident, prepared official.
01
LEARN
Build the foundation.
Learn flag football rules, philosophies, penalties and game responsibilities.
02
TRAIN
Develop your mechanics.
Learn positioning, signals, coverage responsibilities and crew communication.
03
PRACTICE
Turn knowledge into action.
Build confidence through drills, simulations and supervised field sessions.
04
OFFICIATE
Step onto the field.
Apply your training in real games with experienced officials providing guidance and support.
05
GROW
Keep moving forward.
Receive mentorship, feedback and opportunities to advance as an official.
Who is the academy for?
You don't have to be an official to become one.
The FFTRA Youth Officiating Academy is built for ages 16–25 with no previous officiating experience required. It is ideal for students, current or former athletes, and young adults seeking leadership, personal growth, and earning opportunities.
You bring the willingness. We'll teach you how to officiate.
Complete the academy. Earn your stripes.
Graduation isn’t the end of your training. It’s the beginning of your officiating journey.
Every successful graduate earns their official FFTRA referee uniform and receives full placement into the active FFTRA officials pool. From there, you become eligible for paid officiating assignments matched to your skill level, all backed by continuous on-field mentorship, game evaluations, and ongoing leadership development.
READY TO EARN YOUR STRIPES?
Take the first step toward becoming an FFTRA official. Tell us you're interested and we'll send you information about upcoming Academy sessions, training dates and how to get started.
