What is Northern Colorado Sports Officials?
What clubs and/or organizations do you provide officials for?
How old do I have to be to officiate?
When does the season begin?
What kind of training is required to become an umpire with NCSO?
How much can I get paid for officiating?
I play sports as well. Is this a problem?
It sounds like NCSO schedules games in a wide area. Do I get compensated for mileage?
Do I have to pay anything to join the NCSO?
What about uniforms and equipment?
How can I get involved in High School officiating?
Do I have to pay taxes on my earnings that I make as an official?
Am I insured through NCSO?
What is Northern Colorado Sports Officials?
NCSO is an organization founded with the belief that sports officials are a unique and integral part of athletic competition. NCSO is first and foremost an advocacy group for sports officials. NCSO also provides training, scheduling, and game officials for athletic organizations or clubs. NCSO is also an advocate for sportsmanship, ethical behavior, and education through athletics. NCSO schedules athletic officials for all levels of play, from city recreational programs to collegiate level athletics. Utilizing first time officials to some of the best and well-known officials in the country, NCSO is involved and invested in providing a place where officials of any age and any experience level can thrive, succeed, and have a great time.
What clubs and/or organizations do you provide officials for?
NCSO provides officials for baseball, football, basketball, wrestling, softball, fast-pitch, volleyball, even kick ball! We schedule all officials for the City of Fort Collins, Town of Windsor, Town of Wellington, Town of Johnstown, Fort Collins Baseball Club, Greeley-Evans Youth League, Triple Crown Sports, Colorado State University, Loveland Baseball Association, and many other independent teams and leagues. NCSO is the fastest growing officials’ organization in the state- maybe even the country.
How old do I have to be to officiate?
Umpires must be fourteen years of age by the beginning of the season they want to officiate. Fourteen and fifteen-year-old umpires will attend a separate meeting with their parent(s) so that expectations, travel requirements, etc. can be discussed. Additionally, these umpires may only work recreational and low-level competitive games for twelve year olds and younger. Any umpire sixteen years of age or older may umpire any league that their ability dictates, with the only rule being that any umpire may not officiate a game involving participants the same age or older than the umpire.
NCSO runs officials all year long. Check our website for meeting dates for each sport.
What kind of training is required to become an umpire with NCSO?
Any training that meets our high standard is acceptable. If you have umpired in an area other than Northern Colorado, you will be expected to provide the name and number of your former supervisor so that we can contact them. However, ALL umpires are required to attend annual training sessions, whether through the high school umpires group, their collegiate conference, or the local NCSO training session. Go to the important dates link on the home page for training days and times. Superior training is the backbone of the NCSO, and why northern Colorado umpires are so highly regarded.
How much can I get paid for officiating?
Game fees run from 15.00-110.00 per game, depending on age and level of play. Your availability determines how many games you can get. Some umpires made over $25,000.00 last year.
I play sports as well. Is this a problem?
No. NCSO will schedule around your availability. Obviously, you will not be allowed to officiate in your own league.
It sounds like NCSO schedules games in a wide area. Do I get compensated for mileage?
No. Travel costs may be tax deductible (talk to your tax advisor), but you will not be reimbursed for travel and/or mileage. (For high school contast you will be paid milage per CHSAA guidlines)
Do I have to pay anything to join the NCSO?
Some programs require dues in order to officiate. Due to the many organizations that we contract with, this can vary. In general, anyone working in a sport which NCSO is the sole contractor for will require a dues payment. The dues table below outlines these dues.
Officials who are either scheduled and/or compensated as part of CHSAA or middle school contests do not have to pay any dues for being scheduled or compensated for those contests.
Full Membership 65.00- Applies to all officials who work summer baseball leagues for NCSO. Also covers official for all games and all sports and seasons for a full year
Ancillary Membership 25.00- Applies to all other officials working solely tournaments or other, smaller seasons and sports.
The full membership price is significantly higher due to the volume of games, the administration involved, the cost of payroll services, and the amount and detail of training that goes into the summer baseball season. For multiple-sport officials, it is actually less than paying each sport, and for summer baseball umpires, the number of games and levels of compensation are significantly greater than other sports. The dues are easily justified by the return.
What about uniforms and equipment?
The NCSO is a professional organization, and requires all contracted officials to provide their own equipment and uniform. Each sport is unique in the uniforms and equipment required to work as a contracted official for NCSO. In general, each sport (regardless of the level of play) requires officials to dress in a manner commensurate with the collegiate standard of official attire.
This can be expensive, but results in greater professionalism, respect, and compensation from all of our contracted organizations. Uniform and equipment requirements will be presented at the pre-season meetings for each sport.
How can I get involved in High School officiating?
NCSO leadership is heavily invested in high school sports, and have held leadership positions on the state boards for many of them. Simply email us and we will be happy to put you in touch with the area director for the sport you are interested in, which may very well be one of us!
Do I have to pay taxes on my earnings that I make as an official?
Consult your tax advisor for specific details. The State of Colorado recognizes all amateur sports officials as independent contractors. As such, you should receive a 1099 Miscellaneous income form at the end of each year from the organizations that have compensated you. NCSO furnishes a 1099 form online for all games that we have compensated you for. Depending on your tax status and the amount of income you earned, there may be tax liability associated with it.
No. As independent contractors, all umpires will be required to sign a waiver indicating that they are currently covered by a medical policy, or, if not, that they understand any injury incurred while umpiring or traveling to or from umpiring is their own responsibility. Liability insurance may be purchased through any one of a number of agencies. National Sports officials’ groups, such as the National Federation of High Schools or the National Association of Sports Officials, offer liability coverage with many other membership benefits for joining their organization. Officials under eighteen years of age will be required to have a parent sign the form as well.