NOC 53202: Sports officials and referees
What sports officials and referees do
Sports officials and referees observe and enforce rules and regulations governing sporting events, athletic games and sports competitions. They are employed by national, provincial and local sporting commissions, organizations and leagues.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Officiate at sporting events or athletic competitions to maintain standards of play and to ensure that game rules and safety regulations are observed
- Record lapsed time and keep scores during events or competitions
- Judge the performance of competitors, award points, impose penalties for infractions and determine results
- Compile scores and other athletic records
- Establish and maintain rapport with coaches, players and organizing committees
- Verify credentials of athletes or animals engaged in sports or related special events, and respond to written protests.
Job titles under NOC 53202
42 job titles are classified here, including athletics judge, clerk of the course - racetrack, figure skating judge.
- athletics judge
- clerk of scales - racetrack
- clerk of the course - harness racing
- clerk of the course - horseback racing
- clerk of the course - racetrack
- commission steward - horse racing
- competitive sports judge
- curling judge
- figure skating evaluator
- figure skating judge
- goal judge
- harness racing starter
- horse identifier
- horse plating inspector - racetrack
- horse race timer
- horse racing starter
- horseshoe inspector
- judge, sport competitions
- paddock blacksmith - racetrack
- paddock horseshoer - racetrack
- paddock judge - racetrack
- paddock plater - racetrack
- patrol judge - racetrack
- placing judge - racetrack
Employment requirements
- Sports officials require certification by and registration with a sport governing body or commission.
- Sports referees require completion of an officiating program offered by a sport governing body.
Sports officials and referees wages in Canada
Low, median and high hourly wages from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data. Annual figures assume full-time work (1,950 hours a year).
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $15.00/hr | $19.00/hr | $30.00/hr |
Toronto ON | $17.60/hr | $18.75/hr | $22.00/hr |
Edmonton AB | $18.53/hr | $23.84/hr | $50.89/hr |
Winnipeg MB | $16.25/hr | $22.50/hr | $25.00/hr |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $16.10/hr | $20.00/hr | $65.93/hr |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Quebec | $16.10/hr | $20.00/hr | $65.93/hr |
Ontario | $17.60/hr | $18.00/hr | $30.00/hr |
Manitoba | $16.00/hr | $22.50/hr | $27.00/hr |
Saskatchewan | $15.35/hr | $20.00/hr | $25.00/hr |
Alberta | $15.00/hr | $24.01/hr | $50.94/hr |
British Columbia | $17.85/hr | $26.71/hr | $46.17/hr |
Using NOC 53202 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 42 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Coaches (NOC 53201)
- Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport and fitness (NOC 54100)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for sports officials and referees?
Sports officials and referees are NOC 2021 unit group 53202. Example job titles in this group include athletics judge, clerk of the course - racetrack, figure skating judge, goal judge.
What TEER is NOC 53202?
NOC 53202 is TEER 3 (College or apprenticeship (under 2 years)). Usually requires a college program or apprenticeship of less than 2 years, or more than six months of on-the-job training. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do sports officials and referees earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $19.00/hr, about $37,000 a year full-time, with a range of $15.00/hr to $30.00/hr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.