Friday Night Lights (FNL) is a non-profit organization that was founded in California in 2006 with over 20,000 current participants and is the largest youth flag football league in the United States.
The vision was to bring a high quality FUN youth flag football league to Oklahoma. Previously kids have had very limited, if any, opportunities to participate in the most exciting sport in America....Flag Football.
The Friday Night Lights format is a 6 vs 6 passing league with very little contact and is a natural precursor to 7 on 7 skills camps.
Friday Night Lights is for boys or girls of all different skill levels who are in grades K-8. The leagues consist of K, Freshman (1st - 2nd), Sophomore (3rd - 4th), Junior (5th - 6th) and Senior (7th - 8th) leagues. Leagues are based off school grades and not age, this allows classmates to be on the same teams.
Friday Night Lights looks very outgoing men and women 15+ in age that like to help teach children the basics of football in a safe and fun atmosphere. Referees must be able to pass a background check and be able to stand and run for 4+ hours at a time.
Past experience in refereeing or football is not required but preferred, however we do provide training in a classroom atmosphere and along with on-site training.
Basic referee equipment is provided by Friday Night Lights, but we do require referees to dress accordingly by wearing black shorts or pants and athletic shoes or rubber cleats. Hats and under shirts can be worn but most be plain and black or white in color.
Additionally all potential referees will be responsible to either participate in a classroom or online training course or shadow a referee to help them learn and understand the FNL rules. Referees will also need to take and pass the 'Referee Assessment' before they can referee.
Friday Night Lights looks for mature outgoing individuals that are patient and willing to help kids learn the basics of football. To meet this goal, FNL requires referees to be 15+ in age to apply.
Friday Night Lights provides the basic equipment such as penalty flags, line of scrimmage markers and footballs. FNL also provides referees with one referee jersey (there is a one time $25 deposit that is deducted from the referee's first payment - but returned once the jersey is returned at the end of the season).
Referees are required to purchase their own whistle, a down counter and to dress accordingly by wearing athletic shoes or rubber cleats and black pants or shorts. Referees may also wear a hat or under shirt as long as it is plain (no offensive logo or wording) and is black or white in color.
Referees MUST have reliable transportation, a cellular phone and plan that allows to send/receive text messages and access to email.
We stress 8 important expectations to be a successful FNL referee.
Be on time
Be at the fields 30 minutes before the first assigned game. This allows our referees to get checked in, gather their equipment and be at their assigned field before the game is scheduled to start.
If a referee is scheduled and cannot referee their assigned night - referees need to find a replacement and notify FNL ASAP.
Cancellations with no replacement under 48 hrs may fall under as a "No show" and related actions may apply.
Hustle/Run with the play
It's important to call the game correctly - to do this referees need to move with the play so they can call the correct yardage and/or penalty if one happens.
This means following the play as it develops and being in reasonable distance to the ball and the action to correctly officiate the game.
Be loud and confident
Our referees are responsible for announcing important information on the field such as: penalties, game clock, play clock, down, rush line and other information.
This means they must be able to loudly communicate information as required.
Referees need to be able to take ownership of the field and properly and professionally control the game in a confident manner.
Know and enforce the rules fairly
Referees are responsible for knowing and enforcing the rules fairly.
This means referees should study and be familiar with FNL rules and be able to clarify and enforce them.
Work together as a team
Referees need to be able to work together and communicate to enforce the rules to keep the game organized and moving along.
Be professional
Referees are the first image of FNL. This means it is important to keep a calm and positive attitude and showing no bias to any player, coach or team while calling a fair and respectful game.
It also means that referees need to dress accordingly and have their attention on the game so that they can work effectively.
Correct & Legible Scores
Referees are responsible for submitting accurate and legible scores after each game is completed. These scores are used for playoff seeding so it is important to have correct scores submitted.
Referees are required to verify and obtain coaches' signatures after each game.
Referee Equipment
FNL will provide most equipment for referees to utilize - that equipment shall be returned in good working condition each night. However, some equipment will need to be purchased by the referee to utilize and is the responsibility of that referee to have that equipment readily available for each game (these are a whistle and down counter).
First thing is to make sure you apply. You can apply online by visiting the Join Our Team and completing an application.
Once you have completed an application you will need to complete and submit a background check at our league website at OklahomaFNL.com. Click on the banner that reads "Register: Oklahoma FNL Background Screening".
The last step is to visit and set up your ArbiterPay account to receive electronic payments from our 3rd party HR vendor. You can find instructions on our ArbiterPay page.
You may also contact the referee coordinator or the league commissioner.
Referee Coordinator
405-757-1893
Edmond League Commissioner
405-757-1893
OKC League Commissioner
405-757-1893
Choctaw League Commissioner
580-541-1509
Moore League Commissioner
405-274-1887
Training is scheduled 1-2 weeks before the season starts each season (Fall and Spring). Time, date and location depends on when a meeting room is available for Friday Night Lights to utilize. Once a room has been booked the head referee will communicate the date, time and location of training.
Training is REQUIRED for all new referees that have never been with Friday Night Lights. Returning referees are not required but may come as a refresher.
In training - the head referee will describe in detail the Rules & Regulations, provide examples and detail what is expected from each referee.
If in-person training has already passed - then the potential referee will need to attend an evening to shadow a referee to go over the rules.
Additionally all potential referees will be responsible to take the 'Referee Assessment' and have a passing score of 85% before they can referee. This assessment can be retaken if the passing score is not obtained.
Referee success and compensation is based on the wiliness to learn, hustle, be loud, represent FNL appropriately and give 100% when they are on the field. This is why Friday Night Lights offers a very competitive pay for referees starting at $20 up to $25 per game with potential to make more with bonuses, referrals and other incentives.
All referees are considered contractors and are paid through our Payroll vendor called ArbiterPay. Each referee must set up and complete a ArbiterPay profile before being paid by Friday Night Lights.
Friday Night Lights utilizes ArbiterPay as a vendor to issue all payments. Once referees set up their ArbiterPay profile, they will be allowed to choose how they wish to receive payment, either by: a mailed check, a debit card or direct deposit. Instructions to how to set up your RefPay account will be provided by your Head Referee - it is important to follow the instructions and provide the needed information to FNL in a timely manner to make sure your account gets linked to the correct league.
Additional FAQs concentrated on ArbiterPay and set up instructions can be found on the RefPay FAQs page and the RefPay Setup page. Please review in detail as they answer most commonly asked questions.
Friday Night Lights issues payments bi-weekly (after every two completed weeks of game play). This means that if no games are played a week due to a league bye - then that week does not count towards the pay cycle.
Once payment has been issued by FNL it can take 1-3 business days for the payment to post to the referee's account. If a referee opted for a mailed check or direct deposit - we encourage referees to sign into their ArbiterPay account to track it's progress.
If referees are having issues - we ask referees to first contact ArbiterPay to open a ticket and if instructed to contact FNL then do so at that time.
Friday Night Lights inputs payments the Saturday or Sunday after the last Friday in a payment cycle. This way the following Monday, AribterPay can start processing payments. Please allow 1-3 business days for final payments to post. Payments should be posted no later than the following Wednesday. Once payments are posted referees can log into their account and request funds to be mailed by check, deposited on to a debit card or transferred to their bank account. Depending on what payment method the referee chooses it may result in additional time until payment is received.
Once payment is posted to your account you can then log into ArbiterPay and can withdraw the funds by check, debit card or bank transfer. Just click on withdraw/transfer and then complete how you want your payment to be processed. Depending on what you choose may result in additional time until payment is finally received.
If you are having any problems with AribterPay then you need to contact them first at 800-311-4060 or support@arbitersports.com. If there are any issues which they need FNL's assistance, then they will inform you to contact FNL concerning the issue. But please call ArbiterPay first because most issues can be resolved through them.
Friday Night Lights' has multiple locations which include the Edmond, Oklahoma City, Choctaw and Moore areas. Due to field renovations - some locations have been temporarily moved to nearby fields. Please call or email for exact address locations.
We require all referees to be at the fields 30 minutes before their first game. This allows referees to check to make sure they have all the equipment and accessories they may need along with allowing them to get to the fields and discuss any matters with their assigned partner. Depending on teams, field availability and location - determines the game times. Games are played on Wednesday and/or Friday evenings no sooner than 5:00 PM (unless inclement weather - then game dates and times may change).
If games are rained out, Friday Night Lights will communicate with the referees and all staff by no later than Friday 3:30 PM. If games are needing to be made-up they may be rescheduled on another night during the week if a Wednesday or Friday evening is not available.
FNL is understanding and tries to be as flexible with our referees as we can concerning their schedule. If you know you cannot work a certain Friday - please inform FNL as far in advance as you can - this will allow FNL to make any adjustments needed. However, do understand that we have limited staff, so it may not be guaranteed that you will be given off.
If you are already scheduled to work, but then cannot - then you will need to follow the following steps:
Contact your supervisor informing them you are unable to work and looking for a replacement
Reach out to other referees who are not scheduled and find a replacement to take your shift.
Then once you find a replacement you will then contact your supervisor along with carbon copying the new referee to notify all parties of the change.
If you fail to find a replacement and/or do not show up for your scheduled shift - you will be automatically terminated - no exceptions!