The NFL, a male-centered industry has decided to change the game and hire the first-full time female official in NFL history, Sarah Thomas.
The 41- year-old has worked NFL preseason games and training camps as well as being the first woman to officiate in major college football.
The Mississippi native played basketball for the University
of Mobile and wanted to stay involved in sports after graduation.
Dean Blandino, a member of the NFL’s officiating department, is aiming for more females to become NFL officials and hopefully gaining another female in a few years.
Thomas worked her way up in officiating, starting at the high school level in 1999. Her talent for the sport got her noticed by Gerald Austin, a coordinator of football officials for Conference USA (a college athletic conference).
“It’s another step in helping women gain equality and that’s great,” Simpson said.
From there she was hired in 2007 and moved quickly up the ranks to a spot in 2011 as the first female referee to officiate at a big ten stadium.
Thomas also impressed the National Football League and was selected to be trained by the NFL’s officiating development program.
Shortly after she was chosen to become one of the newly hired officials in the NFL. The pioneer in female officiating has received a lot of positive feed- back on her new job.
“I think this will be good for women on a national sport level and will possibly make more fe- males want to watch the game,” Christine Ferraro, sophomore softball player, said.
Even though this is ground- breaking for female sports enthusiasts, Thomas will still face some hardships.
The NFL announced that Sarah Thomas will be the first full- time female referee.
“I think a woman with thick skin is needed for a job like this. Players and coaches will get heated so you need to be able to keep your calm,” Joe Simpson, sophomore lacrosse player, said.
This new endeavor for Thomas can also become a huge success for the NFL.
“I think there will be more female attention on the game now,” Sarah Beckner, sophomore softball player, said. “The NFL will not only gain more viewers but possibly more female cen- tered advertisements as well.”
It cannot be denied that this is a great success for women and Thomas has shown that she can handle the big league now.
Dean Blandino, a member of the NFL’s officiating department, is aiming for more females to become NFL officials and hope- fully gaining another female in a few years.
“It’s another step in helping women gain equality and that’s great,” Simpson said.
