Jenifer Calhoun is hooked.
The 36 year-old from Little River Academy in Central Texas has been officiating high school football for the last three years, and she loves it.
"It's just exhilarating," says Calhoun. "It's Friday Night Lights. Let's be real, they don't make movies about football stadiums in Maine."
On Saturday, July 17, Calhoun will be part of an all-female officiating crew for the Texas Sixman Coach’s Association All Star Game in Wichita Falls.
It's believed to be the first ever all-female crew for a varsity football game in the United States.
"This is a history-making event," says Michael Fitch, executive director of the Texas Association of Sports Officials. "For a varsity game with at least a five person crew, this is a first."
Fitch says as the officiating shortage has expanded over the last few years, thankfully their organization has seen an increase in female members.
"We hope there's a lot of young ladies out there...that will be inspired by this," he says.
In addition to Calhoun, the crew will be made up of Crystal Cooksey from the Dallas Football Officials Association, Amy Smith from the Fort Worth FOA, and Rachel Stepien and Valerie McIntosh from the Austin FOA,
Cooksey is making history for the second time this year. In January, she became the first female official to be assigned a Texas state championship, working the 1A Division II State Championship in San Angelo. Cooksey has worked more than 50 varsity games.
Calhoun admits, it's not an easy job. It can be thankless. But she still loves it.
"We don't get to go out there to win a trophy," she says. "We love the game and we want to keep it as fair as possible.
"It's well worth it in the end...the payoff is the kids' smile."
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