Billboards aren't up and no ads have been posted, but football officials are being recruited in southeastern Tennessee and the first meeting is Monday.

"I wasn't gifted enough to play, but I found a niche where I can be in the game," Warren Diegel said.

Diegel is one of more than 100 football officials in his association, but he said there is a great need for new ones because of both attrition and an increase in demand.

"We have had 11 varsity (high school) crews and we're anticipating adding at least one or two more to meet our needs," said Diegel, one of those in charge of training new recruits.

The Southeast Tennessee Football Officials Association provides service to 28 schools in Grundy, Hamilton, Marion and Sequatchie counties plus Cleveland High, and this year Bledsoe County petitioned to use the association since most of its games are against Chattanooga-area teams. Chattanooga Christian, East Hamilton and Signal Mountain begin their first year of varsity competition.

The association also covers junior varsity and freshman games, middle school games and many of the youth football leagues.

Youth leagues in Boynton, Dade County, Dayton, East Ridge, East Hamilton, Harrison, Hixson, Lookout Valley, Sequatchie County and Soddy-Daisy will fill the association's Saturday calendars. Junior varsity and freshman games are normally on Mondays, and middle school games are on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"The middle school league for Sequatchie Valley runs all the way from Dayton to South Pittsburg, and one of our big problems is having guys who live over that way," Diegel said.

The group swelled a year ago, gaining 25 officials more than it had in 2007, but Diegel and other veterans would like to see the number reach 130 or 135.

"We have a rather large class that came in last year, but some of those inevitably won't come back, and we have had some move out of the area," he said.

Each Friday night group includes six officials with an electric clock operator joining the five on the field.

First-year officials would not be thrown right into the varsity fire.

Scott Dieter is one of those who stayed and moved up to a varsity crew two years ago.

"It has been great," he said. "After being a rookie and going through it, the second year I was on a reserve crew. But by then I had a total difference in understanding and what to anticipate. It was a big learning curve of simple things like taking a change of clothes or even an extra pair of socks."

Even those who come back after their first year usually are still in training.

"It usually takes four or five years to move up to a varsity crew," Diegel said.

The money isn't great, but it isn't poor. On-field varsity officials receive $85 and the clock operator gets $60. Middle school and freshman games bring $55. Youth football games are worth $35, and officials usually work three or four of those per day.

Most of the current officials, though, say they don't work games for the money.

"I truly just love the game of football," Diegel said. "I certainly don't do it for the money. It's great getting out there on a Friday night. Being in the association is part of the fun, because we have a good group of guys and the people who run (the association) make it a lot of fun."

It isn't all fun and games, though.

Dieter began three-mile runs last week to start making certain he is in shape. And there is homework for getting in mental shape.

For the newbies, that begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the downtown YMCA. Those who show up also will have classes the next two Mondays.

"We get started early with the new guys working on mechanics and handing out rule books and getting registered with the state," Diegel said. "A new official in any sport has to pass an open-book qualifying exam before he (or she) is allowed to officiate any TSSAA event, including middle schools."

Dieter was amazed but not quite overwhelmed.

"Once you become an official and get that rule book you think, 'Holy cow,'" he said. "I didn't realize how many rules there are, and then you're out there and having to make the split-second decision."

Dieter had a head start on some because he had officiated intramural events in college. He gave the association a look after hearing about a need for more officials.

"I showed up at a meeting and I was hooked," he said. "I know it takes a while and a lot of work, but I have now set my goal for the college level. I didn't start until my late 30s and I'm 43 now, but that's OK."

If you are interested

n Classes: 5:30 p.m. the next three Mondays, downtown YMCA

n Contact: Warren Diegel, 503-0767

n Fees: TSSAA registration $60, association dues $45 ($10 for first-year officials)

n Equipment costs: About $200 (necessities include uniform, shoes, cap, penalty flag and bean bag)