(1) UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION (USSF) NEW SOCCER REFEREE COURSES: To assist folks in making their decision prior to registering for the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) New Soccer Referee Course: The highly recommended age for beginning teen referees is 14 years of age. The age of 14 has proven that these teens have the maturity and critical thinking skills for comprehending the technical course for becoming a referee and having the necessary people, and social skills for working with other referees, coaches, and parents.
(1) USSF New Referee Course: USSF Grade 9: The 10-hour course, which is usually a Friday evening and an all- day-class on Saturday or 2 other dates (i.e. 2 Saturdays or a Saturday and Sunday ), is the point of entry class for individuals. Highly recommended minimum age for teens to work for SYA Soccer Referee Program is 14. Referees shall meet the minimum age requirements by the opening day of each respective soccer season to be eligible for game assignments for the local soccer club for which they are working.
(a) The USSF Grade 9 Course is a 10-hour entry-level course. Attendees will range in age from 14 to 99. The course is very technical, fast-moving format, and requires pre-course reading for testing throughout the course. Substantial reading and studying to learn and comprehend the Laws of the Game in order to successfully pass this 2-day course. Final written examination is given at the conclusion of the course. Students shall obtain a minimum 75% proficiency score to successfully pass the course and be awarded the USSF New Referee Certification and Badge as a Grade 9 Recreational Soccer Referee. This certification is for working only for recreational soccer games through U14 age groups. A 2008 certification is valid for Calendar Year 2008. For individuals who take a summer course in August 2008, this will be for a 2009 certification which is valid for Fall 2008, Spring 2009, and Fall 2009.
NOTE: The YEAR of the USSF certification is on your badge and expires on December 31st of that year. (i.e. 2008 badges expire on December 31st, 2008). To be eligible for working in 2009, referees must take and successfully pass the 2009 USSF Recertification Course to be awarded the 2009 USSF badge and certification.
USSF Grade 9 (not a school grade) is intended to provide all referee candidates with a basic knowledge of all 17 Laws of the Game, as well as some additional referee related material, so as to develop a better understanding of the Game and thereby ensuring the correct application on the field of play.
Since the instruction time mandated by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) is 11 hours, there is very little time to explore all the Laws of the Game in depth. Referee candidates are, therefore, expected to undertake on your own, the preparatory readings prior to the course. At the end of the course, referee candidates must take and pass a multiple-choice examination on all the material covered, and to demonstrate a degree of knowledge and comprehension of the application of the Laws of the Game, in order to be certified. (NOTE: Registered participants shall attend all sessions of the course in their entirety in order to both complete the course and take the final written examination).
(2) PROCEDURES FOR NEW, RECERTIFICATION, OR UPGRADE USSF COURSES THAT ARE SPONSORED AT ANOTHER SOCCER CLUB’S COURSE: Individuals are required to provide notification regarding your 2008 and 2009 status to Shirley Brice, SYA Soccer Referee Coordinator, 13907 Whetstone Manor Court, Clifton, VA 20124. This information needs to be provided both upon registering for the course, and also immediately after completing the course so that your information can be entered and updated in the SYA Soccer Referee Database for working for SYA Soccer Referee Program.
