Become a USSF Referee

The following questions should help you in your quest to become a certified referee for the United States Soccer Federation. At the bottom of this page you can submit a form that will get your name on a list of individuals to be contacted when there is a training clinic coming to your area.

What is the United States Soccer Federation (USSF)?

The USSF is the certifying organization for sanctioned club matches in the United States. If you want to work tournaments, local leagues (such as IPSL), or club matches, you will need to be USSF certified.

What if I want to referee high school or college games?

For information regarding high school and college certification, please visit the High School, or College pages under the "Become A..." link at the top of the page. These pages will direct you through the process of becoming sanctioned to work those games. It is recommended that officials become certified USSF referees to gain experience before certifying to referee high school or college soccer, and in some cases such experience is required.

How can I become a soccer referee?

By attending an entry-level referee course.

What are the requirements to take the course?

You should be physically fit, emotionally mature, at least 12 years of age, and have the time available to referee games.

Where do I sign up for the course?

Course dates, times, and instructions are posted on the "Calendar" link on the top navigation bar. Additional information is available from Director of Instruction. All courses require pre-registration before attending.

What type of courses are offered?

Two types of USSF entry-level courses are offered locally by the Clubs and associations. They are the "Referee Grade 8" and "Recreational Referee Grade 9" courses. Both courses are explained below.

What is the "Referee Grade 8" course?

A 16-hour course, over two days (please note that only the first day of the clinic is shown on the event calendar). You must attend the full class time, and pass a 100-question multiple choice exam (75% correct is needed to pass). The cost of the course is $50.

What is the "Recreational Referee Grade 9" course?

An 8-hour, single-day course. You must attend the classes, and pass a 50-question multiple choice exam (75% correct is needed to pass). The cost of the course is $45.

What games can I referee once I've completed a course?

For Grade 8: Referee or Assistant Referee for all youth games, including recreational and travel (or select) games. Referee or Assistant Referee on competitive Youth games, depending on the age and experience of the referee. Most will start out working the younger age groups and as you gain experience you will do older age groups.

For Grade 9: Referee or Assistant Referee on recreational youth games for players 14 years old and younger only.

How do I sign up for an entry level class?

Visit the Calendar link at the top of the site for a listing of future classes!

After I pass the course, how do I get games to referee?

A "referee assignor" will schedule your games. You'll be given a list of the local assignors during the referee course. It is your responsibility to contact the assignor, let them know you completed the course, and are ready to referee games. The most important thing the assignor needs to know is your availability to do games and reliable way to contact you. Click here for more details.

How do I continue to referee games after the first year?

All referees must re-certify and register each year by attending a single 4-hour re-certification class. The referee certification is valid for each calendar year, however, re-certifications start as early as July for the following year. If the re-certification is completed during July through December, your certification is valid for the remainder of that year and for the entire next calendar year. If you re-certify in January through March, then your certification is valid through December of that year. There are various re-certification classes conducted throughout the state, and can be checked on the Schedule link at the top of the page.

I WANT TO BECOME A REFEREE!

To recieve information when there is a beginning referee clinic in your area, please fill out the following form and press "Submit" at the bottom.