Want to become a ref

[JoseP]

I live in MD and am interested in becoming a ref. I have a couple of questions.

According to the MSYSA site, I see that I've missed out on my chance to become certified for this season. I was a referee a long time ago. I was certified. Does that stay active or do I need to start the process all over? Is it possible to take the test without the classes?

I live close enough to VA. What is the process for being certified for high school games? Is it different?

Are there any leagues you may be aware of that I would not need to be certified?

Thanks for your help.

[USSF REF]

I live in MD and am interested in becoming a ref. I have a couple of questions.

According to the MSYSA site, I see that I've missed out on my chance to become certified for this season. I was a referee a long time ago. I was certified. Does that stay active or do I need to start the process all over? Is it possible to take the test without the classes?

I live close enough to VA. What is the process for being certified for high school games? Is it different?

Are there any leagues you may be aware of that I would not need to be certified?

Thanks for your help.


Well you're only allowed to become a ref if you can prove that you're more blind and deaf than you were when you quit.

All joking aside. If you can't find any new referee courses where you live, you can always take them out of state and transfer the course credit to your local unit. Contact your local unit to see how that can be accomplished.

You're not gonna be able to just come right back without the classes. The laws have changed, interpertations have changed, and besides you're totally out of the system right now so in order to get back in you need to follow the rules of the USSF.

High School is an entirely different registration process - I would suggest finding a HS ref and seeing what you need to do to get set up there.

I would not recommed refereeing in an uncertified league. You have no liability insurance.

[mtureck]

If you're willing to travel to Northern Virginia, there are a bunch of new ref courses. Check out http://vadcsoccerref.com/ and go to clinic listing.

[ref2coach]

I would not recommend refereeing in an uncertified league. You have no liability insurance.

Steve I agree that you should not work without Liability Insurance. However if you join NASO (National Association of Sports Officials) you have a 3 Million Liability coverage in ANY game you "act" as an official, sanctioned or not.

[USSF REF]

Steve I agree that you should not work without Liability Insurance. However if you join NASO (National Association of Sports Officials) you have a 3 Million Liability coverage in ANY game you "act" as an official, sanctioned or not.

I was not aware of this organization. In that case - I'm sure you could find some renegade leagues and you would be protected. Liability protection is the most important thing.

Just becareful when working 'renegade' games, they don't always use the laws of the game. And if you want to referee in the USSF and they find out that you're taking renegade league games over USSF ones, you could be brought up on ethics charges (they don't count HS or NCAA in that category though - so that wouldn't be a problem.)

[refmike]

Just becareful when working 'renegade' games, they don't always use the laws of the game. And if you want to referee in the USSF and they find out that you're taking renegade league games over USSF ones, you could be brought up on ethics charges (they don't count HS or NCAA in that category though - so that wouldn't be a problem.)
This threat has been around for many years. Does anyone know of a referee who actually lost his certification for doing this?

[ref2coach]

I was not aware of this organization. In that case - I'm sure you could find some renegade leagues and you would be protected. Liability protection is the most important thing.


http://www.naso.org/

Above is the link. You also get 12 Issues of Referee Magazine with a extra "members only" section of ~20 pages of content in your magazine.

I have been a member for 4 or 5 years. best ~$90 I spend each year.

[USSF REF]

This threat has been around for many years. Does anyone know of a referee who actually lost his certification for doing this?

No. But I don't know any refs who have done this either. I am pretty sure that its stated in the RAH.

[Claymore]

This threat has been around for many years. Does anyone know of a referee who actually lost his certification for doing this?

Don't know about losing certification, but I've heard of guys being black-listed from top assignments. Maryland can be particularly tough in this regard, and with good reason - we barely have enough refs to cover the games as it is, so taking non-affiliated games is a big no-no.

[Gary V]

And if you want to referee in the USSF and they find out that you're taking renegade league games over USSF ones, you could be brought up on ethics charges (they don't count HS or NCAA in that category though - so that wouldn't be a problem.)

This threat has been around for many years. Does anyone know of a referee who actually lost his certification for doing this?

Don't know about losing certification, but I've heard of guys being black-listed from top assignments. Maryland can be particularly tough in this regard, and with good reason - we barely have enough refs to cover the games as it is, so taking non-affiliated games is a big no-no.

In addition to the scheduling/availability, sometimes renegade leagues are those that have been kicked out from a USSF-affiliated league. If you go and work that league, you are in effect dissenting from the USSF's decision.

I've also heard a ref who was highly placed in our state ref infrastructure say that they would be looking at refs who work for start-up leagues, who are attempting to lure away USSF-trained refs, taking advantage of USSF training programs without going through the affiliation process. If there's no incentive for the new league to affiliate, why should they?

[gosellit]

FYI,
This is from the USSF Administrative Handbook

Policy:
Referee's Responsibilities to Affiliated Teams
A person registered with the U.S. Soccer Federation as a referee has the right to participate in
referee courses and clinics conducted by the Federation and its affiliates and to be examined and
graded from time to time - all for the purpose of assisting referees in improving their officiating
skills as well as qualifying them for assignment at a higher level competition. A Federation
registered referee also has the responsibility to officiate games among youth, adult and professional
teams which are affiliated with U.S. Soccer Federation so that affiliated teams do not have a
shortage of qualified officials for their competitions. Recognizing these rights and responsibilities,
the U.S. Soccer Referee Committee has adopted the following policies:
1. The primary duty of a USSF registered referee is to officiate games among teams (youth,
adult and professional) which are affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation.
2. In order to prevent any referee from taking benefits from the National Program for Referee
Development without also assisting affiliated teams in conducting their competitions, the
State Referee Administrator has the authority to refuse registration and to refuse participation
in USSF sponsored referee development programs to a referee who has previously registered
with the Federation if the State Referee Administrator determines that the following
conditions exist:
A. The referee during the past calendar year has officiated more games for unaffiliated
soccer teams than for affiliated soccer teams. (School sponsored games are not to be
considered as either affiliated or unaffiliated games for this purpose.)
B. The referee has not officiated during the past calendar year the minimum number of
games required by the state referee committee to maintain their current grade level,
unless written clearance has been received by the referee from the SRA.
Definition of Unaffiliated or Outlaw Soccer Team and/or League
An outlaw team and/or league is a suspended team and/or league in bad standing with the United
States Soccer Federation, including its divisions and/or other affiliated organizations.
An unaffiliated team and/or league is a team and/or league that has never been affiliated with the
United States Soccer Federation or has left the Federation voluntarily (on its own terms) and was in
good standing with the federation and its state association at the time of its departure.
(Adopted 10/01/95)Policy:
Unaffiliated Games
The U.S. Soccer Referee Committee is concerned about the number of referees officiating
unaffiliated matches. While referees cannot be prohibited from working these games, the Referee
Committee requests that all state and local referee administrators strongly discourage referees
within their jurisdiction from working these games. Only in doing so will these unaffiliated leagues
be encouraged to become affiliated.
Here are some ample reasons why referees should not work these games:
1. No assessments may be accepted from games in unaffiliated leagues.
2. There is no liability insurance coverage when a referee is working in unaffiliated leagues.
3. If the referee is assaulted or should there be any other serious misconduct, there's no
assurance any disciplinary body will review and act on it.
4. The referee may not be able to fulfill state referee committee requirements to work a certain
level of affiliated games to maintain grade.
5. The referee's U.S. Soccer Federation registration may be denied should the referee refuse to
work affiliated games over unaffiliated games.
6. Referees who have worked more unaffiliated games than affiliated games may be refused
registration.
NOTE: Interscholastic and intercollegiate competitions are not considered to be affiliated or
unaffiliated for the purposes of this policy.
(10-28-88)

[ref2coach]

To me it looks like as long as you do more affiliated games than non affiliated games then they can not refuse you recertification. Item A and Item 6 listed above.

[refmike]

And the statement "2. There is no liability insurance coverage when a referee is working in unaffiliated leagues." should say no USSF supported liability insurance. Some unaffilaiated leagues have their own insurance and, as stated earlier, NASO insurance covers pretty much all games you work in a refereeing capacity.

[USSF REF]

I still won't do unafilliated games - except winter indoor (excluding college and HS).

[mw26]

I still won't do unafilliated games - except winter indoor (excluding college and HS).

what's left?

[NHRef]

Potentially LOTS. Any group of teams that gets together to "form" a league is going to want refs, they don't have to become USSF affiliated. there use to be two rather big leagues local to me that did this, had trouble getting refs, then became affiliated as they grew bigger.