Real how to become a referee thread

[Andyrey]

For assesment purposes U17-U19 are considered as one age category, so a U17 game will satisfy the requirement.

The age limits to take the 08 and 09 entry courses are a NC rule, as is the age difference between the referees and players.

[whistleblowerusa]

Originally posted by minuscapita
Whats the pay?
How hard is it to become a national and international ref?

thanks
Games fees are not the same around the country and are quite a bit higher in some places. As well as, college fees. Big 10 is $225 plus travel plus $25 for meals. Same with some other colleges. Pro will get more on a rating scale.
To become a National or International Referee, you will need dedication, a clear understanding of the Laws and how to apply them, and a strong will.

[gkeck]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Andyrey
[B]For assesment purposes U17-U19 are considered as one age category, so a U17 game will satisfy the requirement.

In Cal South, they are VERY specific that for assessment purposes, the U19 ONLY fulfills the requirement..NO U18, NO U17. Many years ago, yes...for the past several years, NO way.

[whistleblowerusa]

Originally posted by gkeck
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Andyrey
[B]For assesment purposes U17-U19 are considered as one age category, so a U17 game will satisfy the requirement.

In Cal South, they are VERY specific that for assessment purposes, the U19 ONLY fulfills the requirement..NO U18, NO U17. Many years ago, yes...for the past several years, NO way.
I believe that this is not correct to do so but U-17 and above should count if they are competitive enough and full time games.
(go to Cal North then)

[Statesman]

They have to allow U17 games to be part of the assessment due to some referees looking to upgrade not being old enough to do U19 matches yet. The rules say you have to be only 17 to upgrade, but you have to be 21 to do U19 matches I believe.

[MPJ334]

Originally posted by Statesman
They have to allow U17 games to be part of the assessment due to some referees looking to upgrade not being old enough to do U19 matches yet. The rules say you have to be only 17 to upgrade, but you have to be 21 to do U19 matches I believe.
hmmm...interesting. i've hadn't heard this (about having to be 21 to do U19). BigSoccer is very informative . (i've only been reffing a year)

y would this be neccessary if the person can handle the players?

[Andyrey]

Like I said earlier, at least in North Carolina, the officials are supposed to be at least 2 years older than the players.

[whistleblowerusa]

Originally posted by Statesman
They have to allow U17 games to be part of the assessment due to some referees looking to upgrade not being old enough to do U19 matches yet. The rules say you have to be only 17 to upgrade, but you have to be 21 to do U19 matches I believe.
This is NOT true (although a state might beleive that they can enforce it). The minimum age for upgrade to 7 is 17. The assessement must be a U-19 or higher. No mention at all about requireing the 7 candidate to be at 19 years of age to officiate a U-19.

[Karl K]

Originally posted by jmeissen0
that other thread was people whining back and forth about who gets to complain... coaches, players, fans or refs... screw that

i have no idea

how do i go about becoming a ref... at any level

please do not go off track and start bickering about any other aspect then what i need to do to become a referee at any level

explain to me (and any other possibly interested person or persons) what the hell i need to do

thank you

-jim

Jim, I am coming late to this thread...as I did to reffing, but here's some advice.

--Go get your 8 if you haven't already.

--Know the rules...I mean REALLY know them. Not when you take the test -- just pass there. But as you progress, REALLY know them, know the language, be able to recite them, be able to state "Law 7 says...." Before every season begins, I re-read the laws of the game, and the Advice memorandums.

--Know the rules of your league where you ref. Those rules should be on the game cards, but should be on the league web sites. This includes, time for periods, substitution rules, etc.

--Dowload and reveiw all of the referree training materials at the USSF site...see

http://www.ussoccer.com/referees/default.sps?iType=220&icustompageid=126

In fact, ALL serious soccer fans should review all of this publicly available material.

--Progress in four stages. You can do this is the space of one or two years.

First stage is to center rec games or low level travel games and lining such games. Do a half dozen of those.

Then second stage, move up to the centering the highest level YOUNGEST players -- say U10 and below. Premier level, classic level stuff. At the same time, start lining premier level games at U15 and below.

Third stage, start centering high level travel games, say at u15 and below, and lining the older ages, say u19 and below.

Fourth stage, you're ready to center U19 games, and HS level.

--Since you have ambitions to progress far, keep records of all your games. There's a form you get to do this -- you will need to have this record for upgrades.

--Some things to keep in mind when you center.

*You will get yelled at. If you mind getting yelled at, don't ref. In many way, parents of young rec kids can be the worst.

* Ignore all spectators who yell at you. My rule is that that the US constitution applies outside the touch lines and outside the technical area, and anyone can say whatever they want, more or less. Inside the touch lines and the technical areas I AM THE KEEPER of LAW! No one has jurisdiction over me.

* Make your calls with authority, even if two seconds later, you know it was wrong. Keep the game moving, let the players play.

* You're there not just to apply the rules, but exercise judgment. I centered a U10 premier match the other day, and probably half the throw-ins were done incorrectly. How many bad ones did I call? Not one. Why? First, because none of them were horribly wrong, and because they're young, and they will learn how to do it correctly in the next couple of years. Better that the game flow and the kids play. At U14, however, if I see an incorrect throw in, the whistle blows. They should know how to do it by then--when, of course, it is much less frequent.

* Remember that your calls rarely effect the outcomes of games, especially at the youth level. It's the players who win and lose the game.

* At the youth level, it is all about development. Especially with the younger kids, I always take the time after every game to talk to one or two kids about what happened in the game, and let them know why things happened the way they did...when a shoulder charge is correct or not, why the offside was called or not.

Sometimes I will single out a vocal parent and, if my instincts tell me it will be helpful, and not cause confrontation, after the game I will go over and explain why I did what I did. Once, I was lining a U16 premier game, the parents side, and a player right along my touch line was going to goal with a defender grabbing and pulling. Both the center and I let it go. A parent was yelling "foul, foul, foul!!!" But we played advantage, the kid escaped, got inside the area, and let off a wicked shot that hit the crossbar.

Afterwards I went up to the parent and said, "Yes, that play was a foul, but what would you rather have? A free kick that's 30 yards away, or a very dangerous shot inside the area, where you almost scored? The kid wasn't being hurt. Sometimes it's better to let them play." Take advantage (no pun intended) of that teaching moment.

Finally, two things. First, you should know in your heart that when you go out there to ref, that the players and spectators are damn lucky to get YOU!! You know your stuff, and you know you will do a great job -- not a perfect job, but a great job.

Second, enjoy the reffing experience. As the former state director once told me, "it's the best seat in the house." I wish I had started sooner -- at my age my limit is U14 classic boys -- and I can just do one of those a day -- and lining U19 games (again, one of those per day is my limit). But if you start relatively young, and work hard, you can go far. Few may appreciate how good you are it, but if I am watching you, know that I will.

[kevbrunton]

Karl,

Great comments about the stages. I hadn't thought about them quite in those terms, but that's more or less what I did too. Since I became a referee as an adult (age 35), I had guys wanting me to become a high school referee right away.

I put that off a couple years and I think it was one of the best decisions I made regarding refereeing.

Make sure you are confident in the job you're doing at one stage before you move to the next. For some guys, one season at a stage is plenty before moving to the next. For other guys, they may stay at one stage for a year or two gaining experience and complete confidence in themselves before they're ready to move on.

The key thing I've told some referees is don't let anyone (assignors who are desparate for bodies) pressure you into taking a game you're not ready for. If you don't feel comfortable doing the game, you won't go into it with confidence and you won't be up to the challenge. You'll set yourself up to fail.

[IASocFan]

Good Advice, Karl. One additional recommendation: try to find a mentor, someone you admire, and think does the job well. Offer to line for them, and ask questions when you don't understand. Look for opportunities to be assessed.

[Greyhnd00]

Originally posted by kevbrunton
Karl,

You'll set yourself up to fail. Accept the fact that you are going to fail. I havent called a perfect game yet......Havent seen one either.
The only way you are going to learn is to continuously challenge yourslef to higher levels. You will never get to the level needed to do middles if you only work as an assistant. You will never be a good U18 select referee if you only work U12s...Dont sell yourself short. Jump in with both feet and accept that while you will initialy make mistakes they will get smaller and more inocuous.

[JulianC]

Hi guys.... from over the pond.
If any of you want any help with passing your Ref exams or with advice on what it takes to do the job, please use the information on my Referees' Training site http://www.corshamref.net from good old England.
You may find it useful.
Good luck to all of you who take up Refereeing.
Regards
JulanC

[kevbrunton]

Originally posted by Greyhnd00
Accept the fact that you are going to fail. I havent called a perfect game yet......Havent seen one either.
The only way you are going to learn is to continuously challenge yourslef to higher levels. You will never get to the level needed to do middles if you only work as an assistant. You will never be a good U18 select referee if you only work U12s...Dont sell yourself short. Jump in with both feet and accept that while you will initialy make mistakes they will get smaller and more inocuous.
Grey,

There's a difference between what you are saying and what I was saying about setting yourself up to fail. My point was to not take games that are way outside of your level of experience and expertise. If a new or young referee takes a game beyond their abilities and the game goes miserably, then they may incorrectly decide that they must not have what it takes -- and quit.

I'm not talking about making a couple mistakes as we all do. I'm talking about losing control of a game because you're aren't used to dealing with the level in which you've put yourself.

I know from experience a guy who got his referee license the year after I got mine. He started refereeing high school games that fall. He was generally considered to be a terrible referee -- quite inconsistent, not strong and confident in the calls he made. He quit refereeing after 3 years (just when I was STARTING to take high school games or U17 & above games in USSF).

If he had taken his time learning how to properly referee at U12 and then at U14 and worked out his mistakes, misperceptions, etc. at the younger age groups instead of in an environment where he was going to be crucified for his mistakes, perhaps we'd still have him as a referee and he'd be doing a good job.

[whistleblowerusa]

Originally posted by JulianC
Hi guys.... from over the pond.
If any of you want any help with passing your Ref exams or with advice on what it takes to do the job, please use the information on my Referees' Training site http://www.corshamref.net from good old England.
You may find it useful.
Good luck to all of you who take up Refereeing.
Regards
JulanC
Or better yet, try http://www.asktheref.com fro the US interpretations. Nothing against Julian but if your taking a test here in the states you had better understand what they are looking for in the US and not elsewhere.

[Greyhnd00]

Originally posted by kevbrunton

Grey,

There's a difference between what you are saying and what I was saying about setting yourself up to fail. My point was to not take games that are way outside of your level of experience and expertise. If a new or young referee takes a game beyond their abilities and the game goes miserably, then they may incorrectly decide that they must not have what it takes -- and quit.

I'm not talking about making a couple mistakes as we all do. I'm talking about losing control of a game because you're aren't used to dealing with the level in which you've put yourself.

I know from experience a guy who got his referee license the year after I got mine. He started refereeing high school games that fall. He was generally considered to be a terrible referee -- quite inconsistent, not strong and confident in the calls he made. He quit refereeing after 3 years (just when I was STARTING to take high school games or U17 & above games in USSF).

If he had taken his time learning how to properly referee at U12 and then at U14 and worked out his mistakes, misperceptions, etc. at the younger age groups instead of in an environment where he was going to be crucified for his mistakes, perhaps we'd still have him as a referee and he'd be doing a good job.
Kev
I thought I was expounding on something you said not necessarily dissagreeing at all. Although I only did 2 youth games with a total game count over 400 the first 4 years I refereed I understand that some might think it is necessary to work the lower levels for awhile.
I would suggest that instead it is better to work as an Assistant in adult competitions with as many advanced referees in the center as you can and ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
You simply do not learn how to run an adult game by doing U12s. It doesnt matter if you have 5 or 500 U12 games under you belt, Mens open or higher is a whole different animal that takes different techniques that you only learn on the job.
I see this all of the time in my current neck of the woods. Guys with 10 years of experience at the lower levels of youth think that thier longevity in the U14 and under range means that they will somehow know how to handle a U19 or higher. They dont. If you try and call a higher level game like a youth game you WILL have a bad experience.
Spend the minimal time you can at the lower lower levels until you are initimate with Law 12 (this shouldnt take 3 years if your gamecount is reasonable).........Then challenge yourself to advance as soon as possible so that you can learn the game at the higher levels. Unless you dont want to go to the higher level games, there is nothing wrong with that either.

[Karl K]

Originally posted by Greyhnd00

Kev
I thought I was expounding on something you said not necessarily dissagreeing at all. Although I only did 2 youth games with a total game count over 400 the first 4 years I refereed I understand that some might think it is necessary to work the lower levels for awhile.
I would suggest that instead it is better to work as an Assistant in adult competitions with as many advanced referees in the center as you can and ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
You simply do not learn how to run an adult game by doing U12s. It doesnt matter if you have 5 or 500 U12 games under you belt, Mens open or higher is a whole different animal that takes different techniques that you only learn on the job.
I see this all of the time in my current neck of the woods. Guys with 10 years of experience at the lower levels of youth think that thier longevity in the U14 and under range means that they will somehow know how to handle a U19 or higher. They dont. If you try and call a higher level game like a youth game you WILL have a bad experience.
Spend the minimal time you can at the lower lower levels until you are initimate with Law 12 (this shouldnt take 3 years if your gamecount is reasonable).........Then challenge yourself to advance as soon as possible so that you can learn the game at the higher levels. Unless you dont want to go to the higher level games, there is nothing wrong with that either.

I think someone with a strong knowledge of the game, and good physical conditioning, can quickly -- say, within 6 months or so or getting a badge -- assist at a high level older game, say u17 and above.

Two weeks after I got my badge, I was lining some high level U19 games. I did OK, but I wish I had had a few months more experience.

However, I would urge anyone who starts referring to spend SOME time centering high level youth games before they move to centering U17 and above.

Let me tell you, a premier level U14 boys game can be awfully challenging. I did one not too long ago with two State Cup semi-finalists, and it was not easy. You think only adults and coaches of adults know the tricks and apply gamesmanship?? Think again.

But Grey's advice to line older games and then observe and ask questions is good advice. And of course, you can't run an adult game as you would a youth game, obviously. But you need to have the EXPERIENCE of officiating at those games -- as an Assistant -- coupled with SOME experience centering, before you can take the field at, say, U19 or Men's.

[kevbrunton]

Karl,

I think you hit it on the head -- "someone with strong knowledge of the game...".

That wasn't me. I didn't grow up playing the game at all. And when I had became a referee, for the most part, I'd only even seen youth games -- below U14. I had never seen a high school or U17+ premier level game. The only higher level game I had seen was a couple Notre Dame women's games.

So I definitely would not have been prepared to even assist on a U19 game that first year. I had a LOT of learning to do. For me, it was all about COMFORT LEVEL -- and I felt comfortable (and confident) progressing slowly.

[Greyhnd00]

Originally posted by kevbrunton
Karl,

I think you hit it on the head -- "someone with strong knowledge of the game...".

That wasn't me. I didn't grow up playing the game at all. And when I had became a referee, for the most part, I'd only even seen youth games -- below U14. I had never seen a high school or U17+ premier level game. The only higher level game I had seen was a couple Notre Dame women's games.

So I definitely would not have been prepared to even assist on a U19 game that first year. I had a LOT of learning to do. For me, it was all about COMFORT LEVEL -- and I felt comfortable (and confident) progressing slowly. Kev I can almost bet that we will work together in the next two years as I intend to head down state for the state cup and adult competition which isnt available up north.......I'll bet you would be just fine at the higher levels!

[AFCA]

What's the fun in being a referee these days?

Addicted to danger?