Real how to become a referee thread

[Skipper]

In line with the last post...and in a shameless plug, visit http://soccer-referee.us. You'll find many articles from some very good authors. We have many plans for growth of the sitte over the next year (we've only been open for about two weeks).

Try it, you'll (probably) like it.


Mike "Skipper" Goblet
Administrator
http://soccer-referee.us
skipper@soccer-referee.us

[kevbrunton]

Originally posted by lather
To become a USSF certified referee, you must complete an entry level course. The easiest way to find out about them is to ask the center ref after the game about becoming a ref. I'm sure you'll get the information you need on the clinics in your local area.

AYSO, Collegiate, and High School games have their own sanctioning bodies. Again, ask a local ref.

Don't expect to be invited to qualify for HS or College games until you've had some experience with the recreational and competitive youth games.

Hope that helps.

Commenting specifically about the statement that I've bolded...

Not always true. In our association, we recruit referees out of the adult leagues to become high school referees. We encourage them to get their USSF license over the coming winter, because they get more hands on training, instruction, mentoring, etc. But it's not a requirement.

With the explosion of high school soccer, we don't have enough qualified adult referees for all the high school games.

[nsa]

Originally posted by kevbrunton
...With the explosion of high school soccer, we don't have enough qualified adult referees for all the high school games. When I saw lather's statement, I had the same thoughts as kevb.

I recently recertified as a NF (high school) referee. Just like the rest of the newbies, I attended a field clinic before the season. In my group were two baseball umpires. One of them had seen two soccer games in his life (and those were GU12). :(

Neither of them had a clue what to look for amongst the 22 bodies flying around the pitch. Heaven help their assignor.

[kevbrunton]

Originally posted by nsa
When I saw lather's statement, I had the same thoughts as kevb.

I recently recertified as a NF (high school) referee. Just like the rest of the newbies, I attended a field clinic before the season. In my group were two baseball umpires. One of them had seen two soccer games in his life (and those were GU12). :(

Neither of them had a clue what to look for amongst the 22 bodies flying around the pitch. Heaven help their assignor.
We get those too -- mainly overweight softball guys looking for something to do in the fall. They get weeded out quickly.

Try recruiting referees out of your adult leagues -- the better ones -- I'm talking a Div 1 Amateur league. They already know the game and the know a foul when they see it. It's easy to learn the rules / laws on restarts, etc. But foul recognition and man/match management is what takes the most experience to learn. They'll already have a good handle on foul recognition.

[GiggsNewWzrdOfHgwrts]

Jim! It's Dan from U of I. The Urbana Park District was advertising for refs and I did 1-4th graders for a couple seasons. Talk to them, no experience necessary. It's not like playing soccer at all and you'll basically get a baptism by fire when you get out there. Nothing prepares you for actual reffing, just get out there and do it. Start w/the youngest age group and work your way up. I'm not a particularly good ref because I'm not progressing I keep getting young kids and that's cool, I don't really love it so I'm not too concerned. I just do it for the heck of it and $. It's a workout too. later,
dan

[Turin]

Confidence
Open Mind
Dedication

All else will come in time, but you must always have these three things to become a better referee.

They work for me

[IASocFan]

Thanks to nsa, we have links to USSF documentation -

Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game (http://www.ussoccer.com/templates/includes/services/referees/pdfs/Advice2003.pdf)

Guide to Procedures For Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials (http://www.ussoccer.com/templates/includes/services/referees/pdfs/GuidetoProcedures.pdf)


See also: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=78684

[Kevin in Louisiana]

I've been thinking about becoming a ref. I have a question.

How much flexibilty do you have in terms of scheduling? I'm a college student and while I wouldn't expect refereeing to conflict with my school schedule I usually end up having extracurricular commitments as well as stuff outside of school and some part-time work. Am I going to be expected to be able to make matches at certain times or will there be enough flexibilty in terms of number of games going on (I live in the New Orleans area, a fairly decent sized city) that I can schedule refereeing around my other commitments? It's not really a problem of having the time, as most of the time I'm free, it's just a matter of worrying about conflicts between stuff.

And what would be the workload in a ref's typical week?

[IASocFan]

Originally posted by Kevin in Louisiana
I've been thinking about becoming a ref. I have a question.

How much flexibilty do you have in terms of scheduling? I'm a college student and while I wouldn't expect refereeing to conflict with my school schedule I usually end up having extracurricular commitments as well as stuff outside of school and some part-time work. Am I going to be expected to be able to make matches at certain times or will there be enough flexibilty in terms of number of games going on (I live in the New Orleans area, a fairly decent sized city) that I can schedule refereeing around my other commitments? It's not really a problem of having the time, as most of the time I'm free, it's just a matter of worrying about conflicts between stuff.

And what would be the workload in a ref's typical week?

Flexibility is definitely a plus for refereeing.
- Talk to referees or other contacts and find out who schedules referee class and who the local assignors are for the leagues in your area.
- Take the initial USSF test and become a level 8 referee.
- Contact the local assignors and let them know your experience level and your availability and phone numbers. You'll probably want to start as an AR and your first centers should probably be youth, unless you have played at the adult level.
- Talk to the other referees before, during (halftime), and after games, and ask for suggestions.
- Don't take games you can't do. If a conflict comes up, get a sub and/or call the assignor immediately.

I frequently take weeks and weekends off. I usually do one or two games a week. Sometimes I'll do tournaments and get in four or five. Younger refs can work all weekend. The biggest thing is to communicate with the assignors.

Edit: NO, the biggest thing is to have fun and enjoy. Take all comments from fans and coaches with a grain of salt.

Communication is next. :)

[Statesman]

You make your own schedule, but rookie referees are for the most part limited to weekend youth games until they get a year or so of experience.

[nsa]

Originally posted by Kevin in Louisiana
How much flexibilty do you have in terms of scheduling?
...
And what would be the workload in a ref's typical week? Every league does things differently. For example, the local youth league schedules Saturday matches as follows: 9 AM G10; 10:15 B10; 11:30 G12; 1 PM B12; 2:30 G14; 4:00 B14. A neighboring league has their G12 and G14 play in the AM, B12 and B14 in the PM, G/B10 throughout the day (I think). I used to do two morning games in the other league, then two or three locally in the afternoon.

As IASocFan said, flexibility is a key to getting assignments. Also, advance planning. I hear complaints from teenagers about their lack of assignments. When I ask about their availability, they do not want to commit more than a day in advance. Some assignors will schedule an entire season prior to the first game. If you don't block out availability, then you won't get games. And if you offer availability and then refuse too many games, you will not be asked again.

A typical week? This Fall, with high school games, I'm on the pitch 5-7 days for 8-15 games a week. In the Spring, probably only weekends for 4-8 games a week. In the summer that falls to three evenings for three games a week. I don't do indoor soccer, but some of the folks I know that do will work 3-5 times a week for 6-15 games.

I could work as few as 1 or 2 games a week, but that won't pay for the uniforms.

[ralph shelley]

Refereeing is fairly convenient for a college student.
Have your course work over by 2 pm. Try to break
in to high school games. Work youth league from
9-5 on weekends. Study be willing and reliable and
it can work for you. But you need to have a passion
and do your homework. Find a mentor and be well
groomed. As Ref Fleisher from Cal says it's the best seat in the house. If your waiting to take a cert. course go to the websites and learn from experienced veterans. It was a godsend for me.
good luck!

[manutdfan21]

After reading this thread, I'm glad that I am considering becoming a referee(probably just for high school though). I've been around the HS game long enough as a public address announcer, and I have met a lot of our area HS referees to help me get started. Plus, I can always refer to this thread.

[IASocFan]

Originally posted by manutdfan21
After reading this thread, I'm glad that I am considering becoming a referee(probably just for high school though). I've been around the HS game long enough as a public address announcer, and I have met a lot of our area HS referees to help me get started. Plus, I can always refer to this thread.

Good Luck. Start out with the USSF class. If you have questions, ask here.

[Footer Phooter]

Originally posted by manutdfan21
After reading this thread, I'm glad that I am considering becoming a referee(probably just for high school though). I've been around the HS game long enough as a public address announcer, and I have met a lot of our area HS referees to help me get started. Plus, I can always refer to this thread.


I would strongly suggest working a few younger aged games just to get the mechanics of it down before doing HS games.

[own goal hat trick]

As a huge soccer fan for many years, I saw the game from a totally different perspective yesterday, as I reffed my first AYSO match.

Here in Davis, youth soccer is HUGE. We've got overbearing parents, demanding coaches, the whole lot. Though qualified to do so only on the strength of one game (and the ref course being fresh in my mind), I'll share one piece of advice: the center ref is always right. So when I (as AR) called a ball out-of-touch one way on a bing-bang deflection, and he confidently signaled the other, my flag changed hands and we were signalling the same direction. FWIW, I saw it clearly, but I feel that I made the right call twice: first, as the play actually happened, and second, to change the call to support the center.

In terms of scheduling, we have an on-line ref scheduler (password accessible) at davisayso.org. I haven't seen other AYSO web sites, so I can't say
whether Davis's is a model, but the site looks pretty good to me.

Already looking forward to reffing match two ...
~OG3

[Turin]

I referee in Davis as well, but mostly competitive games.

[Laggard]

This is interesting. I'm tempted to looking into being a ref.

One question that came to mind: If a player (especially teen or younger) told you to "Fu*c Off," does he/she get ye old red card?

[Statesman]

Yes.

[own goal hat trick]

Originally posted by Turin
I referee in Davis as well, but mostly competitive games.
Small world, Turin!


So folks, I reffed a pair of games Saturday, so my tally is up to three.

The parents have not been bad at all (or else I'm too focused on the game to hear it), but I'd like to hear your best one-liners for coaches/parents who are jawing at the refs. (If you think silence is the best strategy, I'm interested to hear your rationale.)

So far, I've got "I'll ref, you coach" all ready to go. Others?
~OG3