Real how to become a referee thread

[Law5]

What about if I'm a foreigner studying in university in USA?
That would be an advantage. If you have an accent, people will assume that you know the game better than they do. :D

[easternlatincup]

That would be an advantage. If you have an accent, people will assume that you know the game better than they do. :D

Well, I'm Asian, actually. And, I mean, am I allowed to take part in refereeing?

[Gary V]

Well, I'm Asian, actually. And, I mean, am I allowed to take part in refereeing?Yes. On the USSF registration, you have to state your country of birth and country of citizenship. Non-citizens may have to present proof of legal residency in the US.

[IASocFan]

...
The only other time it was a problem was in a match where it was raining so intensely I couldn't even see through the lenses anymore.

RAIN is a good reason for wearing your black baseball cap while refereeing.

It may not be official, but it does improve vision. No, make that allow vision! ;)

[eMili@no]

The referee is the hardest position in Football .. It's so easy criticyze or offend a Referee: you have to look at 22 players, plus the coach and the other players. ;)

I can tell you, with proud, that I am a Referee .. :cool:

p.s. Sorry for the English .. :rolleyes:

[Chas (Psyatika)]

Non ti dimenticare! Italiano si parla qui!

(don't worry, Italian is spoken here) <--- for the non-Italian speakers ;)

[blind_clown]

Non ti dimenticare! Italiano si parla qui!

(don't worry, Italian is spoken here) <--- for the non-Italian speakers ;)
:confused:

[Chas (Psyatika)]

I was responding to the post above mine, where the speaker is Italian.

Then i translated what i said into English, so that everyone could know what i said.

[huklebuk]

Anyone know who to contact to take a test to become a certified referee in NYC?

[nsa]

Anyone know who to contact to take a test to become a certified referee in NYC?
Maybe someone at http://www.enysra.org/.

Note that you have to take the course before taking the test. It is likely that most 2006 courses are over.

[Chas (Psyatika)]

If you want to jump in right away, you can always join up with AYSO :)

www.wssl.org (http://www.wssl.org) or www.brooklynayso.org (http://www.brooklynayso.org) depending on whether you want to officiate in Manhattan or Brooklyn. Otherwise go to www.soccer.org (http://www.soccer.org) and find your region there. It's on a volunteer basis, but you can cross register with USSF once you're promoted within AYSO (i took the course to upgrade about a year after i took the entry course). You don't get paid for AYSO, but you also don't have to pay for anything (the courses are always free, and you get a full uniform, plus more if there is surplus from time to time).

I'm in both of the regions i just mentioned, so if you need more info, you could always talk to me ;)

[FK Partizani]

I'm in both of the regions i just mentioned, so if you need more info, you could always talk to me ;)

Thanks Chas for all the great info.

Is 29 yo too late to begin refereeing? I've always wanted to referee but commitments to school have held me back. I'll be done with school this May and I'm thinking about refereeing. I really want to progress and maybe ref for the MLS one day. Is it even possible at my age?

[Chas (Psyatika)]

It is possible. I would think 29 is a typical starting age for a large percentage of officials, especially those coming from prior experience as a player. I started at 21 because i cut my playing career VERY short (two years semi-pro). There is, of course, that mandatory retirement age, but i'm not sure how far that rule extends. There would have to be some level where they don't care how old you are as long as you pass the fitness and written tests. That level just wouldn't be FIFA. And you could probably still get to wear your National badge (if you had it) if you try to become National Emeritus.

[Wreave]

Thanks Chas for all the great info.

Is 29 yo too late to begin refereeing? I've always wanted to referee but commitments to school have held me back. I'll be done with school this May and I'm thinking about refereeing. I really want to progress and maybe ref for the MLS one day. Is it even possible at my age?

I started at 32. Like Chas, I am an AYSO official. I'm 33 now and will probably be 34 before becoming an 07.

At my age, it's highly unlikely I'll ever be an 04 or 03, and will obviously never be a FIFA. However, getting to 06 would seem very doable, and perhaps 05 if my state doesn't only make 05s out of folks they think have a shot at National. However, even as an 08, you can referee forever. IASoc fan is an 08 and in his 60s, I believe.

If you're wanting to go National, you're behind the curve, but it's still possible if you devoted a lot of time to refereeing. If like me, you also have a family and accompanying commitments, you may need to adjust your sights accordingly.

[bluedevils]

Thanks Chas for all the great info.

Is 29 yo too late to begin refereeing? I've always wanted to referee but commitments to school have held me back. I'll be done with school this May and I'm thinking about refereeing. I really want to progress and maybe ref for the MLS one day. Is it even possible at my age?

A person is never too old to get started! Give it a shot and hopefully you will enjoy it. If you have the talent and are willing to put in the effort and commitment, you could earn your USSF National Referee badge one day. I know gentleman from Ohio who earned his national badge at the age of 43. At national camp this year, there was at least one referee in his 50s. And he was fitter than 80% of the referees at camp!

Your chances of officiating in the MLS are virtually nil, I would say. Even if you registered with USSF as a grade 8 in 2007, it would take you until 2012 or 2013 to earn your national badge - assuming you moved up pretty fast. That would make you 34 or 35 years old. Even at 30, a new national referee is not really being considered for FIFA possibilities or MLS assignments. It seems USSF wants to see referees earning their national badges by 25-28 years old.

[bluedevils]

I started at 32. Like Chas, I am an AYSO official. I'm 33 now and will probably be 34 before becoming an 07.

At my age, it's highly unlikely I'll ever be an 04 or 03, and will obviously never be a FIFA. However, getting to 06 would seem very doable, and perhaps 05 if my state doesn't only make 05s out of folks they think have a shot at National. However, even as an 08, you can referee forever. IASoc fan is an 08 and in his 60s, I believe.

If you're wanting to go National, you're behind the curve, but it's still possible if you devoted a lot of time to refereeing. If like me, you also have a family and accompanying commitments, you may need to adjust your sights accordingly.

MLS is not in your future, but unless your SRA really has a habit of holding back older refs from advancing, you could earn your national badge-- see my previous post.

Especially with your top-level fitness, that will impress people and get you noticed. They will be disappointed when they learn you are already in your mid thirties, but it will get you noticed nonetheless.

[Wreave]

Hmmm. That's food for thought -thanks!

[keloo]

Hello . I am a 23 y old referee from Romania . I started this at the age of 17 , because i stopped playng soccer and i couldn't stay far from it.

I am glad that i found this thread , and i read about refereeing in the US , but i think that US soccer is far away from the Europeean soccer.

I just wanted to know if any of you had problems with the players or officials , like fights , spitting , or any other incidents.

[zeusbrowne]

I just wanted to know if any of you had problems with the players or officials , like fights , spitting , or any other incidents.

All of the above. I believe they are universal.

I just found this thread and am getting caught up.

I would have two pieces of advice for those starting out.

First, in my exprience (15 years in norther NJ, not currently active) the biggest jump in refereeing difficulty is actually between U12 and U14 boys. That is when the players make the transition from fouling out of clumsiness and ignorance to fouling to gain an advantage. Testosterone is also kicking in. The same transition tends to happen with girls 1 level delayed (btw U14 and U16).

Second, the value of mentoring simply cannot be overstated. I was very lucky. I began reffing at 15 because my father and brother were already refs (and it was clear I wasn't getting to the WC as a player). I learned a tremendous amount from being able to deconstruct my performances and listen to the war stories of others.

If you are new, surround youself with older refs. Not only do you need their on-field knowledge but, if you want to progress, you will need their patronage.

To paraphrase an old saying, "No greater love hath any man than to lay down his playing aspirations for the love of the game."

[elciclon]

ok so i decided that i wanted to do some referee. i contacted ayso and just answered back, they said they're next training camp for refs is in june is they're anyway to get around this so i can ref quicker or am i screwed till june. by the way im in south california.