Dear God, Illinois is a mess right now. The latest message from the ISRC yesterday said: - Recertifying grassroots referees are to all register for the same undated course in the learning center, complete the online requirements and then sign up for a local in person clinic on the ISRC web site. - UNLESS you are not in the Chicago area, in which case you register for a specific recert course and in person clinic in the learning center. - IGNORE this if you are a new grassroots entry referee, for you everything is online in the learning center. - Regional referees and regional emeritus referees also do everything online. And right now they're not answering emails or phone calls. Oh, I am waiting for my futsal badge, no rush since state cup is this weekend. [emoji8]
So, going through the learning center online grassroots course right now. Seems like some of this was created before the 2019-2020 law changes, like the instructions about the coin toss (still says winner picks goal to attack and loser kicks off). But it did say a player being substituted doesn't have to leave the field at the halfway line. Some really imprecise language is used throughout, like when describing DFK fouls as being given only for intentional actions. And I was certainly surprised on the injuries section (restarting with a dropped ball) when it asked "can a goal be scored directly from a dropped ball restart?" I answered no and was told it was incorrect: "According to the Laws of the Game, as soon as the ball hits the ground, it's live. If the ball goes directly into the goal, it counts." Nothing about the requirement that the ball touch at least two players, which has been around for several years now.
That's not new. Players have not had to leave at halfway line, it was permissible to leave elsewhere, they typically chose to leave at MF where their teammate was waiting to come in. What is new is that they are required to leave at a closer line (unless the ref permits otherwise). Unbelievable that they are teaching outdated material.
Is it really unbelievable? Based on what I’m hearing the test was clearly written from a coaching perspective. There’s a question that asked what to do i f thunder is heard or lightning seen and all the answers were some flavor of “ask the coach”.
All I know is that if my only way to recertify is to do an intro course every year that takes hours and hours, I will surely quit. Hopefully subsequent years’ recerts will not be so basic.
I have to redo almost the entire course because I gave up on the Regional course when I realized the benefits no where near matched the effort required. US soccer has been utterly useless in helping transfer me and I would prefer not being late on recertification so now I have to start over. US Soccer took on a monumental task of wanting to be the guardians on the certification but had none of their ducks in a row for handling the questions.
According to USSF budget documents, referee department revenue (i.e. registration fees) has declined for the last two years in a row. Sounds like the number of referees, then, is declining. Gee, I wonder why...…….
I’m in IL as well, but got lucky. The state referee development program is sponsoring an ODP event for mentoring and that is counting as our in-person certification. Hopefully that makes it easier for me since I won’t have to attend a clinic.
You’re right, but there’s really no benefit for me. I refuse to do pdl, usl, DA, and can never go to regional events anymore. I was happy to have made it to that level but with the lack of an adult league in my area maintaining the badge isn’t really worth it. Especially since they seem to be slowly changing the grade to forcefully make that grade eligible for semi pro it doesn’t really fit my goals anymore.
That's unfortunate. I feel like our number of advanced referees in Kentucky is going to drop drastically. I guess we will have to work a little harder to find the next batch of young up and comers.
On that note you are absolutely correct. At least on paper. As we both know though. Our refs tend to prove themselves out on the field more than the letters on their badges.
I realize it may be a little late in the game for recertification purposes, but if you live within driving distance of Grinnell, Iowa (about 50 miles east of Des Moines off of Interstate 80), you can get a full day of on-site training at the Terry Vaughn Referee Academy on Saturday March 14. Ted and Christina Unkel and Chris and Tori Penso will present during the day (cue the jokes about the Iowa Referee Committee saving money on hotels by bringing in husband and wife teams to present). Even if you don't need the recertification hours, it's always a great event.
I'm sitting here taking this grassroots course today since I never received instruction from US Soccer how to switch in to the course and maintain my progress from the regional course. I'm having many of the frustrations that others are. The wording and scripts are not the best and many of the questions are structured poorly or flat out incorrect. Hopefully US Soccer makes some improvements for next year. And while I support the training that Iowa is doing I find it sort of defeats the purpose of having a national centralized testing and instruction method if states are going to be able to do what they want anyway. I'm hearing disturbing rumors that even on the regional level some states are basically just passing people through or altering the material to make it easier to pass. Not a good precedent. Edit: I realized this post wasn't entirely fair. This is a good start and some of the content is pretty useful and relevant. The approach makes sense but more attention to detail needs to be paid and not using wording that can confuse new and re certifying referees.
Kentucky. I’m not old enough to go emeritus. It’s really not a big deal. I just don’t like us soccer changing the standards on the grades to remove the middle ground between youth/amateur adult and semi professional.
I agree. It's symptomatic of USSF management's disdain for the adult amateur game, thinking that referees can just move from doing U-19 games to the pro level. You HAVE to have the kind of experiences you get doing the O-30 1st division men who think they can still do it and who aren't shy about telling the referee when they think he's made a mistake. As one long time referee and adult player put it, adult soccer is where they don't say "Sir!!!!" before they complain. Despite what the USSF Referee Department would like you to believe, they're staff, not line. If a state wants to have their own re-certification requirements, nobody in Chicago is going to know. There is no process by which Chicago audits whether your state or mine is following the posted requirements to the letter, either in general or in regard to a specific individual registration. The only time I got feedback from USSF was with regard to a then 15 year old who had met every requirement to become a grade 7 except age. Date of birth was the one thing that their computer could check. After consulting with the legal department, they agreed to make him a 7 in the computer.
Heck, the way its set up now, you could go from a u-6 game to an adult amateur game. A grassroots referee is everything from the old Grade 9 to Grade 7. There is a big gap there!
It's why I fully expect them to create an in-between grade for Grassroots Referees and Regional Referees within the next 2-4 years. They might even call it....State Referees.
With the new changes I think this will change a lot. Right now, you could technically go from certification to PRO without ever doing a youth match. You never need them for assessments and I can't see them confirming game count. The only people who are required to do youth games right now are states that require youth assessments.
Umm, Regional Referee requires a youth match for certification and recertification. Straight from USSF Regional Referee requirements document.
You’ve misread it. It says one of the 3 assessments CAN be at the U18 or U19 level (highest youth level).