Referee
Education and Certification
Introduction
You see them at all games. They are the three individuals carrying
either a whistle or a flag. Their uniforms up until recently were
black but now referee fashions include red, gold, silver, or teal.
They are the referees or more correctly the referee and the assistant
referees. Referees are an integral part of the game of soccer. Their
primary functions are to ensure that the laws of the game are followed
and that the safety of the player is ensured. The duties of the
referee are specific and carefully outlined. The referee has the
authority to:
 |
Enforce
the laws of the game |
 |
Apply
the advantage clause |
 |
Keep
a careful record of the game |
 |
Terminate
a game if deemed necessary |
 |
Caution
players guilty of misconduct or ungentlemanly behavior |
 |
Stop
the game for serious injury |
 |
Allow
no other person other than players and assistant referees
to enter the field of play |
 |
Send
a player off the field |
 |
Signal
for the game to start after a stoppage of play |
 |
Decide
whether all other conditions are appropriate for play including
the ball, field of play and player’s equipment. |
Referees
are proud of their contribution to soccer and take their appointments
seriously. Their basic requirements are: an understanding of the
spirit and the letter of the laws; superior physical condition;
cooperation with fellow officials; personal flexibility that allows
for a totally unemotional approach to all decisions despite experiencing
the myriad of participant emotions during a typical game; and to
make the game of soccer enjoyable to play and watch.
So what does it take to become a referee? The first step is to sign
up for an entry level clinic in your area. Several are held during
the year and at various locations. An entry level or Grade 8 requires
the attendance of a 16-hour clinic, wherein you learn about the Laws of
the Game and their interpretation and enforcement as well as proper
referee decorum and demeaner. From there, you can move up the grade
level to state, national and FIFA levels. For more information contact
the Cal South State Youth Referee Administrator shown below. The
information provided in the table below summarizes the basic requirements
for referee certification.
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USSF
Referee Grades
| USSF
Referee Grade |
Minimum
Age |
Badge |
Assignment
Level |
| 10.
Assistant Referee |
None |
USSF
Assistant Referee |
Youth
Games |
| 9.
Associate Referee |
None |
USSF
Associate Referee |
Youth
Games Through Age 14 |
| 8.
Referee Class 2 |
None |
USSF
Referee |
All
Youth Games |
| 7.
Referee Class 1 |
17 |
USSF
Referee |
All
Youth Games and mixed leagues, assistant referee in all
amateur games below the top division |
| 6.
State Referee 2 |
18 |
USSF
State Referee |
All
youth and amateur games through second division and assistant
referees in the top amateur division and amateur cup games |
| 5.
State Referee 1 |
19 |
USSF
State Referee |
All
youth and amateur games including first division and assistant
referees in professsional league and international cup games |
| 4.
State National Referee |
25 |
USSF
National Referee |
All
games except formal FIFA international matches; assistant
referees for international matches |
| 3. National Referee (International Panel Candidate)
|
26 |
USSF
National Referee |
All
games except fornal FIFA international matches |
| 2.
International Assistant Referees |
26 |
FIFA
Assistant Referees |
All
games |
| 1.
International Referee |
26 |
FIFA |
All
games |
Cal
South has a very comprehensive referee training and development
program with emphasis on clinics for new referees, a special mentor
program for one-on-one training of young referees, a unique live-in
young referee training academy for the development of advanced youth
referees and Assistant Referees training. This section describes
all of these programs. These and other Cal South referee programs
have been developed by the State Referee Committee and serve as
a model for other state programs. Also provide below is a complete
list of referee training and recertification clinics.
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Referee
Administration
In
1991 by agreement between Cal South (Youth) and CSA-South (Amateurs)
the State Referee Committee (SRC) was born. Dr. George Faragallah
as the State Referee Administrator is the Chairman of the SRC. The
SRC is patterned after the USSF recommendations. The SRC is the
affiliated administrative body of all Federation licensed referees
in Southern California.
The SRC conducts many agressive programs including: licensing clinics,
upgrade clinics, instructor clinics, a mentor program and the extremely
progressive Youth Referee Clinic. They schedule assessments and
referees for the Youth and the Senior's State Cups and assist the
Federation wherever possible in light of the numerous international,
national, and professional games held in Southern California.The
SRC is sponsored financially by Cal South in most aspects of the
youth referee world.
A complete listing of the State Referee Committee can be found by
visiting the California
South State Referee Committee web site.
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Youth
Referee Academy
Each summer the SRC conducts a youth referee academy.
This is a live-in camp at a university in Southern California spanning
3-4 days. Some 25 youth referees in Southern California are invited
to attend. They receive extensive high level instruction (field
and classroom) from some of the best referees including FIFA grade
referees in Southern California. In this way Cal South hopes to
build and assist a youth referee cadre that will supplement and
eventually replace those who age out or leave the community. Also
we hope to provide the best quality referees and the avenue for
those prospective future FIFA referees from Southern California
to achieve the greatest referee status. There are also several other
referee sessions taking place during that time such as instructional
clinics and upgrade clinics.
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Training
for Recreational Referees (R9 Clinics)
Through
the cooperation of the State Referee Committee, a one-day, 8-hour
USSF Grade Recreational Referee (R9) is offered several times each
year. The curriculum at these clinics teaches the particular aspects
of soccer officiating for individuals involved in the recreational
program. Candidates fulfilling the requirements of these clinics
will be registered with USSF and receive a USSF Grade 9 Badge allowing
them to officiate recreational youth games up to the Under 14 age
group.
The R9 clinic uses "The Myths Of The Game Video" to teach
individuals the essentials of officiating soccer. Training on the
field is provided to cover all aspects needed to actually referee
a game. Attendees direct participation prepares them for actual
game officiating.
Emphasis
is placed on:
Law Five - The Referee
Law Eleven - Off Side
Law Twelve - Fouls and Misconduct.
What's different with the R9 clinics than other clinics? Role-playing
exercises are extensively used to examine how to deal with coaches
and parents who dissent or otherwise effect the ability of the referee
to manage the game. These exercises are great fun and have proven
very effective in teaching the essential tools of game management.
Upon
its initial introduction this past year, the Grade 9 Recreational
Referee Clinic has been very well received and assessment of candidates
on-field performance by State Referee Committee Instructors have
received high marks. Cal South greatly encourages you to take advantage
of this educational resource.
If you are interested in learning more about this new recreational
program or would like to schedule a clinic, please contact Cal South's R9 Program Director, Fred
Margy. In an effort to provide enough opportunities
for the training of all of the recreational leagues throughout Cal
South, please take a look at the most current list of scheduled
Grade 9 clinics.To learn more, contact Fred at the email listed
above, or log onto the Recreation
Referee (R9) home page.
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Referee
Clinics
Throughout
the year and at various locations, a number of referee instructional
clinics are held. These clinics cover entry level training as well
as recertification clinics for upgrading a referee's grade level. Additionally, a number of instructional clinics are held for the purpose
of training volunteers to serve as assistant referees. For a schedule
of available referee clinics, please visit the California
South State Referee Committee web page.
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Listing
of Certified Referees
The
following link provides
a listing of currently certified USSF referees. This list is maintained
by the State Referee Committee and all questions should be directed
to them, or email Penny Rehm.
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For
additional information, visit the FIFA Laws
of the Game
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