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Become a Certified Soccer Referee in 2025!
Purpose
The purpose of the First-Time Referee course is to prepare First-Time Referees to work in a competitive or recreational youth and amateur adult matches.
The goal of the First-Time Referee course is to broaden a candidate’s understanding on how to:
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Facilitate a fair, fun, and safe game for the players by enforcing and applying the Laws of the Game
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Make and clearly communicate decisions based on perception and interpretation of player’s actions
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Facilitate understanding and application the Laws of the Game for players and coaches
On successful completion of the course, candidates will receive a Referee license for the current registration year. Once the license and badge are received, Referees can officiate competitive, small-sided or recreational youth and amateur adult matches.
Eligibility
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The national eligibility standards for the First-Time Course are:
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All referees must be 13 years of age or older in order to become a certified referee.
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Please be advised some states may have a different age limitation. Please reach out to your State Referee Committee if you have any questions.
Referees:
If you’d like to be considered for assignments, please email your availability (dates/times you can work and those you cannot) along with your game preferences.
Our Referee Assignor, Teresa Knear Solorzano, will match referees to open games based on availability. Assignments are finalized on Thursday evenings and posted on Friday.
For SIU referee game assignments, scheduling is managed through Arbiter. To be included in that group, please reach out directly to Teresa Knear Solorzano, Director of Referees, at RefereeDirector@SIUSoccer.com.
U.S. SOCCER INTRODUCES STRONGER POLICY TO PROTECT OUR REFEREES
Effective March 2025
Join U.S. Soccer in creating a better future for our game.
The U.S. Soccer updated Referee Abuse Prevention Policy (Policy 531-9) is designed to make youth and amateur matches more safer, more fun, and more empowering for everyone involved.
Referee abuse will not be tolerated.
U.S. Soccer is asking everyone to do their part by knowing the rules, reporting referee abuse, and embodying behaviors that represent the best of us.
