membership guide

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Becoming a Soccer Referee

Becoming a referee is a fairly simple process – you take a class, you take a test, you pass the test, you buy a uniform and you’re off to officiate your first game. Sounds easy, right? Well nothing is that easy, but we can help you get started. Here is what’s involved in becoming a referee:

Training Class

Find out where and when the next Training Class will be offered in your area. You can locate all the Soccer Officials Associations by contacting a Maine Association of Soccer Officials representative. Your Local Maine Association Of Soccer Officials Representative Once you find the area that is convenient to you call the person listed as the contact.  Now that you have the first step out of the way, things get better.

You will be attending  classroom instruction on learning the basics of becoming a soccer referee. Don’t worry, the training is normally spread out over the course of several days depending on the class size. Each class will cover different laws of the game and your instructor will share actual game situations to help you understand these rules. At the end of the class, you will take a test to determine if you have passed the course. If you pass the test, you will be eligible to officiate lower level games such as junior varsity, freshman and middle school soccer matches.

If you pass the test, you will be required you to officiate two years of lower level games in order to build your confidence as a referee. After that second year is under your belt, you’ll be eligible to take the Maine Association of Soccer Officials Regional Referee test. Pass that test and you will be officiating varsity level games.

Soccer Membership and Classification Guide

A.   Associate Referees:

1.  An Associate must be 16 years of age, or emancipated at the time of application

2.  Successfully complete the NFHS written examination with a score of 70% 

3. The Regional board has individual options on how it handles fitness testing and field training.

B. Specific Requirements for  Regional Referees

A.  After successfully completing two years as an Associate membership and having officiated eight (8) games or more the previous season as an Associate Referee, you may apply, with the written recommendation of your Board’s President, for Regional status.

1.     The candidate must pass the National Federation of High Schools’ on-line test with a score of 80% each year.

  2.     Pass a field assessment and fitness exam. Prior to taking the Fitness Test, the candidate must present a physician’s statement or

waiver of liability to the Referee Development and Education Committee. This fitness examination and field assessment will be 

administered by the MASO Referee Development and Education Committee. Any Fees and testing criteria will be identified and

   established by the MASO Executive Board.

C.  State Referee, Specific Requirements

1.    MASO Regional Referee for at least 3 years prior to application

2.    Member in good standing with primary board

3.   Member’s Board in good standing with MASO

4.  Officiated in a minimum of 20 high school varsity (USSF U 15 and above and college games to be accepted) Ten of which must be high school varsity matches, in the two seasons prior to application. Due to declared emergencies, season cancelations or other unforeseen circumstance, exemptions may be made.

5. To have undergone and passed 1 formal assessment as a Center Referee and 1 as an Assistant referee (AR) in a Diagonal System of Control (DSC) game the year of application and then it would be a bi-annual requirement.

6. Pass annually, with a grade of >85%, the NFHS on-line test.

7. Pass MASO Referee fitness test. (USSF regional ref test and college test will be accepted)

8. Attend MASO State Ref Clinic/Play Off procedure presentation.

Section 2. Transfers from USSF and NISOA

Officials transferring to a new board will be responsible for alerting the present board secretary who will forward a letter to the new board secretary detailing the status of the official on the previous board.

Crossover requirements NISOA and USSF to MASO

A.   USSF Officials, who are currently active, wishing to become members of the

Maine Association of Soccer Officials:

1.  Must enter at MASO Associate Referee if there is two calendar years or less from the time they became a USSF Grass Roots Official and

complete a MASO Approved Training course.

2.  May enter MASO as a Associate Referee if there is more than two calendar years have passed since he became a USSF Level 8 official. The applicant must complete a MASO Approved Training course; and successfully pass an exam approved by the Director of Referee Development at the completion of that training course

.

3.   May enter as a MASO Class 1 official if they are a USSF Regional Referee or higher, Official and completes a MASO approved Training course; and passes the MASO Class 1 written and field tests.

Note: A calendar year is defined as month to month over a twelve-month period, e.g. June 2007 to June 2008 would be one calendar year.

B.  NISOA Officials, who are currently active, may transfer into MASO as Class 1 officials upon completion of an approved MASO

Training Course, unless their former NISOA Chapter also officiated high school games using NF Rules; then additional MASO Training is not required.

C.  Active Soccer Officials from other states who officiate using the National Federation of High Schools Rules in their state for interscholastic athletic association (Equivalent to the Maine Principals’ Association) sanctioned games may enter MASO as an official at the level equal to that assigned by their Regional board assignor.

 Officials seeking membership in the Maine Association of Soccer Officials as noted above shall submit a letter from the President or Secretary of their current Soccer Board as to their standing. This letter shall be submitted to the Executive Committee of a MASO Regional Board Member who shall determine the validity of the request; and forward their recommendation for MASO status to the MASO Executive Board prior to August 1 or each year.

Uniform and Equipment

Now that you’re ready to officiate, it’s time to go out and buy your first uniform. The basic referee uniform shirt is commonly referred to as the USSF Yellow, with the alternate jersey being the USSF Pink. The local Board will direct you to a website you can use to purchase the proper shirt; black referee shorts, black socks and black shoes. There are no particular shoes that we recommend, only that you get a comfortable pair that won’t cause blisters when you run.  In addition to the uniform, you will need a watch, preferably one that counts down time, a whistle, a small book to keep score and game notes, a flipping coin and your very own red and yellow cards. Now ask yourself, where do I get all of this stuff. Don’t worry, your  instructor will help you locate a supplier.

Getting Games

Now that you’ve bought your uniform and all the stuff, you’ll need to talk to the Board assignors  who will schedule your games. Not sure who these people are, not to worry. Again, your  instructor will advise you on who the local assignors are.

Your First Year

Well, you’ve been out on the fields for a year or two now and you’ve learned how to issue cards, deal with the players, coaches and parents, and suffered through the hot and cold. Now what. Every year, you will be required to take a refresher examination to maintain your status as a Varsity official. You will also be required to attend rules interpretation, mechanics and clinic meetings offered by your local chapter. These meetings will keep you informed of all rule changes and refresh your memory on the basic laws of the game, not to mention the ability to swap stories with fellow referees.

Summary

In a nutshell, that’s what it takes to become a soccer referee. Of course the more games you do, the more your confidence will improve and the games will seem easier. One thing to remember is that we all have a bad game from time to time, so don’t despair. Every Board has experienced referees, a rules interpreter, new officials instructor and Executive Committee to answer your questions and help you through any difficult times. These will be few and far between.

New Officials :  Your Local Maine Association Of Soccer Officials Representative