Become a US Soccer Referee

Congratulations on your interest in becoming a US Soccer Referee. There are many reasons to become a US Soccer Referee:

• Get Paid! Earn good money to participate in a sport you love.
• A flexible schedule – Provide your own availability to assignors to work around your busy schedule.
• A new way to be a part of the game – Continue being involved in the game we love in ways other than playing or coaching.
• Fitness and health – Where else can you get paid to work out?
• Challenge yourself – It is no mystery referees make mistakes. Becoming a referee is a rewarding process full of challenges and opportunities to advance to higher level and higher paying games.
• Develop life skills – Discipline, leadership, organization, communication, professionalism, and confidence.
• Improve our sport – Think you can do better than that other referee? Prove it!
• Travel – Sign up for tournaments all over the state of Georgia and the USA.

Becoming a Grassroots Referee in the US Soccer Referee Program consists of accomplishing the following:

• Register for an In-Person Grassroots Entry course in the Learning Center. Complete all online coursework, and then attend the In-Person course. ($90)
• Courses are throughout Georgia between July and early October. New course locations are being added on a continual basis.

If you are 18 years or older, also completing these two mandatory items:

• US Soccer NCSI Online Background Check ($30) – valid for two years (available inside the Learning Center by end of July)
• SafeSport Online Training (Federal Law) – valid for two years

Completing these requirements will certify a referee through December 31^st, 2020.

What To Do Next

Step 1: Create a Profile at: US Soccer Referee Learning Center (LC).​

• The unique account identifier is an email address. Parents may not use their lone email address to register multiple referees. Each referee needs their own email address. Parents may add a secondary email address to each account in order to receive any emails their referee is receiving from either US Soccer or the Georgia State Referee Committee.
• A known issue while creating an account in the LC is a browser timeout. If this occurs for you, the US Soccer recommended steps are to clear your browser history, cache, and cookies. Close your browser, and try again. Alternatively, try a different browser or device to create your account.

Step 2: Register for an In-Person Grassroots Entry Course at: US Soccer Referee Learning Center.

• After creating an account, the prospective referee must register for an In-Person course in Georgia.
• List of Available Grassroots In-Person Entry Courses, or:
• Click Courses - Available Courses - Grassroots Courses - New referee - In-Person Courses. Use the Location drop down and select Georgia to find a course near you. Courses are $90.
• New courses in various locations are continually being added as local leagues and clubs request to host courses in their area.
• 100% of the Grassroots Online Course must be completed before attending the In-Person course.
• The In-Person Course is an eight-hour course.  The course is split between a three-and-a-half-hour classroom session, and a three-and-a-half-hour field training session that takes place outside on a field. There will be a one-hour lunch break in between, usually from 12 PM – 1 PM. 

Step 3: Safe Sport Certification (mandatory if 18 years or older)

• Access Code: YC3E-6P5G-YYIL-CS2M
• Download your certificate, and upload in to the Learning Center through the assignments tab once you have registered for a course.
• Safe Sport must be completed before attending the In-Person course. Estimated completion time is 2-2.5 hours.
• Safe Sport is Federal Law passed by the United States Congress and is mandatory for anyone 18 years or older.

Step 4: Complete the US Soccer NCSI Background Check (mandatory if 18 years or older)

• Available inside the Learning Center by end of July 2019
• Valid for two years per check
• Mandatory for all referees 18 years or older

Step 5: Download the IFAB Laws of the Game (LOTG).

• The LOTG are also available as an app on both Android and iOS.

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Email Anne Wright (awright@georgiasoccer.org) for general questions about the Georgia Soccer Referee Program.

Email US Soccer (referee@ussoccer.org) for general questions about the Learning Center, issues creating your account, background checks, etc.