Grassroots Referee Recertification Requirements

2021 Referee Recertification is open: Grassroots Recertification Online Course

Please add memberupdate@georgiasoccer.org to your safe senders list or to your email's contact list to ensure you receive email communications from the State Referee Committee. Otherwise, these emails may go to your Spam folder. If you use Gmail, they will arrive in your Promotions folder.

Details on the new U.S. Soccer Referee Pathway can be read here.

If you were certified in 2018 or 2019 and your certification has lapsed, you can recertify by completing the below online only requirements. Once all requirements are completed and a Grassroots Referee license appears in your profile, you are certified from that date through December 31st, 2021.

You can download and print your Grassroots Referee License directly from your profile in the Learning Center. To view your profile, hover your cursor above your name in the top right, and click Profile.

Please review the Grassroots Referee Profile for general information and expectations of a Grassroots Referee.

Please consult the Learning Center FAQ page if you have any questions.

2021 Referee Badges

If you completed recertification between August 1, 2020 - December 14, 2020, your 2021 Referee badge was mailed on December 15, 2020 to the mailing address in your Learning Center profile. If you did not receive a badge and you re-certified during this time period (check your profile to reference your license issue date), email Anne Wright.

If you competed recertification between December 15, 2020 - January 12, 2021, your 2021 Referee badge was mailed on Thursday, January 14, 2021. Badges will continue to be mailed once per week after this date.

You must be wearing a 2021 badge and in proper uniform to officiate U.S. Soccer sanctioned matches. Make sure your address in the Learning Center is up to date and accurate. Badges are mailed to this address.

Instructions to Recertify

The recertification process is completed entirely online.

Log in to your profile in the U.S. Soccer Referee Learning Center.
- If new, see directions below for creating a new profile.
Register for the Grassroots Recertification Online Course
Once registered, click on the "Assignments" tab and complete the following:
- Grassroots Recertification Refresher + LOTG Update
- 2020 Intro to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments
- 2021 Re-certifying Grassroots Referee Quiz
Assignments may be accessed after registration by logging back in to the Learning Center - clicking Courses (top left) - click My Courses - Go To Classroom - Assignments (tab)
If the referee is 18 years of age or older, they must also have a current Background Screening and SafeSport completed.
- If the referee turns 18 during the registration year, they will receive an automated email from U.S. Soccer reminding them to return to the Learning Center to complete these requirements.
- If they are not completed, the license is removed and the referee is no longer be eligible to referee until they are completed.

Once all assignments are completed (they will say "Satisfactory" and turn green in the assignments tab) you will be granted a Grassroots Referee license. This can be viewed and downloaded directly from your profile. You may also view the status of your Background Screening and SafeSport in your profile.

Detailed Instructions

1. Creating a new profile in the U.S. Soccer Referee Learning Center (LC).

Creating a new profile in the U.S. 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 must have their own email address. Parents may add a secondary email address to each account profile.
The Learning Center will attempt to migrate your old registration data (lifetime). Accept when prompted. If successful, you should see your entire lifetime registration history in your profile. Go to your new profile and confirm your lifetime license history appears correct.
If your lifetime registration history does not migrate into your new Learning Center profile, you must go to your profile in the LC and click Missing Information, and then Request Help Finding a Duplicate Profile.
- The LC will not allow you to register for the recertification course if your profile does not contain a 2018, 2019, or 2020 referee license. This will be processed by U.S. Soccer administrators within 5 to 7 business days.
If you are experiencing technical issues with creating an account or completing the online assignments, the U.S. Soccer recommended steps are to clear your browser history, cache, and cookies, then close and restart your browser. If this does not solve the issue, try a different browser and/or device to create your account.

2. Complete the U.S. Soccer NCSI Background Screening (mandatory if 18 years of age or older).

Valid for two years per check
Mandatory for all referees 18 years or older
Available Inside the Learning Center
- Click "Courses," "Available Courses" and then "Background Screening" under "Supplemental Courses" on the left-hand side
The full cost of the background check goes to NCSI. Neither Georgia Soccer nor U.S. Soccer keeps any of the costs for this mandatory requirement.

3. Register for the Grassroots Recertification Online Course in the U.S. Soccer Referee Learning Center (LC).

Register for the Grassroots Recertification Online Course in the U.S. Soccer Referee Learning Center (LC).

After creating an account, you must register for the Grassroots Recertification Online Course.
In the LC, click "Courses," "Available Courses," "Grassroots Recertifying Referees," and then "Go To Course List."
- Use the location filter and select Georgia.
- Register for the 2021 Grassroots Referee Recertification Course.
If the Learning Center does not allow you to register for the recertification course, it is likely due to your license history not merging into your new Learning Center profile. If you do not see a 2018, 2019, or 2020 license in your profile, it will prevent registration in the 2021 Recertification Course.
- Click the profile merge request from inside your profile.
Once your lifetime license history has merged, you will be able to register for the recertification course.

4. Safe Sport Training (mandatory if 18 years of age or older)

Click "Courses," "Available Courses" and then "SafeSport" under "Supplemental Courses" on the left-hand side.
Safe Sport is a Federal Law passed by the United States Congress and is mandatory for anyone 18 years or older.

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

The LOTG are also available as an app in both the App Store and Google Play. All referees should download and have the LOTG app available with them at the fields.

Follow Up

GAReferees.Gameofficials.net is no longer in use for courses or registration.

Email Anne Wright for general questions about the Georgia Soccer Referee Program, or any assistance with registration.

Also email (CC) U.S. Soccer (referee@ussoccer.org) for general questions about the Learning Center, issues creating your account, background checks, etc.

Referees