TO BECOME A USSF AFFILIATED REFEREE:
All United States Soccer Federation (USSF) affiliated member activities require that all referees be currently registered with the USSF through a state referee program that is approved by USSF.
In order to register a referee must first be qualified. This means successfully taking a USSF referee entry training course conducted by a Instructional program within one of the recognized state programs. The minimum age to attend referee training is 13 years of age (set by USSF, not MRDP). However, you should be aware that some leagues set their own minimum age for referees which can be higher but not lower, primarily because of child labor laws that are enforced on a state by state basis. Child labor laws in Missouri mandate that "Youth under 14 years of age are not permitted to work at any job—other than in the agriculture or entertainment industries or casual jobs—at any time." Employing 14-17 years old in Missouri still requires a valid "work permit" be on file with the employer for each youth and still has strict limitations imposed by the State. This is enforced by MRDP through the USSF assignor who gives them games. USSF Referees must keep their registration current for the year they do games in.
The Missouri Referee Development Program (MRDP) offers USSF Entry Referee clinics. Before clinic completion, and in order to be assigned any youth games, a background check and SafeSport is required for anyone age 18 or older. Leagues that use un-registered referees have to accept the restrictions and the liability issues that comes with using them.
USSF Referee (entry) - The USSF Referee may officiate games as a Referee or Assistant Referee in all youth and adult games. The current entry clinic consists of a hybrid combination of 25 online components and in class room training, followed by hands on field training. After signing up for a course, each attendee must first complete all the 25 online modules before they are allowed to sign up to attend the classroom session. Upon successful completion of the course, that includes a passing score on the test at the end of the online portion of the course, candidates are registered as a Referee with the United States Soccer Federation for the current year and have paid the current USSF Fee through Missouri. The current total fee for new referees is $120.00 for each new referee. Currently (2024) the in-person outdoor Referee annual re-registration total fee is $100.00 total for an in-person recert. If you choose to do all your re-registration online, then the total cost is $110.00. All course costs can change each year.
To find info on all upcoming scheduled clinics in Missouri go to https://mrdp.omgtsys.com/MemberRegister.aspx and click on NEW MEMBER REGISTRATION the first time. You will have to fill out a registration profile before the OMS system will let you proceed. Remember, just because a course is not posted that is convenient for you now, it may be posted in the near future. We suggest you check with your District Referee Administrator, or recheck the web site often for updated information.
On-line course training is done through The Missouri Referee Development Program (MRDP) OMS web site and offers training clinics in each of the four MRDP Districts, which mirror the Missouri Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) and MSA (amateur) districts. Any interested person may attend any posted clinic provided they meet the criteria. You must be at least 13 years of age and have a profile on our new training and registration web page https://mrdp.omgtsys.com/MemberRegister.aspx to be able to see or register for an upcoming clinic. If you feel you meet the criteria, and yet the system won't let you signup, or it asks for a "code", contact our online support or email [email protected].
