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Outdoor Regional Referee Certification Requirements

U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Regional Referee Certification Requirements
July 2023

Regional Referee Standards

Where provided, U.S. Soccer expects State Referee Associations to establish requirements that best support the needs of the local competitions and the referees servicing them. This means that State Referee Associations are expected to work collaboratively with the existing State Association(s) leaders and local competition authorities.

Specific to requirements associated with grade, this includes:

  • Minimum age
  • Previous game and grade experience

State Referee Associations are also empowered by U.S. Soccer to establish fitness, assessment and training standards outside the parameters of grade. Although independent of grade, these standards should be advanced when compared to the existing U.S. Soccer grade requirements. These advanced standards should be specific to the needs of local competitions or specific to participation in state level development programs.

If fitness standards are required for specific state level competitions, they should be conducted in accordance with the FIFA Sprint and Interval Tests. U.S. Soccer recommends that State Referee Associations use the established Regional Referee standards but the required time intervals can be adjusted if needed.  It is required that a set of speed gates be used to administer the sprint tests.

If assessment standards are required, they should be conducted in accordance with the current guidelines specific to formal assessments. State Referee Associations are also able and encouraged to utilize the following:

  • Development and guidance evaluations
  • Scouting and identification
  • Mentoring

Additional training standards can include, but are not limited to attending:

  • Clinics
  • Workshops
  • Tournaments or other competitions

For national competitions looking to establish requirements specific to assignment, U.S. Soccer can assist in the formation and communication of these standards.

These additional standards can be instituted by State Referee Associations outside the scope of grade requirements and are intended to promote the development of referees and support the needs of local, regional and national competitions.

Regional Referee – 

The purpose of the Regional Referee Course is to prepare officials for the adult and competitive pro and semi-pro level. Based on the level of training provided, U.S. Soccer recommends that these officials be assigned accordingly to best service the game.

REGIONAL RE-CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

ENROLLMENT

RE-REGISTRATION *2

TRAINING

ONLINE OR SRC IN-PERSON TRAINING *1

SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE

SAFESPORT TRAINED

SAFE SOCCER TRAINING

ANNUAL STATE BACKGROUND CHECK

ANNUAL GAME REQUIREMENTS

2 AMATEUR &  6 YOUTH *5

LAWS OF THE GAME TEST

ONLINE - REGIONAL TEST *2

FITNESS TEST

PASSING SPRINT / INTERVAL TESTS

(FIFA WOMEN'S REFEREE TEST)       MALE = CATEGORY 1                    FEMALE - CATEGORY 3) *3

PRACTICAL EVALUATION

MINIMUM OF TWO (2) PASSING EVALUATIONS AS A REFEREE.  ONE (1) PASSING EVALUATION AS REFEREE AT THE LOCAL ADULT AMATEUR LEVEL.  ONE REFEREE EVALUATION CAN ALSO BE ON ANY OTHER AFFILIATED ADULT GAME OF 2 X 45 MINUTE HALVES .  *4

*1 ATTENDANCE AT REGIONAL RECERT CLINIC IS REQUIRED

*2 MUST BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 31

*3 MUST BE COMPLETED IN-STATE UNLESS PRIOR APPROVAL BY SRA. 

     THERE WILL BE A MINIMUM of 3 REGIONAL FITNESS TESTS ADMINISTERED IN-STATE.

*4 EACH ASSESSMENT MUST BE COMPLETED BY A DIFFERENT STATE OR  

     NATIONAL COACH APPROVED BY MISSOURI

*5 TO COUNT IT MUST BE A FULL AFFILIATED LEAGUE OR STATE ASSN GAME

     TOURNAMENT OR SMALL SIDED GAMES CAN NOT COUNT

Notes

All State Referee Association requirements must be made public on mrdp.org

All training requirements can be completed online and/or in the classroom setting as determined by the State Referee Association and there are no minimum number of hours associated with either requirement.

At a minimum, U.S. Soccer recommends that training includes the completion of all online training materials for the Regional Referee Course.

* MO requires class room session.