Columbus Area Soccer Officials Association

To become a USSF referee, one must attend an Entry Level Referee Clinic.  Almost all of our clinics are for Grade 8 referees.  The Entry Level Grade 8 course consists of 15-17 hours of classroom instruction.  This course is usually broken into five 3-hour sessions that may extend over two weekends or over several weekday evenings or a combination of both.  Weather permitting, an outdoor session is then held for the new referees.  The cost of the course is $40, and this includes the course, the books, the handouts, and your first year’s registration with USSF.  It is recommended that candidates for the class be at least 12 years of age because the test is written for adults and because youth referees are encouraged to officiate players younger than the referee.

Upon successful completion of the course, Grade 8 referees will be licensed to officiate all youth matches both competitive and recreational, and they may also officiate adult amateur games.  Grade 8 referees may accept assignments as a Referee or as an Assistant Referee.  Most new referees are encouraged to do recreational games before attempting more competitive matches, and to work as an Assistant Referee before accepting assignments as a Referee.  New referees will be assigned an experienced Mentor referee to help the new referee and answer questions.

All referees are encouraged to have an Assessment done each year.  An assessment consists of having a licensed, experienced referee watch another referee do a game.  At the conclusion of the game, the assessor will talk privately with the referees about what was done well and what aspects of the referees’ performance could be improved.  The assessor is there to help the referee do a better game so that the referee, the players and the spectators can better enjoy “the beautiful game.