How To Become A Referee

To become a US Soccer Federation (USSF) referee, you are required to take an online course administered by wareferees.org. Once you complete that training, an in-person class is also required.

You will receive your referee badge at the in-person class. North Whidbey SC is part of the Island/Skagit district. Our assignor is with Skagit Valley Soccer Referee Association at SkagitRefs.org. Once you’ve completed the courses, you must submit your credentials to them to start calling games for our club and within the region.

What is the length of the course?

The course consists of both online study material and 4 hours of in-class field training. You must attend ALL 4 hours. The online session and test are about 7 hours. It depends on your time, pace, and completion of the online course.

At the end of the clinic, you must pass a written exam with a score of 80% or higher. Your registration is good for one year and must be renewed annually.

• If the date of your New Referee clinic is between Jan 1 and June 30, your registration is good until Dec 31 of the current year.
• If the date of your New Referee clinic is between July 1 and Dec 31, your registration is good until Dec 31 of the next year.

Who can be a referee?

Anyone over the age of 13 at the time of registration can decide to be a USSF referee. Here at North Whidbey SC, many of our older players call games to earn money while staying connected to a game they love.

Where are the courses given?

The clinics are sponsored locally by different Clubs, Referee Chapters or Leagues.  Once you have decided which New Referee Clinic to take, you must create your Member Registration on the wareferees.org website and then register for the online class. You must pass the online portion before being allowed to choose an in-person course.

The fee is $85 for first-time referees.

Risk Management Application and Referees

The Washington Youth Soccer Risk Management Application must be filled out completely and properly submitted before any volunteer may begin working as a volunteer or employee of Washington Youth Soccer.

The Washington Youth Soccer Risk Management Application must be filled out completely and properly submitted before any volunteer may begin working as a volunteer or employee of Washington Youth Soccer.

Background Check Process for Referees

Because we require referees to be risk management approved through WA Youth Soccer to be assigned to our sanctioned competitions, we have created a process for referees to apply for background checks.

Referees have a separate background check application: rma.referee.washingtonyouthsoccer.org. This URL will redirect to the risk management system for referees in Affinity.

There will be a flat $6 fee required to submit the background check application for referees – this includes the background check fee and risk management administration, as well as credit card processing fees.

For referees who created Affinity accounts for State Cup, the same username and password will be their login. If they have forgotten their password, use this link to recover their password.

If an applicant is a referee and a club, association, or district volunteer, the applicant should apply through the volunteer link and list the club, association, or district that they are volunteering with. A referee that is also a registered volunteer to a local organization will not have to pay $6 for their background check. Affinity will have a duplicate record prompt that will prevent the background check from running a second time.

Do I Need to Purchase a Referee Uniform?

All referees must be in uniform to call games for North Whidbey SC unless special circumstances apply, such as a medical condition. Uniforms are available through Official Sports International and other suppliers.

How Do I Take a Referee Course?

You can find a list of clinics by clicking on the Clinics/Events tab in the menu at the top of the wareferees.org webpage. Browse the calendar and select a clinic that is convenient to your location and availability. Read the registration instructions carefully and check the appropriate option. You will then be added to the clinic roster. If the clinic is full, choose another clinic. Due to room size and fire codes, walk-ins will not be allowed once the cap is reached.

How do I get assigned games?

Once the referee assignor at SkagitRefs.org receives your contact information, you’ll be placed on the region’s referee roster. Game schedules are periodically emailed to all referees asking for availability. You can also check to see what is open by logging into your site profile and reviewing the Match Inquiry section. It is the referee’s responsibility to ask for games, show up to ref them, and file match and/or disciplinary reports to ensure payment occurs.

Referees choose the matches they wish to work. If you play and ref on the same day, it is your responsibility to avoid time conflicts.

How many games can I referee in a day?

The best practice is to limit yourself to about three games per day. If you’re refereeing U8 or U10 matches, it may be possible to take on more games. Although there is no theoretical limit (although youth labor laws apply), your body gets tired after officiating multiple matches. Most referees run between 2-3 miles per game when centering a full-sided match. The expectation is that you’ll be as proficient at the start of your first game of the day as you are for the final minutes of the last game.

How Much Do I Get Paid as a Referee?

Each club has a different pay scale for referees. You will find this information on each association website. You must have an active profile at SkagitRefs.org to be scheduled for games and file match reports to get paid.