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Referee Program Overview

The San Dieguito Recreational Soccer Referee Co-operative maintains a referee program that is primarily assigned the responsibility of player safety, player enjoyment, and enforcement of the "Laws of the Game" within each of the member leagues. The Program recruits and maintains three types of Referees: 1) USSF Referees; 2) Junior Referees; and 3) “Para” Referees.

USSF Referees are responsible for officiating all of our Competitive and Division 1-3 Recreational games. USSF Referees are licensed directly by the USSF. USSF Referees must earn a passing grade on a written examination in addition to attending 18 hours of training prior to receiving a referee license. A properly licensed USSF Referee will display, on the referee's uniform, the current year's license in the form of the USSF badge. A USSF Referee Assignor, from the San Diego County Soccer Referee Association (SDC SRA), assigns USSF Referees. USSF Referees are paid directly by the SDC SRA.

Recreational Referees are responsible for officiating all of our Division 4 through 6 Recreational games and are also assigned to line our Division 2 and 3 Recreational games. Junior Referees are licensed as USSF Class 9 Recreational Referees directly by the USSF. Recreational Referees must earn a passing grade on a written examination in addition to attending 8 hours of training prior to receiving a referee license. A properly licensed Recreational Referee will display, on the referee's uniform, the current year's license in the form of the USSF “Purple” badge. Recreational Referees are scheduled or assigned by the San Dieguito Referee Coordinator. Recreational Referees are paid directly by the League that sponsors the game.

“Para” Referees are responsible for officiating all of our Division 7 and 8 Recreational games. “Para” Referees are not "licensed" as Referees by USSF.  “Para” Referees must attend a 4 hours of training session prior officiating games. “Para” Referees are scheduled or assigned by the respective League's  “Para” Referee Coordinator. “Para” Referees are paid directly by their League.

Referee meetings are held once per month during the season for the purpose of education and communications. USSF and Junior Referees are encouraged to attend these meetings. Other programs are ongoing during the season and may include formal and informal assessments, on-field training (scrimmages), and various clinics. Currently licensed referees are paid either by the DMCVSL or the SDC SRA, based on age group officiated and the services provided.

It is the goal of the San Dieguito Recreational Soccer Referee Co-operative to recruit, develop, and maintain the finest youth and adult referee crews in San Diego County—fostering and promoting soccer referee development for the love of the game.

Referee Registration

Referees are required to re-certify and register annually, on a calendar year basis.

Recertification for a Grade 8 referee (the entry level grade) requires 5 hours of instruction and passing a written test.  There are various re-certification (refresher) clinics given in Southern California during the year, watch the newsletters and web site for dates and information. Currently the annual re-registration fee is $25. Referees must be registered  for the current calendar year to be assigned to USSF affiliated games (e.g. all CYSA-South youth games and most adult amateur games).

You should have received your annual renewal form in the mail every September. This form should be filled out and returned to Cal South State Referee Committee along with a $25 for USSF Grade 8 Referees and $15 for USSF Grade 9 Recreational Referees check made payable to Cal South SRC. Do not delay in turning your form in, it can take up to 2 months to get your current card and badge.

If you have not received your annual renewal form, you should do the following:

Email Lee Popejoy
SDCSRA, Member at Large
at: Popejoy@home.com

Lee will send you a renewal form in the mail. Don't forget to include a check for payable to Cal South SRC.

Or Download a PDF version here: 2002 Registration Form

Then:

If you need additional information or are having problems filling out your form call USSF, Chicago (312) 808-1300. Be prepare to give them your Social Security Number.

USSF Entry Level Referee Clinics

1. The fee for the course is $35. Please pay by cash (personal checks are not accepted). Most Leagues will reimbursed these fees and pay an amount of money towards your uniforms after passing a course and officiating a number of their league's games.
2. You will need your Social Security Number to fill out registration paperwork.
3. You should bring paper and pen or pencil for note taking and class work.
4. Wear comfortable clothes. There will be some outside/field work, but soccer cleats are not required.
5. Weekend class often have a lunch break. You may bring your own lunch or plan to eat out.

About the Class

The entry level course are mostly classroom lecture. The course requires 16 to 18 hours of instruction, so classes usually run for multiple days. Attendance for each day that the course is scheduled to run is a requirement.  There is a written test (100 detailed questions, true/false and multiple choice), and a score of 75% is required to pass. There is no minimum age requirement, however a maturity level to be able to understand the material presented and demonstrate this understanding on the written test, would be a requirement.  Students will complete a USSF Referee registration form (which includes their SSN) and pay a $35 fee.

Upon Completion

Upon completion of the course and registration, candidates will receive a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) badge and be eligible to referee recreational level games immediately. 

It is the responsibility of the referee to make contact with a referee assignor to be assigned games.  Several assignors are listed on the home page.

Recreational Level Referee Clinics

1. The fee for the course is $25. Please pay by cash (personal checks are not accepted). Most Leagues will reimbursed these fees and pay an amount of money towards your uniforms after passing a course and officiating a number of their league's games.
2. You will need your Social Security Number to fill out registration paperwork.
3. You should bring paper and pen or pencil for note taking and class work.
4. Wear comfortable clothes. There will be some outside/field work, but soccer cleats are not required.
5. Weekend class often have a lunch break. You may bring your own lunch or plan to eat out.

About the Class

The entry level course are mostly classroom lecture. The course requires 8 hours of instruction, so classes usually run for one day. Attendance for every hour that the course is scheduled to run is a requirement.  There is a written test (100 detailed questions, true/false and multiple choice), and a score of 75% is required to pass. There is no minimum age requirement, however a maturity level to be able to understand the material presented and demonstrate this understanding on the written test, would be a requirement.  Students will complete a USSF Referee registration form (which includes their SSN) and pay a $25 fee.

Upon Completion

Upon completion of the course and registration, candidates will receive a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) badge and be eligible to referee games immediately. 

It is the responsibility of the referee to make contact with a San Dieguito Recreational Referee Coordinator to be assigned games.

"Para" Referee Clinics

1. The fee for the course is Free. Most Leagues will reimbursed an amount of money towards your uniforms after officiating a number of their league's games.
2. You should bring paper and pen or pencil for note taking and class work.
3. Wear comfortable clothes. There will be some outside/field work, but soccer cleats are not required.

About the Class

The "Para" refree clinics are a mixture of classroom lecture and field work. The course requires 4 hours of instruction, so classes usually run in the evening. Attendance for every hour that the course is scheduled to run is a requirement.  There is no minimum age requirement, however a maturity level to be able to understand the material presented would be a requirement. 

Upon Completion

Upon completion of the course candidates will be eligible to referee division 7 and 8 Recreational level games immediately. 

It is the responsibility of the "Para" referee to make contact with a San Dieguito Recreational Referee Coordinator to be assigned games.

Referee Development Program

This program is specifically for youth and adult Referees to prepare them to officiate all levels of Recreational and Competitive games. The Referee Development Program is broken up into four areas: 1) Referee License Training; 2) Referee Scrimmage Training; 3) Referee Evaluation Program; and 4) Junior and “Para” Referee Mentoring Program.  The Referee Coordinator is responsible for the Referee Development Program.

Each of these four interlocking areas provides basic building blocks for the improvement and betterment of our referees at each stage of their development. Referee License Training is the first step for each referee in this ongoing developmental process. Next, all of our referees learn and gain “real life” experience in various game situations and our Referee Scrimmage Training will provide this in a non-threatening learning environment. The competitive and recreational coaches, through the Referee Evaluation Forms, provide the necessary “positive constructive” criticism and feedback to our USSF Assignor so our referees can continue developing to the next level. In our Mentoring Program, the referee will gain further insight from each of the mentors background and experience officiating soccer games. 

The goal of the San Dieguito Recreational Soccer Cooperative—Referee Development Program is provide a constructive and positive learning environment for youth and adult referees allowing them to improve their officiating skills and abilities.

1.  Referee License Training

The first step in becoming a referee is License Training. Depending on the referees age and level of maturity they will attend one of the following three training clinics: 1) USSF Entry Level Clinic, for 14 to 18 year old youths (wishing to referee Competitive games) and adults; 2) USSF Recreational Referee clinic, for 12 to 14 (and some 15-16) year old youths to referee Division 4-5 Recreational games; 3) “Para” Referee Clinic, for 10 to 12 year old youths to referee Division 6-8 Recreational games.

The Referee Coordinator is responsible for scheduling the USSF License Training through the California South SRC’s Director of Instruction.  He should also schedule the Introductory Meeting for new referees, Recreational Referee Recertification Clinic, and a Year End “Thank you” Party.  Another important meeting is the annual “Meet the Assignor Meeting”. At this meeting the youth referees should bring their schedules and learn the procedures and expectations they must follow and meet to be assigned games by the USSF Referee Assignor.

2.  Referee Scrimmage Training

This program is specifically for USSF Referees to prepare them to officiate competitive games. “New” USSF Referees are assigned to referee scrimmages for our competitive program. Referees learn and gain “real life” experience in game like situations. Every “New” USSF Referee will be assigned to do several training scrimmages.  During these scrimmages a member of our mentoring staff will observe the Referee.  The referee will gain insight from the mentors background and experience of officiating soccer games. The competitive coaches have also been encouraged to provide “constructive” criticism and feedback for the referee.

3.  Recreational Referee Evaluation Program

The Referee Evaluation Program is designed to insure that our USSF and Junior Referees are assigned games up to their capabilities and maturity. The Referee and Junior Referee Coordinators are jointly in charge of this program. The Referee Coordinator has the ultimate say in interpreting the Evaluations with the SDC SRA Referee Assignor.

The Referee Coordinator is responsible for facilitating the collection and reviewing the “Referee Evaluations” from our Presidio League games. This requires: 1) meeting with the Coaches to gain their cooperation in always filling out the “constructive” Referee Evaluations after every game; 2) meeting with the Team managers to facilitate their efforts in obtaining the Referee Evaluations from the coaches; and 3) working with our Referee Assignor to insure that Referees are assigned games up to their capabilities based “constructive” criticism from the Referee Evaluations.

The Junior Referee Coordinator is responsible for facilitating the collection of the “Coaches Referee Evaluations” from our Division 4 and 5 games. This requires: 1) meeting with the Coaches to gain their cooperation in always filling out and mailing the Referee Evaluations after every game; and 2) working with our Referee Coordinator to insure that Junior Referees are assigned games up to their capabilities based on the Referee Evaluations.

Each Referee Coordinator should also make themselves available to visit fields and assess our referees in person and insure that coaches and parents are adhering to the league’s code of conduct.

4.  Junior and “Para” Referee Mentoring Program

This program is specifically for Junior and “Para” Referees who want to become better referees by learning from referees who are more experienced. Every referee on the mentor staff has a different background and experience that brought them to where they are now, but they all have one thing in common—A love for the game and the willingness to pass their knowledge on to others.

The Referee Coordinator is in charge of the Mentoring program. He should endeavor to maintain a list of 4 or 5 veteran referees to help mentor our new and youth referees.  A good source for mentors is contacting our USSF Referee Assignor and/or the President of the SDCSRA. They should be able to provide you with several excellent mentors. Listed below is a ‘recommended” mentoring calendar for a typical year:

San Dieguito Recreational Soccer Referee Co-operative
Mentoring Program
Typical Calendar of Mentoring Meetings and Topics:

June 11 - Introduction to the Junior and “Para” Referee Program
July 9 - Referee Uniforms and Attitudes
July 23 - Myths of the Game; Handball, O/S, Misconduct
Aug 6 - Offside discussion, video & examples
Aug 28 - Decisions of the Referee Vs. Parents & Fan
Sept 10 - Restart discussion
Oct 8 – Mandatory Cautions and Send-offs
Nov. 5 - How are things going and what have I learned?
Nov 24 - Year End Party

Note: Mentoring Meetings are normally scheduled the fourth Tuesday of every month. All Mentoring Meetings will start promptly at 7:00pm and will be held in the Ashley Falls MUR. All registered DMCVSL USSF, Junior, or “Para” referees who are interested in improving their refereeing knowledge are invited to attend. Meetings will be finished at 9:00pm. The referees should know that they would receive paychecks at the monthly mentoring meeting, if they have sent in their pay sheets by a particular date.

Recreational and Para Referee Program Mentors

These programs are specifically for youth referees who want to become better referees and learn from those who are experienced. Every referee on the mentor staff has a different background and experience that brought them to where they are now, but they all have one thing in common: The love for the game and the willingness to pass their knowledge on to others.

Referee Youth Mentors:

The Referees that officiate the Competitive and Division 1-3 Recreational games are paid directly by the SDC SRA. The SDC SRA pay scale is available from the Referee Assignor.

The Junior and “Para” Referees are paid directly by the respect leagues that sponsored the game. The fee schedule for the Recreational and “Para” Referees is listed in the table below:

Recreational and “Para” Referees are still paid for a game for the following reasons: 1) the soccer team(s) does not show up for the game; 2) the referee was not notified of a cancellation; and/or 3) the game was incorrectly scheduled.

It is the responsibility of the Recreational and “Para” Referees to mail in their Pay sheets to the Recreational and/or “Para” Referee Coordinators so that the a payroll summary sheet can be forwarded to each League Treasurer for payment. The issuance of Paychecks for the Recreational and “Para” referees will be coordinated with each League’s Treasurer so that they can be handed out at the monthly Mentoring Meetings. The referees will receive paychecks at the monthly mentoring meeting, if they have sent in their pay sheets by a particular date.

Laws of the Game

Laws of the Game