Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)   

Class descriptions and requirements
Registration refunds
Switching from one class to another
Age limits
Do I have to attend all of the entry level class at the same location?  
Do I have to take all 9 hours of the entry level referee course?
What games can a Grade 9 Referee officiate?

How do I get assigned to games?
What are the requirements to upgrade from 9 to 8 (Bridge Course)?
Are there any materials I can study before I take the course?
I have been out of refereeing for a while. What do I have to do?
Moving from another state.
Moving from abroad.
Coming from AYSO.
Going to AYSO.
What is the ARDP (Advanced Referee Development Program) ?
Upgrade from 8 to 7
I'm only 16. Why do I have to fill out a Kidsafe form when it says that's only for 17 and up?
Why were referee registration fees increased for 2009? What are the new fees?
 

What classes do I have to take to become a referee or upgrade?   

The Entry Course is the first class you will attend. For most, this means the Entry Course (R9). It is nine hours long, three on a weeknight (Thursday or Friday) and six hours on Saturday, four of which are on-field practice. All materials are provided. The cost is $80. The course fee does NOT include uniform or referee equipment, which will entail a cost of about $40 - $50 at a retailer. You must attend all of a nine (9) hours and pass a written 50-question test with  75% or higher. You will receive a teal Recreational Referee badge which will allow you to referee U-14 and younger recreational games and be an assistant referee on U-14 recreational and select games.

The Adult Player-Returning Referee Course is 16 hours long, taught over a single weekend. It is an entry class that covers all the Laws of the Game. It is intended for adults (over 16 years of age) with a minimum of ten years playing experience and referees who have let their registration lapse for more than four years. Requirements include scoring 75% or better on a 100-question test. Successful completion results in obtaining a referee grade 8 badge.

The Upgrade Course R9 to R8, often called the Bridge Class, is nine hours long with the same schedule as the Entry Class. The on-field exercise is only one hour. While the class covers all the laws, emphasis is placed on issues encountered at higher levels of play than recreational -- foul recognition and selection, recognizing and dealing with misconduct, managing the game and players -- all at the select level of youth play. The cost is $80. Requirements include scoring 75% or better on a 100-question test. Successful completion results in obtaining a referee grade 8 badge.

The Annual Recertification Course is five hours taught in one session. Requirements for passing include attendance for all five hours and passing a recertification test with a score of 60% for R9 referees, 70% for R8 referees. The cost is $75 and all materials are provided.

An In-service Referee Clinic is usually 1 1/2 hours long, but may vary. Topics are various and usually focus on one to three topics per session. In-service classes DO NOT count toward certification or re-certification. They are free and open to any referee. 

The Annual Recertification Course for Advanced Referees (Gold Rush) is a two-day advanced clinic required for referees of grades 7, 6, and 5. It is open to any referee interested in receiving advanced instruction focused on the highest levels of the game. This class is presented once per year and the cost is set annually. This is a recertification class and DOES NOT satisfy any requirement for upgrade.

The Upgrade to R7 from R8 Course is a one-day class addressing referee techniques and principles for higher levels of play at U-19 and adult. The cost is $155 and includes the necessary assessment fees. All materials are provided. In addition to passing the referee test with a score of 85% or better, the upgrade candidate must pass an on-field assessment on a U-17 or older game (90 minute duration). This class is typically offered twice per year, sometimes at multiple locations, depending on demand.

The Upgrade to R6 from R7 Course is a three-day class taught over one weekend. It addresses referee issues faced on adult and professional level matches. Besides passing the State Referee Test with a score of 75% or better, the candidate must pass two field assessments as referee and one as assistant referee on adult matches. The cost is $265, which includes fees for the necessary assessments.

Click HERE for a current listing of classes and to enroll online.

I did not complete the referee course, but I paid in full online. How can I get my USSF registration fee refunded?
        Contact the referee program here to receive a check.

I was unable to attend the class I registered for.  Can I change my registration to another class?

You can switch classes fairly easily. Here's how:

1. Log in to www.gareferees.com

2. Click "My Classes" and the class you signed up for should appear.

3. Click on the date of the class to bring your registration record up.

4. If the dates for the class have already passed, it will ask you to enter a "Walk-up code". Enter

5. At the lower right of the screen, click on "Cancel my registration for this class".

6. Now you can go back to the main menu, click "Classes" on the menu, and register for a new class.

7. If you pre-paid online, the program should transfer any fees you already paid to the new class, but it is not a bad idea to print out the email confirmation you received after you signed up for the first class and take it with you to the new class to show the instructor you already paid.

8. That's it! Good luck and have fun!

What are the age requirements to become a referee?  

USSF has no minimum age requirement. However, the presentation, materials, and test are designed for a reading and comprehension level approximately equal to high school. The percentage of passing scores falls off for students under age 14.

Do I have to attend all of the entry level class at the same location?   

It is recommended to take the entire class at one location, but you may take the first 3 hours at one location and the remaining 6 hours at another location, if an emergency arises.

You must receive the whole 9-hours of the course and cannot miss any of the modules. That is why it is strongly recommended that you take the course in one location.

YOU will responsible for going on line and switching your registration from one class to the other. See how to switch classes above. 

Do I have to take all 9 hours of the entry level referee course? 

All 9 hours of the course are required.

What games can a Grade 9 Referee officiate?   

A Grade 9 Referee is ONLY ALLOWED to be a Referee on Under-14 or lower Recreational games and to be an Assistant Referee on Under-14 or lower Recreational or Select (Athena, Classic, Super Y, or R3PL) games.

This is not a recommendation, it is an absolute rule. Assignment of a Grade 9 Referee to officiate a match above the level that he or she is authorized to work may result in a successful protest of the outcome and disciplinary action against either the referee, the assignor, or both.

How do I get assigned to games?

Being registered as a referee will not guarantee you assignments to games. Remember, it is up to you to contact an assignor and to make your availability known ? when, where, and what level you want to referee. Here is how it works:

Each league and each tournament in Georgia that is affiliated with Georgia Youth or Adult Divisions has an assignor whose job is to appoint referees and assistant referees to matches. All assignors must take an assignment course and be certified by USSF. You may choose to work primarily in one league or to be available to many. Assignments are made by on line, by telephone, or e-mail depending on the custom of the organization. A list of assignors is available at the Georgia Referee web page at www.gareferees.com. Log in and then click on Reports and select the Certified Assignors Report. You may filter the report by zip code or area code. Most assignors who assign for leagues list their league affiliation. To find a club or league near you, visit the Georgia Soccer web page at www.gasoccer.org and either click on the Members tab or use the Field Locator feature under Resources.

 

What are the requirements to upgrade from 9 to 8?   

To upgrade from 9 to 8 you must complete a 9-hour course and pass a 100-question examination on the laws of the game with a score of 75.

Unless you are an experienced, adult player, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that you referee as a Grade 9 Recreational Referee for at least one season before taking the upgrade course to Grade 8.

Are there any materials I can study to prepare for the Entry Course?

Yes. Materials are provided at the class, but you can study some of them in advance by going to http://www.ussoccer.com/laws/index.jsp.html and downloading the most recent copy of "The Laws of the Game," "The Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game,"  and "The Guide to Procedures for Referees and Assistant Referees."

I have been out of refereeing for a while. What do I have to do to be registered again and be allowed to referee games?

If you have been out of refereeing for two years or less, simply take a recertification course and return at your old grade. (Example: it is 2006 and you were last registered in 2005 or 2004)

If you have been out of refereeing for three or four years, take a Bridge Course R9 to R8.

If you have been out of refereeing for five years or more, you will need to take an entry-level course. This can be the Grade 9 Entry Course or the Adult Player Grade 8 entry course.

If you were a Grade 7 referee or higher, you can be immediately registered at a grade one level below your previous grade. Contact the referee program at referees@gasoccer.org.

I am currently registered in another state. What do I need to do to register in Georgia?

Contact the referee program at referees@gasoccer.org. Since you are not in the Georgia database yet, we will have to retrieve your data from USSF and enter you in the database. Then you will be able to login as a currently registered referee. When you contact us, provide us with your USSF ID number. If you don't know it, tell us your full name,  address where last registered, date of birth, and phone number where last registered.

I refereed for years in another country that is a member of FIFA. Can I transfer my referee license, or do I have to start over?

Make copies of all of your documentation from the other country (scanning to an electronic format such as Adobe Acrobat works fine). Send the copies to the State Referee Administrator referees@gasoccer.org. The SRA will forward the documents to USSF headquarters, who will contact your home country's national association and advise Georgia at which level to register you. This usually takes no more than two or three days by fax, often less than that by email.

I am a referee for AYSO, but not for USSF. Can I transfer my referee registration from them, or do I have to start over?

You can cross-certify with USSF.You will need signatures of the referee officials in your home AYSO organization.

I am leaving Georgia, and I understand that where I am locating, there is no USYSA program, only AYSO. Can I referee with them? Do I have to take their training courses first?

The cross-certification works both ways.  Contact referees@gasoccer.org to get the form to use.

    What is the ARDP (Advanced Referee Development Program) ?   

The ARDP is a program to identify promising Grade 8 Referees and give them wider opportunities and training. Click on the document link to learn more.

Related Documents
ARDP - The Advanced Referee Development Program

What are the requirements for Referee Upgrade from 8 to 7   

1) 17 years of age or older 2) minimum 1 year as a referee
3) minimum game log (can bring to class)
      75 centers using the Diagonal System of Control (3 officials)
      25 lines using the DSC
4) Take the upgrade class (offered twice a year) or complete an  "Upgrade Certified" Referee Academy
      Approximate cost $155 including one assessment
      Information available at referees.gasoccer.org
5) Physical Fitness Test - during class
    50 meter dash - 9.0 seconds
    200 meter run 40.0 seconds
    endurance run 12 minutes
        under 38 years - 2200m
        38-45 2000m
        over 45 1800m
6) Referee entry level test - during class
         minimum score of 85%
7) When requirements 1-6 are complete* - passing assessment on a competitive U-17 game or above.

To arrange an assessment, contact the State Director of Assessment by email:

SDA - Guy Sella

*The sequence my vary if upgrading through an "upgrade certified" referee academy.

I'm only 16. Why do I have to fill out a Kidsafe form when it says that's only for 17 and up?

Filling out a kidsafe form authorizing background check is required of any referee 17 years old or older.
Some confusion arises when 16-year-olds are asked to complete the form. The reason for this is that in an electronic environment, complications were encountered. When an assignor runs a certification report, the report checks a) the referee?s age and b) whether there is a kidsafe form on file. If at the moment the report is run, the referee is 17 and no form is on file, the report will say ?NO YOUTH?. So if a referee TURNS 17 during the year, the report will show ?NO YOUTH? any time on or after the birthday. Therefore, if a referee will turn 17 during the registration year, he or she will be asked to fill out a form.

?NO YOUTH? means no kidsafe form has been put in. If a referee wants to go back and fill out the form at a later date, click ?Kidsafe Form? on the main menu.