Information on the PA West State Referee Program

TO BECOME A REFEREE:

1. You must attend one of two types of entry level clinics that are scheduled and hosted by the PA West member clubs. These clinics are typically offered in the months of January, February and March of each year prior to the spring playing season. Each type of clinic has recommended age requirements. The entire clinic schedule is advertised on the www.pawest-soccer.org website under Referees. Click the Calendar tab under Referees and proceed to electronically register (e-REGISTER) via the PA West e-Referee System for the desired clinic type, location and date.

2. Complete the electronic New Referee Registration form. On the registration form select either Referee Grade 8 or 9 for the clinic you wish to attend. (See Entry Level Clinics below.) Note these grades are the USSF referee grade level achieved by the clinic and not the grade you are in school. Once your electronic New Referee registration form is completed and recorded, you may then select and pay for the clinic you identified. Note a USSF ID number is not required nor should be entered on the New Referee Registration form at this time.

3. Once you attend all sessions of the clinic and pass the entry level clinic examination with a score of 75% or greater, you are then registered as a certified referee for that year with the United State Soccer Federation (USSF). To keep your certification active you must recertify by the end of each year for the following year by attended a

3-hr recertification clinic.

Uniform/Equipment needed:

1. Referee shirt: The official shirt is yellow with black stripes. (although not required, optional shirts include red with black stripes, black with white stripes, blue with black stripes. and green with black stripes.)

2. Referee Shorts: Solid black referee shorts

3. Referee Socks: Solid black with 3 white rings at top or,

solid black with USSF logo, or

solid black with two mid-calf stripes and Official Sports logo

4. Referee Shoes: Solid black

5. Other Equipment: Set of flags, whistle, yellow and red card, watch, coin, pencil and paper

6. Current referee badge: This is supplied at entry level clinics for new referees or sent by USSF to current referees who attended a recertification.

Uniforms and equipment may be purchased at local soccer stores or from Official Sports at www.officialsports.com.

Entry Level Clinics

Grade 9 Clinic– Recreational Referee

• Requirements

Age: 14 or older

Required clinic hours: 12

Cost: $50

Attendance: Must attend all clinic sessions

Minimum Test Score 75%

• The Grade 9 clinic provides instruction about the basic laws of the game and requires little background in the game or its laws. The USSF Laws of the Game booklet is provided at the clinic and is included in the cost of the clinic.

• Parents of youth students less than 18 years of age must attend the first ½ hour of the first clinic session to ensure the requirements and limitations for Grade 9 referees are understood.

• This is our most popular clinic in that it is only 12 hours in total duration.

• Youth under age 14 may take the clinic and be certified by the USSF. However, until the Child Labor Law in the State of Pennsylvania is changed, officials less than 14 years of age are not permitted to be paid.

• For those less than 18 years old, a Work Permit obtained from the child’s School District is also required to comply with state law.

• The Grade 9 referee badge is blue in color and identifies the referee as a USSF Recreational Referee. The badge is issued at the successful completion of the clinic and is included in the cost of the clinic.

• Annual recertification is required by December 31^st.

• blue in color and identifies the referee as a USSF Recreational RefereeUpon successfully completing all clinic requirements for Grade 9, the referee may officiate as the center referee or assistant referee (linesman) for recreational youth games U14 and under, i.e. ivisions 2 or 3 for boys and Divisions B or C for girls,provided their age permits it according to PA West Youth Playing rules. These rules require the center referee to be 2 years older than the game they are officiating. Grade 9 referees may not officiate adult games or competitive youth games, i.e. Classic League or Division 1 for boys or Division A girls.

Grade 8 Clinic - Referee

• Requirements

Age: 16 or older

Required clinic hours: 20

Cost: $70

Attendance: Must attend all clinic sessions

Minimum Test Score 75%

• The Grade 8 clinic covers more details of the Laws of the Game than the Grade 9 clinic and assumes that students have prior knowledge of the game and its laws.

• The age requirement is based on the age prior to the next playing season, i.e. spring or fall following the clinic.

• Upon successfully completing all clinic requirements for Grade 8, the referee may officiate any youth recreational Travel League game, Classic League game, or adult league game as the center referee or assistant referee (linesman) provided their age permits it according to PA West Youth Playing rules. These rules require the center referee to be 2 years older than the game they are officiating.

• The Grade 8 badge is black and identifies the referee as a USSF Referee.

• For those less than 18 years old, a Work Permit obtained from the child’s School District is also required to comply with state law.

• Yearly recertification is required prior to December 31^st.

• Fifteen or more students are required to hold a clinic

Other clinics

Bridge Clinic – Upgrade from Grade 9 to Grade 8

• Requirements

Prerequisite: Must already be Grade 9 referee

Age or Experience: 16 or older or have been a Grade 9 for two full years (4 spring/fall playing seasons)

Required clinic hours: 8

Cost: $20

Attendance: Must attend all clinic sessions

Minimum Test Score 75%

• The clinic is designed to advance/upgrade a Grade 9 referee to Grade 8

• This clinic is not held often because it is more difficult to obtain the minimum number of students to hold the course ( 15 or more).

• Upon successfully completing all clinic requirements the referee may officiate all matches as described under the Grade 8 entry level referee description provided their age permits it according to PA West Youth Playing rules.

Refresher Clinic

• Requirements

Age: 16 or older

Required clinic hours: 8

Cost: $70

Attendance: Must attend all clinic sessions

Minimum Test Score 75%

• This clinic is designed for former referees whose previous certification is more than 2 years old and wish to return to refereeing.

• Upon successfully completing all clinic requirements, the referee will be registered as a Grade 8 referee.

ANNUAL RECERTIFICATION

• The United State Soccer Federation (USSF) requires that all currently certified referees recertify each year by December 31st for the following year.

• The new USSF referee badges and law books are mailed from the USSF and should arrive prior to the start of the spring playing season.

• A Grade 8 or 9 referee that has not recertified in the previous two consecutive years may recertify at their former grade by attending any recertification clinic listed on the www.pawest-soccer.org website.

• A Grade 9 referee that has not recertified for more than two consecutive years must retake the entire Entry Level clinic.

• A Grade 8 referee that has not recertified for 3 or 4 consecutive years can be reregistered at their former grade by completing an entire Bridge clinic or an entire Entry Level clinic.

• A Grade 7 or higher referee (6, 5, etc.) that missed one or more years can only registered for the grade they qualify for. Refer to the USSF Referee Administrative Handbook for further information.

• Recertification clinics are held during October, November, and December each year. The schedule for these clinics can be accessed via the PA West website Referees and Calendar tabs or directly at:

https://ssl.hammersoccer.com/PAwestref/RefereeClinics.asp

• These clinics are scheduled and hosted by the PA West member clubs and the PA West referee district representatives in each of the six districts within PA West.

• A currently registered referee that does not attend a recertification clinic by December 31st has the following options for the following year:

Option 1: Do not referee during the coming year and then recertify in the fall for the following year

Option 2: Attend any entry level clinic in its entirety, pay the entry level clinic fee and pass the entry level written test. ( A Grade 9 referee can only attend a Grade 9 entry level clinic to recertify.)

Option 3: A Grade 8 referee may also choose to attend a bridge clinic even though it is not an entry level clinic. The cost of this option is $55 ($35 for the recertification fee plus $20 for the clinic fee.)

Recertification Clinic – Grades 8, 9, 15 and 16

• Requirements

Prerequisite: Must have been a Grade 8, 9, 15 or 16 referee within the previous two years before the year for which recertification is sought

Required clinic hours: Established by USSF (Typically 3 to 4 hours

Cost: $35

Attendance: Must attend all clinic sessions

Minimum Test Score 75%

Recertification Clinic – Grades 7, 6 and 5

• Typically only a single recertification clinic is held for referees in grades 7, 6 and 5. This clinic requires more time if the annual fitness test is still required at that time. The Grade 7, 6 and 5 recertification clinic is separate from all other recertification clinics and is typically held in November. A written test for each grade is administered during this clinic. The cost of the Grade 7, 6 and 5 recertification clinic varies on referee grade for which the official is recertifying.

Bridge/Recertification Clinic

• Requirements

Prerequisite: Must already be a Grade 9 referee

Experience: Will have been a Grade 9 for two full years^* (4 spring/fall playing seasons) prior to the next spring season

Required clinic hours: 8

Cost: $20

Attendance: Must attend the entire

Minimum Test Score 75%

* The two years (4 playing seasons) of experience is irrespective of whether they were paid or not during those seasons.

• This is a combination recertification and bridge clinic that is offered to eligible Grade 9 referees that want to upgrade to Grade 8 and recertify at a single clinic. This clinic requires less time than attending individual recertification and bridge clinics.

• Bridge/recertification clinics are offered in October, November and December each year

REFEREE UPGRADE, GRADE MAINTENANCE & DOWNGRADE

Upgrade

• Referees may seek higher levels of refereeing (lower Grade numbers) via a formal process stipulated by the USSF and the PA West State Referee Committee (SRC).

• This process takes time and commitment from the referee

• The lower the number of the referee badge, the higher the level of referee experience and development, i.e. a Grade 6 State Referee is a higher level than a Grade 7 Referee.

• If you are interested in upgrading you must identify your intention to upgrade at the beginning of the year in which you wish to upgrade. The spring season that begins in March offers the greatest number of games suitable for assessment so plan ahead and contact the State Director of Assessment (SDA) Mark Finnegan at 412-384-9454 and the State Director of Instruction (SDI) Peggy Neason at 724-379-5386 to inform them of your desire to upgrade. DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE SPRING SEASON IS OVER TO START THE UPGRADE PROCESS!

• Contact your local assignor to be assigned required matches for assessment.

• The most common upgrades and the requirements for each as stipulated in the USSF Referee Administrative Handbook are as follows:

Grade 9 to Grade 8

• Must be 16 years of age OR two full years as Grade 9 from first certification as a grade 9 irrespective of whether they were paid or not

• Must pass written test with a minimum score of 75%

Grade 8 to Grade 7

• Must be 17 years of age

• Must have served 12 months as a Grade 8 referee

• Game count of 75 centers and 25 lines

• Pass fitness test

• Pass written Referee exam with a minimum score of 85%

• Pass assessment on U17 or higher game as center referee

• Pay assessment fee of $25

• 5 hours of advanced clinic time

Grade 7 to State Grade 6

• Must be 18 years of age

• Must have served 12 months as a Grade 7 referee

• Pass fitness test

• Pass written State Referee exam with a minimum score of 75%

• Pass required assessments: 2 as center referee and 1 as assistant referee at required match levels

• Complete 19-hour State Referee training course

• Pay assessment fee of $50

Grade Maintenance

• Once you have attained an upgrade you must maintain your grade each year meeting the following requirements:

• Attend recertification clinic scheduled for your respective referee grade (7, State 6 or State 5)

• Obtain and pay for required assessments

• Pass written exam

• Pass fitness test

Downgrade

• Grade 5, 6 and 7 referees must meet the all the requirements to maintain their respective grade each year. Failure to do so results in the referee being downgraded to Grade 8 or Grades 15 or 16 if the requirements for emeritus status have been achieved.

DEVELOPMENTAL CLINICS/CAMPS/ACADEMIES and ASSIGNOR CLINICS

There are various types of referee developmental clinics, camps and academies offered during each calendar year. These are designed and custom tailored to meet the needs of the referees. Some of these include:

• Local Club Referee Clinics - These are requested by the member clubs within PA West. Any club can request them and they are free. Contact Peggy Neason at 724-379-5386 to schedule these clinics.

• Advanced Referee Clinics - These are clinics for those referees wanting to upgrade or for Grade 8 referees who want more knowledge of the game. The advanced referee clinics are usually held in March.

• Referee Academy- These referee academy is usually held in April in conjunction with OPD player training and development matches.

• PA West Refeee Camp – This weekend camp is held during the last weekend in July. It is a great opportunity for referees of all grades to get hands-on experience and learn for USSF national instructors. Referees may also recertify for the following year during this camp.

• Local Club Referee Evaluations- The PA West assessment program will send an assessor to you club to watch and give feedback to your referees. These evaluations are free. Conntact Mark Finnegan at 412-384-9454 to schedule such evaluations.

• Assignor Training Clinic - For appropriate risk management, assignors for PA West member clubs are required to be USSF-certified. Clinics for assignor certification require 4 hours of training. For those wishing to become an assignor the cost is $12. Contact the State Assignor Coordinator (SAC) Norm Hasbrouck at 724-938-3620 for additional information about assignor training. Assignors must recertify each year. However, no additional clinic time is required each year to recertify.

REFEREE REGISTRATION

Registration for all entry level clinics, recertification clinics, bridge clinics and other referee clinics and events and clinics is done by doing the following:

1. Go to the PA West website at www.pawest-soccer.org

2. Click on the Referee tab near the top of the page

3. Click on Calendar from the Referee pulldown menu

4. The PA West e-Referee System webpage will then appear

5. Select the clinic you want to register for

6. Fill out and submit your registration information

7. Having returned to the individual e-Referee menu, select the blue link to register for the desired clinic

8. Having selected the desired clinic, select the desired payment method, credit card or check, and then hit the Submit button once.

9. This will sign you up for the clinic/recert you selected. You should also receive a confirming email message.

10. Be sure to sign up early. If not enough people have

registered prior to a clinic it may be cancelled.

11. If you are having problem with the e-Referee System and need

help contact Ted Bentley at 412-461-8993.

ISSUES CONCERNING REFEREES

Payment of Youth Under the Age of 14

According to the Child Labor Law for the State of Pennsylvania, children under the

age of 14 cannot be paid. This law also requires that a youth under the age of 18 obtain a work permit. Work permits are obtained in your local school district. Some school districts issue them for referees. Others choose not to. What is a club suppose to do? That is a good question and PA West does not have the answer. All we can do is provide you the facts. We have made the recommendation that referees begin officiating at age 14. If they are younger than that, they must understand they can’t be paid. Should a club decide to use them and compensate them for their services, the club runs the risk of being in violation of the Child Labor Law. The fines for this are hefty and you may or may not be caught. All it takes is one parent who thinks their child did not get as many games as someone else and turns you in. The answer to all of this is that the Child Labor Law needs to be changed to include youth sports officials similar to paperboys and caddies, You can help do this by writing or calling your State Representative and Senator.

Independent Contractor versus Employee

This will be debated forever. However clubs that continue to pay for their referees

to be recertified or take entry level clinics are at risk of the IRS citing the referees as employees of you club and are required to pay Workmen’s compensation. Further, if the referee earns over $600 a year the club must issue an IRS Form 1099. Again

all this takes is one person who is dissatisfied with the club to turn you in. Fines again are hefty.

Solutions

Everyone wants PA West to come up with solutions to the above. PA West

has given much time and expense in investigating these issues. This was all

discussed at the AGM this year. We as a State Association can only recommend

to you what to do. What you do with the information is then up to you. It is recommended that you:

1. Not pay the fee for referees to take entry level or recertification clinics

2. Not pay referees under the age of 14. In some states that have the same Child Labor Law as we do, a College Fund for young referees has been established.