Become A Referee

In order to become a referee, all of the following are required:
1. Be 13 years or older.
2. Register for the official referee course online.
3. Complete online referee course & pass the online test.
4. Complete online concussion training.
5. Complete Safesport online training (only if 18 or older).
6. Pass a background screening (only if 18 or older).
7. Attend a one-day in-person field training session.
8. Purchase referee uniform & equipment.

Details for each step are listed below.  If you have any questions about becoming a referee, please email refereetrainingcoordinator@ovalesoccer.org.

If you decide to become a referee, please let our assigner know by sending an email to refereeassignor@ovalesoccer.org so that you can begin receiving notifications about upcoming events, instructions, and any concerns about the upcoming soccer season.

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1. Be 13 years or older.
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You must be at least 13 years old to complete any of the training and receive referee assignments.  This requirement is set by the California North Referee Administration and cannot be altered or waived by the Orangevale Youth Soccer Club. 

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2. Register for the official referee course online.
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The official referee course is provided by US Soccer.  This course is available through the US Soccer Learning Center.  The cost for the course is $75.00 and online payment is required.  Once registered, different training modules will teach you what you need to become a referee – including all the Laws of the Game.

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3. Complete online referee course & pass the online test.
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Once registration and payment have been made on USSoccer.com, you will gain access to the online training to learn the 17 Laws of the Game. It takes approximately 4 and 1/2 hours to complete but does NOT have to be completed in one sitting.  You can start/stop anywhere along the way.  When you come back to the training, you resume exactly where you left off the last time. The training is broken up into small modules and is fairly interactive.

After the online training, you will be required to pass an online test by correctly answering a minimum number of questions.  It doesn’t matter how many questions you miss because it will continue to provide you with questions until you correctly answer the required amount.

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4. Complete online concussion training.
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The online concussion training is included as a module in the US Soccer online training.

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5. Complete Safesport online training (only if 18 or older).
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If you are 18 or older, the Safesport training will be included as a module in the US Soccer Learning Center. The online concussion training is included as a module in the US Soccer online training.

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6. Pass a background screening (only if 18 or older).
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If you are 18 or older, you will be required to fill out a background screening form that is included as a module in the US Soccer online training.

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7. Attend a one-day in-person field training session.
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Once the online training above is completed (including the test), you will be ready to participate in the one-day field session.  You cannot attend the in-person field training until your online training is complete and you have passed the online test. In-person attendance is required.  This session will train you on the proper flag and whistle mechanics, field positioning for center and assistant referees as well as other game-day concerns.

The next field training session will be held as follows:
Date: August 11, 2024 (Sunday)
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Golden Valley Charter School (9601 Lake Natoma Drive, Orangevale, CA 95662); we will meet at the tables by the picnic area.

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8. Purchase referee uniform & equipment.
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Once you have successfully completed the online training and field session, you will need to purchase a referee uniform (shirt, shorts, socks) and referee equipment (flags, whistle, watch, red/yellow cards).  This equipment may be purchased online (ie: Amazon) or locally at Soccer Pro (located at 11726 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Fair Oaks, CA 95628).