For National Match Officials or those looking to become National Match Officials, visit here
Upgrade to a Regional Referee
Prior to attempting the upgrade process to upgrade to Regional Referee:
- be at least 18 years of age
- have a minimum of previous three consecutive years’ referee experience
- have 25 games as a referee and 15 games as an assistant referee at the Adult Amateur level, 11v11, two 45-minute halves (must be documented). Co-Ed matches do not count.
- pass a formal practical evaluation as the referee on a competitive Senior Amateur (Adult) Division 2 or above level match; (the purpose of the prerequisite evaluation is to experience the evaluation process and to understand whether the referee is ready for preparing to upgrade)
To complete the upgrade process to Regional Referee, referees must pass 3 formal practical evaluations as a referee and one as an assistant referee as noted below, complete the online instruction modules, attend the Regional Referee Certification/Re-certification Camp, and pass the fitness test:
- Type of match: Formal practical evaluations will only be performed on matches scheduled for two (2) full 45-minute halves, 11v11, and must be between two current affiliated USSF member teams. All matches must be played to completion in accordance with the rules of the competition. Any evaluation resulting in a not acceptable performance rating will require an additional evaluation at the same level. The minimum match requirements are:
- One match as a referee on a competitive Highest Youth Level U18/19 match. (Can substitute senior adult amateur D-2 level or above match)
- One match as a referee on a competitive senior adult amateur Division 2 (D2) level or above match.
- One match as a referee on a top-level, senior amateur, Division 1 or Premier-level or above match.
- One match as an assistant referee (position AR1) on a top-level, senior amateur, Division 1 or Premier-level or above match.
Regional Referee Timeline
Prior to July 1 of the Current Year
- 3 years consecutive experience
- Minimum age of 18
- *Adult Game Count: Referee: 25 Assistant Referee: 15
- Practical Evaluation As referee on Senior Amateur Division 2 (D2) or above
July 1 Current Year – June 30 Following Year
- 1 match as a referee on a competitive Youth U18/19 Match (can substitute a Senior Adult Amateur D2 or above
- 1 match as a referee on a competitive Senior Adult Amateur D2 or above
- 1 match as a referee on a competitive Senior Adult Amateur Division 1 (D1) or Premier-level match or above
- 1 match as an assistant referee (AR1) on a Competitive Senior Adult Amateur Division 1 (D1) or Premier-level match or above
Soccer Registration Year (July 1 – June 30 Following Year)
- Online Instruction Modules Completed
- Attend Regional Referee Camp (Aug)
- Fitness Test
- *Adult Game Count: Referee: 25 AR = 15 (required)
June 30 – December 31
CERTIFICATION!
For Recertification as a Regional Referee the requirement for formal evaluation is as follows:
- Online Regional Referee Test
- Safe Soccer Training/Healthy and Safe Playing Environment
- SafeSport Training
- Background Check/Risk Management
- Annual Regional Referee recertification instruction
Formal evaluations:
- One match as a referee on a competitive Youth U18/19 match.
- One match as a referee on a top-level, senior amateur, Division 1 or Premier-level match or above.
Physical Fitness Test:
- Male – 40-meter sprints, 6.40 seconds; 75/25-meter interval run/walk, 17/20 seconds
- Female – 40-meter sprints, 6.6 seconds; 75/25-meter interval run/walk, 17/24 seconds
Emeritus Referee Recertification
The purpose of the emeritus license is to retire from the highest level referee has attained. Emeritus certification may not be used to circumvent fitness test and assessment requirements.
The emeritus license allows a National or Regional Referee the option of retiring from those levels of refereeing while retaining that license and continuing to referee at a lower level.
The minimum age for emeritus referees is 45 years old.
Emeritus referees will complete the online annual training for recertification, as well as:
- Online Regional Referee Test
- Safe Soccer Training/Healthy and Safe Playing Environment
- SafeSport Training
- Background Check/Risk Management
- Annual Regional Referee recertification instruction
Practical Evaluation Fees
The MDCVSRP has moved to a flat fee structure for formal referee evaluations. It is no
longer tied to the match fee. The evaluation fees are currently set as follows:
Regional Referee Upgrade and Maintenance – $100
National Referee Upgrade and Maintenance – $200
Evaluations must be completed by June 30 to meet requirements for the following year’s certification. This means that evaluations for your 2027 badge must be completed by June 30, 2026.
ALL members of the referee crew must present their USSF ID# to the mentor/referee coach/national coach prior to any evaluation game.
Evaluation Request Procedure
TO REQUEST AN EVALUATION, THE FOLLOWING TWO STEPS MUST BE COMPLETED.
Step 1:
Send an email containing the following information:
- Referee Name:
- Current Referee Grade:
- Referee Phone # :
- Referee Email:
- Area Registered:
- Purpose for Assessment (upgrade/maintenance):
- Position (Referee/AR):
- Home Team:
- Away Team:
- Field:
- Location:
- Game Date:
- Game #:
- Game Time:
- League:
- Competition:
- Division:
- Gender:
Send the email to all of the people below:
- Chuck Watts: chuck27310@outlook.com
- Peter Baum: peter.Baum1@verizon.net
- Mike Renner mikerenner88@gmail.com
- Doug McConnell: rundive@cox.net
- Chris Lewis: clewis0001@aol.com
- AND YOUR ASSIGNOR FOR THIS GAME
Step 2:
Log onto the OMS https://mdcvasrp.omgtsys.com/MemberLogin.aspx
- On your Homepage, under the Advancement drop down menu, select Request Assessment. Fill in the required information
- Complete all of the information in the Request / Register Assessment page. Once all information has been completed, select Submit.
- Once the Assessment Request is submitted, the Assessment Fee will appear in green on your Home Page. Select the Click here to Complete Requests and Pay Fees button to pay your assessment fee.
- On the Pay Fees page, you must select Credit Card. Once you make this selection, press the Click Here to Pay button.
- After payment has been submitted, the Assessment Request will be forwarded to your ADA/SDA. You will receive an email once an assessor has been assigned to your game.
All United States Youth Soccer (USYS), United States Club Soccer (USCS), and National League U-18/19 matches can be used to fulfill the youth game requirement for Regional Referee Upgrade and Maintenance evaluations. Any of the above listed adult leagues can be substituted for the youth requirement. All new candidates for upgrade to Regional Referee must submit a comprehensive list of their games that count for upgrade to Regional Referee to the SDA prior to their upgrade approval. This list should include at a minimum, the game date, league, division, teams and assignor’s name.
Mentor/Referee Coach Development Guidance Forms and Instruction
Assessors, the links below will access the instruction for Development and Guidance as well as the required forms, click the links below:
