Become A Referee
Start your journey here!
Becoming a referee is easy and rewarding. Follow the instructions on this page to become a first time soccer referee.
*See Below for Registration
Quick Facts:
- Age: you must be at least 13 years old
- Cost: the registration fee is $85, and you will also need to purchase a uniform and gear (about $65) – You can order uniforms at this link Official Sports International
- Time: Online training will take 6-8 hours, plus 4-5 hours of in-person field training.
- Click here to read the Registration Refund Policy
Registration
Online Training
Order Gear
Field Training
Get Games
To start and complete your registration Browse to OMS (click to open)
“Registration Process”. Read carefully.
Press the “Create an Account” Button on the page shown below:
Fill out and Submit your Personal Information. (Sceenshot omitted)
Do Not Use Browser Auto-Fill: To ensure the timely delivery of your USSF badge and referee materials, please manually type and verify your address.
Enter Information in the Correct Boxes: Make sure your Street, City, State, and Zip are entered correctly in the appropriate fields.
Note: Errors in address formatting will result in significant delays to your certification, license processing, and the mailing of official credentials.
Complete step 1 of 3 as shown below:
Complete Step 2/3 by selecting “Online Only” for Clinic, then pressing the “Select Clinic” button next to the “Referee-Entry Online Preclinic” option as shown below:
Complete Step 3/3 by checking out and paying the $85 registration fee. See Refund Policy here.
If you do not have OMS open, click here and login using your account from step 1.
• Press “Online Lessons” button
• Press the “Start” button next to the lesson “Intro to the Learning Center – DCV”
1. Welcome Screen. (15 minutes)
2. Registering for Your Lessons in the LC (4 hours, 30 minutes)
3. 2026-2027 IFAB Law Changes (20 minutes)
4. 2026-2027 Laws of the Game (5 minutes)
5. Referee Signals (9 minutes)
6. Assistant Referee Signals (11 minutes)
7. Ceremonial Restarts (4 minutes)
8. New Referee Test – Part 1 (30 minutes)
9. New Referee Test – Part 2. (30 minutes)
10. Intro to Safety (Learning Center) (40 minutes)
11. LC SafeSport (90 minutes)
NOTE: Lesson 11 (SafeSport Training is required for people 18 and older)
• You can take a break between lessons, be sure to CLOSE and LOG OUT
• You have completed the online lessons when the button turns pale green. Once you have completed all lessons, you will see the option to “Pick A Clinic.” Choose this option and see the instructions on the next tab.
NOTE: Lesson 2 will show pending until the DC-Virginia Online Referee Course is complete.
Our State Referee Committee has an agreement with Official Sports International (OSI) for our referees to purchase their referee kits at a discount. OSI provides proper uniforms and equipment and is a sponsor of US Soccer. OSI uniforms are what you see on professional referees at US Soccer events.
If you have not purchased your referee uniform and equipment, you may procure them from OSI.
On your OMS Member Information, under the Registration drop down menu, select “Order Referee Starter Kit”.
OSI has set up a store for apparel with our Metro DC-Virginia logo. Click HERE.
You can view all available OSI referee uniforms and equipment, and OSI apparel and gear also.
You can purchase your gear at OSI or any other store/website as long as it meets the USSF guidelines.
What you need:
• Referee Socks (2 stripes)
• Referee Shorts
• Referee Shirt (at least yellow, you can also purchase a pack of all colors. If you only want 1 additional shirt, we recommend green)
• Whistle
• Flags
• Cards
• Watch
• Scorecards
• Shoes: Referee shoes should be black athletic shoes. Predominantly black is usually acceptable. Manufacturer logo of a different color is acceptable. The referee shoes should not be distracting, or draw attention.
After completing the online training, new referees are required to complete an in-person training session. Register for that training by logging in to OMS.
Congratulations – You have successfully completed the Required Online Lessons.
Please select an In-Person clinic to attend from the list below to continue your Training.
Find a course in your area and click “Register” to sign up.
**Note: If you do not see any clinics that work for you, check back frequently as new clinics are added weekly.
You will receive details in your email.
Congratulations, you are ready to start refereeing!
Click Here to learn how to get assigned to games.
Why Become a Referee?
Beyond the love of the game, becoming a soccer referee offers significant personal and professional benefits. You'll stay active and fit, develop invaluable leadership skills, and earn money for your hard work. Most importantly, you'll play a vital role in the youth soccer community by ensuring fair play and a positive experience for all.