US Soccer Certified Referees work with US Soccer Certified Referee Assignors to schedule their games.  We have many certified assignors in the DC/Virginia region.  A list of assignors, along with their contact information, can be found here.

US Soccer guidance:

There appears to be some miscommunication about the process for referees to upgrade from Regional Referee to National Official that was presented at the Referee Program Workshop. This will serve as clarification for State Referee Committees. This same process will be communicated to all referees in our next Quarterly Referee Newsletter. 
 
1.       All Regional Referees will have access to an application requesting they wish to upgrade from a regional license to a national license. The application will have a deadline attached to it for submission. 

2.       The application will ask for the individual's past two fitness test results. 

3.       In addition, the applicant will be asked to list their 100 adult games. Fifty (50 as a referee and 50 as an assistant referee). The list must include the date of the game, both teams, and the level of the adult game. Levels would include U-23, Open, Over 30, Over 40, Over 50, etc. 

4.       If the candidate has met the above minimum requirements, the application will be sent to U.S. Soccer’s National Selection Committee for approval. 

5.       It is important to note this is where subjective nature applies. The panel will discuss each candidate’s application and decide whether the candidate receives an invite to U.S. Soccer’s National Camp. 
 
Just because a candidate meets the minimum requirements DOES NOT mean you will receive an invite. Candidates whose application is not approved will receive written communication as to why they were not selected. Candidates only need to have three (3) assessments in the license that they are applying for. If a candidate does not select a specific license (referee or assistant referee) their application will be rejected. 

Posted April 19, 2024
 

A critical item in a successful match is the a pregame conference with the referee team. Each member of the team needs to know what will happen in given situations to ensure that those situations are dealt with properly.

Pre Game Conference Subjects

Only take assignments for United States Soccer Federation affiliated matches from certified USSF assignors. Do not take assignments from coaches or any other non-certified assignor. This includes preseason “friendlies”, scrimmages, and all USSF-affiliated tournaments.

Always know what Rules of Competition apply to your event.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled starting time, in order to check the field, conduct a full pre-game conference, and check in the players. If you know either or both of the coaches, always address them as “coach” and not by their first name. Any perception of favoritism is not good.

Goals must be anchored.

Follow the pass and roster documentation requirements of the competition. In general, NO PASS, NO PLAY, but there can be exceptions. 

Understand the policies for severe weather, including lightning and thunder. 

US Soccer does not recognize the 2 referee/2 whistle system. If only 2 referees show up at the field, one referee is the referee, the other is AR1. You may designate a Club Linesperson: identify a parent to call balls in and out of play on the other touchline. 

In cases of referee abuse and/or assault, file a USSF Supplemental report immediately with your assignor, the league, and the State Referee Program Office.

It is VERY important that we make a note of any apparent serious injuries on our game cards (or whatever mechanism we use to report our games to the League/Competition Authority that we are playing our match under). You must send the reports in promptly.

It is your duty and responsibility to file a match report in the manner required by the competition. If not otherwise specified, this should be done by following day. You must report the score, any misconduct and/or player injuries, and anything else that was relevant to the match.

 

If you display a yellow or red card for misconduct during your game, you must do the paperwork!

The paperwork is as much a part of the game as calling fouls. Team, coach, and player discipline cannot be adjudicated properly unless you turn in ALL misconduct reports promptly and correctly.

Why bother?  How to do it?  Click here. 

US Soccer Referee Report

US Soccer Supplemental Referee Report

Report referee abuse, referee assault, coaches misconduct, or other incident