Referee Resources

 The 2026 registration is opens July 1.

The path to becoming a Referee is a 2-step process.

Once you start/complete the process, you can referee all of 2026.

How to Become a USSF Referee

Requirements - You must be 13 or older.

There is two-part process that must be completed to become a licensed USSF Referee.

Sign up for a Grassroots online course. You will pay the fee ($80) when you sign up.

Part 1 - Sign up for the Online Lessons.

There are 5 modules in the online portion. All 5 modules must be completed in full before you can select an in-person clinic. This part takes approximately 6 hours to complete.

Part 2 - Select an in-person clinic to attend.

Once you complete the entire online lessons, you'll be able to select an in-person clinic to go to. You will see the words - ONLINE LESSONS COMPLETED highlighted in green to know that you can select the in-person clinic you wish to attend.

The in-person clinic is 3.5 hours. This is the field session done outdoors.

Plenty of important information is given to all attendees at the in-person clinics - who you will work for, how to get games, where to get uniforms, etc.

You must complete both parts in order to become a referee.

To Register for a Clinic:

Log into – OMS

Click – Find Clinic

Select – Entry Never been a USSF Referee before

Select – Referee Online Lessons

Register/Pay - Cost is $80.00

Start/finish the online lessons

Select the In-person Training

Entry Referee Field Session Clinic 

Hosted IN Midlothian

August 23, 2025

9:00am - 12:30pm

Hawkins Spring Park

Nick Griffin

REFEREE CHAIRMAN

Email:  refereechair@midlothiansoccer.org 

You do NOT know everything you need to know about the rules of the game. Referees that have been doing it for years still question calls or game time decisions!

It is important that you read through the Laws of the Game often to keep learning. 

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) establishes and publishes the official "Laws of the Game".  These laws cover the game from youth all the way to adults.  You can find the most current Laws of the Game here.

 While this Association establishes the overall rules of the game, it is important to remember that they structure them so local associations are able to modify the Laws as necessary for their needs.  Most of our modifications can be viewed in our Quick Game Summary. 

We implementied the final set of changes to move to the US Youth Soccer small-sided games rules in the Fall of 2017. Because these rules are still fairly new, they might not be reflected in all education/training documents. 

• Application of Advantage
• Assessing Challenges
• Fouls and Misconduct
• Getting to the Next Level
• Offside
• Positioning and Mechanics

IFFAB's Practical Guidelines for Match Officials

North Texas Soccer Referee Policy Manual 

FIFA Presentation regarding Law 5: The Referee

FIFA Presentation regarding Law 6: The Assistant Referee

 Here are a few rules from Law 12.

An indirect free kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, commits any of the following offences:

• controls the ball with the hands for more than six seconds before releasing it
• touches the ball with the hands after releasing it and before it has touched another player
• touches the ball with the hands after it has been deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a team-mate
• receiving it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate

A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball when:

• the ball is between the hands or between the hand and any surface (e.g. ground, own body) or by touching it with any part of the hands or arms except if the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper or the goalkeeper has made a save
• holding the ball in the outstretched open hand
• bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air

A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with the hands.