Referees

Becoming a Referee

Contacts

Nick Griffin

REFEREE CHAIRMAN

Email: refereechair@midlothiansoccer.org

Referee Training

The 2025 registration is Closed until Jan. 2025

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

Once you start/complete the process, you can referee all of 2025.

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.

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

Start/finish the online lessons

Select the In-person Training

Entry Referee Field Session Clinic

Hosted IN Midlothian

TBD

Referee References

Availability

Referee Code of Ethics and Conduct

Referees set their ability to work each week and games are assigned to them based on their availability to work, availability of games, experience, and seniority.

Referee Code of Ethics and Conduct

The Referee Code of Ethics and Conduct is established by the United States Soccer Federation and North Texas Soccer. We expect all referees working with MSA to committ to following these guidelines.

The Code

Game Day Procedures

Being Assigned a Game

When you are assigned to a game, you will receive an email. You will need to log into the system and approve or deny the game.

Do not deny the game based on anything other than availability. You will NOT be assigned to another game during that time slot.

If you are consistently denying games during the times you told us you were available, you will move to the bottom of the list of referees being assigned.

Once you approve a game, if your schedule changes or you get sick, you will need to contact the assignor asap. This needs to be a RARE event. Make sure you put the game you accepted on your calendar. We are counting on you to be there!

Arrive at the Fields

Being Assigned a Game

You are expected to be at the fields between 30 - 45 minutes prior to your first game each day. Once you arrive, check in at the game day tent.

The game time on your assignment is the time the game should START. Check-in for teams begins 15 minutes prior to game start. Do not be the reason a game starts late by not being at your assigned field in time.

Training & Resources

Laws of the Game

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.

Association Rules

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.

Small Sided Games

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.

Find out more

The Iowa Soccer Association Referee Academy YouTube Videos

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

GoalKeepers

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.

Referee Resources

Current Referees

Becoming a Referee

Contacts

Referee Training

Uniform and Equipment

Referee References

Availability

Referee Code of Ethics and Conduct

Referee Code of Ethics and Conduct

Referee Code of Ethics and Conduct

Referee Code of Ethics and Conduct

Referee Code of Ethics and Conduct

Game Day Procedures

Being Assigned a Game

Being Assigned a Game

Being Assigned a Game

Arrive at the Fields

Being Assigned a Game

Being Assigned a Game

Training & Resources

Laws of the Game

Association Rules

Small Sided Games

The Iowa Soccer Association Referee Academy YouTube Videos

GoalKeepers

Downloads