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Becoming a Referee
Minimum Referee Requirements
You must be at least 13 years old when refereeing your first game for EYSA (through www.EYSAReferees.org). Referees may only be center referees for games of players at least two years younger than themselves. Example: If you are 13 years old, the oldest age group you may referee is the U11’s (i.e. 10 and 11 year olds). Referees can be any age to be an assistant referee for a game, but need enough experience to be an assistant referee for older aged youth games.
You must become a certified referee (this is new for 2010). There are two entry levels for certified referees - Grade 9 and Grade 8. Grade 8 referees are only limited by experience as to what level games they may referee. Grade 9 referees may only referee rec level games up to U14 as a center referee and they may referee select and premier games up to U14 as an assistant referee. EYSA (Eastside Youth Soccer Association) sponsors training clinics that you take to certify. EYSA clinics are free for EYSA referees but the state charges $50 for the testing, registration and the referee badge.
EYSA sponsored clinics will be spread across EYSA during July and August. (There are other clinics held in Redmond, Woodinville, Seattle and at Starfire in Tukwila, but they will cost an additional $30-$50 since they are not EYSA sponsored.) Grade 9 clinics are usually one day events. Grade 8 clinics are 16 hours long and are usually spread over a weekend (Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday).
Once you have your certificate, at the very least, you will understand the game and how referees work. More importantly, you can begin to referee games. You get game assignments by assigning yourself through the EYSA website - www.eysareferees.org, or the EKCSRA website - www.ekcsra.org. We start new referees on easier games with younger-age kids.
Grade 8 or Grade 9?
If you have never refereed and especially if you are 13 or 14 years old, become a Grade 9 Referee. Try out refereeing for a year. You'll referee the U08 and U09 games to start with. These are fun and easy.
If you are an adult or have refereed before, then become a Grade 8 Referee. You should open your opportunities up to older aged youth games or even adult games.
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Grade 8 |
Grade 9 |
| Clinic Time |
16 hours |
8 hours |
| Clinic Costs |
$50 |
$50 |
| Initial Equip. Costs |
~$70 |
~40 |
| Game Restrictions |
Limited by Experience |
U08-U14 |
| Center Referee |
Yes |
Yes (Rec games only) |
| Assistant Referee |
Yes |
Yes |
| Pay Range (per game) |
$15 - $60+ |
$15 - $30 |
Pay per Game (U08-U13 rec games)
Uniform and Equipment Requirements
The Benefits of Being a Referee
Being a referee is one of the best things that soccer players and parents can do. You can help out your club (MIYSC), improve your knowledge of the game, and earn some spare change too. More youth and adult referees are needed – especially adult referees. Games are self-assigned based on your ability and availability.
Why Adults Should Become Referees:
1. Provides a way for the parent to support their child's team. Parents can provided sorely needed support to their child's team without needing to coach. And they can plan their refereeing around the child's game, so they can still attend the child's game.
2. Provides a knowledgeable adult on the sidelines during your child's game. Most adults in this country don't know the rules of soccer and having someone at your child's game who does know the rules and can explain them reduces the anxiety on the sidelines. This makes the game more enjoyable for everyone. This also provides you with an better understanding of the game your child loves.
3. Schedule. Adults are generally freer on weekends than their children. Children have a soccer game to play, soccer practice to go to, homework to do, etc.
4. More reliable Referees. Adults are generally more reliable than kids. They understand their schedule and commitments better, and have more control over them.
5. Long term Referees. Adults are more likely to remain referees for longer periods of time. The average turn-over for kids (<=18 years old) is 1.5 years - not very long. The average for adults (>18 years old) is 5 years. The whole soccer world benefits from adults as referees because the knowledge and experience stays on the field much longer.
6. Exercise and Money. Referees get great exercise and get paid to do it.
7. Best seat in the house. The center referee at a game gets the best seat in the house for watching a game.
Why Kids Should Become Referees:
1. Fun job. Having a job in an area you love makes the job hugely more enjoyable.
2. Learn to be in charge. It's tough for a lot of kids to learn how to be in charge, how to lead, how to be the authority on a subject. As a referee you are expected to be in charge so it makes it a lot easier. Kids who play soccer know the rules and being a referee is an easy step forward.
3. Provides more knowledge about the game. It's one thing to play the game, it's another to be the referee. Learning how the referee sees the game can only help your understanding of the game.
4. Exercise and Money. Referees get great exercise and get paid to do it.
5. Best seat in the house. The center referee at a game gets the best seat in the house for watching a game.
Please contact your Referee Coordinator with any questions.
Last Updated June 2, 2010
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