RIP (Ref-In-Pool) for Select, Premier and U14+ Recreational Teams

EKCSRA (East King County Soccer Referee Association) provides referees to all Select, Premier, and U14+ Rec EYSA home games. Therefore, all Select, Premier and U14+ Rec teams are required to provide at least one referee (called a "Ref-In-Pool") to EKCSRA.  The Ref-In-Pool(s) for a team is required to referee (either as a Center Referee or as an Assistant Referee) 10+ games from the EKCSRA pool of games. These games can be anywhere EKCSRA provides referees (but can't be your child's, sister's, brother's ... game). The more games the Ref-In-Pool(s) referees for EKCSRA, the higher the priority their team gets for referees at their home games. This will translate into better CRs and getting 2 ARs at games.

Ref-In-Pools must be certified.  It is recommended that they are 14 years old. However, it is better to have a parent be a Ref-in-Pool than a player on the team. It is hard for kids to referee the 10 games required of a Ref-In-Pool.  If the kid is under 15 years old, they will need to referee games on Saturday, the same day they play their games.   Last year only 1 team was able to meet the requirements with a player as the Ref-in-Pool.  All other teams needed adults as Ref-in-Pool.

The biggest point of confusion about Ref-in-Pool:  Two Different Referee Organizations

EKCSRA (East King County Soccer Referee Association)

1. Provides referee to premier, select, adult and  U14+ rec games (usually a CR and 2 ARs)
2. Primarily adult referees (although a fair number of youth referees for younger aged games)
3. Center referees are usually experienced;  Assistant Referees will be experienced for older aged games
4. Requires a “Ref-in-Pool” from every team that uses their services
5. Referee self-assign games through www.ekcsra.org

EYSAReferees (Eastside Youth Soccer Association Referees)

1. Provides referees to U08-U13 rec games (usually only CRs)
2. Primarily youth referees
3. A good training ground for new and/or young referees
4. Has nothing to do with “Ref-in-Pool”
5. Managed by local EYSA club (Bellevue, Issaquah, Lake Hills, Mercer Island, Newport)
6. Referees self-assign games through www.eysareferees.org

Why should RIPs be adults?

1. It's easier to find games to referee.  There is a requirement that a referee must be 2+ years older than the age group they are center refereeing. (1+ years older for assistant refereeing.) So if you are 15 years old, you can only referee U13 and below. EKCSRA doesn't support many teams under U14 so finding enough games becomes a problem.
2. Schedule.  Adults are generally freer on weekends than their children. Youths have a soccer game to play, soccer practice to go to, homework to do, etc. Plus there are some weekday evening adult games that only adults can cover.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. More reliable RIPs.  Adults are generally more reliable than children. They understand their schedule and commitments better, and have more control over them.
6. Long term RIPs.  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.
7. U12 and U13 Select teams can not provide youth RIPs.  The kids are too young on U12 and U13 to become referees.
8. Exercise and Money.  Referees get great exercise and get paid to do it.
9. Best seat in the house.  The center referee at a game gets the best seat in the house for watching a game.

Referee Certification Clinics will be held this summer around EYSA.  Click here for clinic dates.

For more about becoming a referee see Becoming a Referee.

Please contact your Referee Coordinator with any questions.

Last Updated on June 2, 2010