Becoming a Referee:
All referees must become certified to referee games in the Southwest District League. Each year referees need to recertify. We are fortunate to be able to offer these courses here in Tomah.
To become a certified referee, you must be at least 12 years old, have knowledge of the game of soccer, and be willing to learn the rules of the game. The role of the referee is not for everyone so we strongly recommend that you referee some of the U5 to U8 games to get a feel for the role.
Referee courses are offered in the fall, PRECEDING, the season. Therefore, if you want to be a referee in 2011, you must certify or recertify in the fall/winter of 2010. There may be classes available during January/Feb/March for the following year however, this is not always the case.
The Entry Level training course is a 16 hour course. It is designed to provide entry level referee skills and information through classroom and field training for candidates. Emphasis is on preparing for youth program participation - including recreational and completive games. Field emphasis is on practice of specific procedures. Participants must be at least 12 years old prior to attending this clinic. Those who are 12-13 years old will be registered as a level 9 referee, or recreational referee, and will be limited to working games at the recreational level only. Those who are 14 years of age or older will be registered as a level 8 referee. Administration of the USSF written examination is included. Minimum passing score is 75%.
Costs - There are costs associated with becoming a referee - you should budget for approximately $125. A course fee of approximately $20-$30 (depending on area) covers the costs associated with attending the course. A registration fee of $40 covers your registration with the United States Soccer Federation.
If you referee 5 games for TYSA in the season that you are certified for, TYSA will reimburse you $50.00.
For additional information about being a Referee or referee class go to the website www.wisref.org.
If you have any questions about becoming a referee please contact the TYSA Referee Representative, Mark Nicholson @ im1023@centurytel.net