BECOME A REFEREE

All USSF affiliates, including CYSA-N and CSAN leagues, require that all referees be certified by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

CNRA offers USSF Grade 8 Referee and Grade 9 Recreational Referee clinics through the nine CYSA-N Districts. To determine in which District you are located, please refer to the Directory.

USSF Grade 8 Referee
The Grade 8 clinic consists of six (6) 3-hour sessions, for a total of eighteen (18) hours of instruction. Attendance at all sessions is required for successful completion of the course. Upon successful completion of the course, candidates may register as Grade 8 Referees with the United States Soccer Federation for a registration fee ($25.00 as of June 19, 2001).

USSF Grade 9 Recreational Referee
The USSF Grade 9 Recreational Referee may officiate games as either a Referee or Assistant Referee on recreational youth games for under-14 and younger only. They may not officiate older ages, competitive youth matches (Class 1), or adult matches. For the latter matches, you must be at least a Grade 8 Referee. The Grade 9 clinic consists of a one-day eight-hour class. Upon successful completion of the course, candidates may register as Grade 9 Recreational Referees with the United States Soccer Federation for a registration fee ($20.00 as of June 19, 2001).

How Do I Sign Up for a Referee Clinic?
To enroll in a USSF Referee Clinic, please refer to the Calendar. for a list of clinics and contact information. You may also look up your District Referee Coordinator in the Directory and contact them for information.

I was a USSF Referee more than one year ago. How do I become recertified?
The USSF policy regarding recertification states the following:

USSF Referee Administrative Handbook, pp. 28-29
6. REFEREES NOT REGISTERED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR
Any referee who was not registered with the U.S. Soccer Federation the previous year may be certified at the grade he previously held after taking and passing the written qualifying examination, fitness test, and assessments. This applies to referees who were previously certified and registered with the Federation. A referee who has not been registered for two or more consecutive years may be registered at the level immediately below the grade previously held and then be tested for the grade level he once achieved at the next available testing session and can register for that grade after successfully completing all of the requirements.

You can immediately register as a USSF Referee at the next lower grade which you previously attained by downloading the USSF Referee Registration form. Follow the instructions for printing and payment of fees.

You can upgrade to your previously attained grade once you satisfy all the requirements for upgrading.

I was a referee in another country. How do I become certified in the USA?
For referees from other countries, you may certify with the USSF without taking a course provided you have credentials from your certifying country.

Make copies of your certification and send them to the State Referee Administrator for Cal-North. DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS. The SRA submits your paperwork to the USSF, which replies with an equivalent USSF Referee Grade plus any recertification requirements to be fulfilled. The SRA then notifies the applicant of their USSF Referee Grade.

If you have no certification, you must take either a Grade 8 or 9 referee course.

I am an AYSO Referee. How do I cross-certify with the USSF?
AYSO Referees may cross-certify with the USSF and obtain an equivalent USSF Referee certification without taking a referee course.

You must download the form (in Adobe Acrobat .pdf), complete it, and mail it to the appropriate authority as indicated on the form.

Once you are certified with the USSF, you must satisfy annual renewal requirements to retain your USSF certification. Furthermore, if you wish to upgrade within the USSF, you must satisfy additional requirements.