To become a referee, you must be licensed. A license is obtained by attending a referee course and passing a written exam. CVSC sponsors three types of referee courses. For training new referees, there are Grade 8 and Grade 9 Referee Clinics. For upgrading from a Grade 9 to a Grade 8 referee, there is the Bridge Clinic.
Grade 8 - Grade 9; what are they? First, let’s make it clear that this has nothing to do with school. The Grade is the level of the referee designated by FIFA and the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF). As a referee becomes more qualified, they move up in level. Moving up in level means the number gets smaller. The most qualified FIFA referee is a Grade 1, international.
A Grade 8 referee is called a Referee Class 2. Grade 8 referees are allowed to officiate in any position on any youth game up to U19. Of course, appropriate experience must be gained before officiating higher level games upon passing the examination. Generally, the assignors for older than U-19 and state level games require higher level referees (Grade 7 or 6) for state level matches for older players. Youth are generally used to referee State level matches for younger players.
A Grade 9 referee is called a Recreational Referee. Grade 9 referees are allowed to officiate in any position (center or assistant referee) on any recreational (Division 4) game U14 and below. CVSC recommends that first year Grade 9 referees officiate U8, U10, and U12 recreational games. Grade 9 referees may not officiate Division 1 and 3 games nor recreational games older than U14.
Choose which Grade you want to start at based on the games you want to referee and the time you have available to attend a course. Please note that upgrading from Grade 9 to Grade 8 cannot be done in the same calendar year that you become a Grade 9.
To become a Grade 8 referee, you attend a Grade 8 Referee Clinic. This course is an 18 hour course usually taught in six (6), three (3) hour sessions. See Grade 8 Referee Course Information to obtain detailed information about this course.
To become a Grade 9 referee, you attend a Grade 9 Referee Clinic. This course is an eight (8) hour course usually taught in two 4 hour sessions or in one day. See Grade 9 Referee Course Information to obtain detailed information about this course.
When a Grade 9 referee wants to become a Grade 8 referee, they may attend either the Grade 8 Referee Course or they may attend a Bridge Clinic. The Bridge Clinic is a 12 hour course usually taught in three 4 hour sessions. See Grade 9 to Grade 8 Bridge Course Information to obtain detailed information about the Bridging course.
When you obtain your license, you are free to referee anywhere in the U.S. Also, you may take the referee courses anywhere they are offered. Because most clubs sponsor their courses, we ask that you attend the course from the club for which you are going to referee. This allows more local people to take the courses and reduces travel time for everyone. It also introduces you to the referee administration personnel within the club for which you will referee. However, if you cannot attend a local course, you will not be turned away. Referee courses sponsored by other District IV clubs/leagues can be found on the District IV Referees web site under the Instruction tab.
To find out how to sign up for a referee course sponsored by CVSC, email referees@castrovalleysoccer.com. Space is limited to the first 35, so don’t delay. If there is enough demand, we will attempt to add additional courses. Go to the CALENDAR page to see when courses are offered by CVSC. To reserve your seat, send a $10 check payable to CVSC (for CVSC members) or $15 for NON-CVSC member to the CVSC office.
District IV recommends that youth be 14 years old as of August 1st to become a referee, however CVSC accepts youth as young as 12. There is no official minimum age requirement set by USSF, but we feel that most “younger” youth are not ready to referee. Also, new referees must be older than the players they are officiating. This would be greatly restrict the available games to youth 12 years of age (U8 through U12).
