How to Become a Soccer Referee in Maryland

A soccer referee's tough job requirements include running to get in position and making calls in a split second without the benefit of a replay. Fans or parents of players often criticize a referee's mistakes. One way to prevent missed calls is getting the proper training. If you wish to referee soccer matches in Maryland, you must go through a certification process. Once properly trained and certified, you should have plenty of opportunities to work. In 2008-09, there were 58,308 children soccer players, according to U.S. Youth Soccer. Additionally, 11,451 high school students played soccer in Maryland in 2008-09, according to a study by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Things You'll Need

  • Referee Course
  • Referee Exam
  • Re-certification test
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take the entry level Grade 8 referee course offered by Maryland Soccer Referees, the state's governing body for soccer officials. The course consists of 16 hours of learning plus a two-hour exam. The classes cover the 17 laws of soccer and the basics of refereeing. As of 2010, the course cost $25 to $35, depending on where you take it. The recommended minimum age is 13.

    • 2

      Achieve a passing score of 75 percent on the final exam. The exam consists of 100 true/false and multiple-choice questions, in addition to five short answer questions.

    • 3

      Register with the United States Soccer Federation, or USSF, after the exam. Your application is submitted through the Maryland Referee Administrator. Registration with the USSF allows you to work anywhere in the country.

    • 4

      Re-certify every year with the USSF. Referees must take a minimum of five hours of rules training--which you can take in one session or a few different ones--and take a re-certification test. The clinics are free in Maryland, but the USSF requires an annual registration fee of $40, as of 2010.

    • 5

      Sign up for games. Contact a USSF-licensed assignor that covers an area of the state. A Grade 8 certification allows you to referee adult soccer games and recreational-level youth games. Upgrade your certification level by taking additional courses if you wish to officiate higher-level games.