North Carolina Soccer Referee Training

In North Carolina, potential soccer referees can become certified at age 14. The governing body for soccer referees in the state is the North Carolina Soccer Referee Association (NCSRA), which defers to the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) on matters of rules of the game and referee training. Potential referees must attend training clinics, pass a test and be physically fit.

  1. Types of Referee Clinics

    • There are a a variety of clinics offered by the NCSRA. Grade 9 is the entry-level certification clinic that allows referees to work recreational soccer, and referees who pass a test at this level can work games through the U-14 (under 14) level. Referees can attempt to upgrade to Grade 8 or re-certify at the Grade 8 level by attending a clinic, passing a USSF test with a score of 75 or better and passing two additional tests. To upgrade to Grades 5, 6, 7 and the professional level, referees require an invitation to clinics. These referee levels are national and training is governed solely by the USSF. Referees must pass game assessments, a written exam and a physical fitness test.

    Referee Testing

    • For re-certification at the Grade 8 level, referees must past three tests: the USSF standard test, the 7x7 exam, and the Four Ds test. The 7x7 exam covers cautionable and "sending-off" offenses. The Four Ds test assesses the referee's knowledge of "obvious goal-scoring opportunity denied," as governed by Law 12 of the USSF regulations. To become a Grade 5 or 6 referee, a number of minimum requirements must be met as designated by the USSF, including minimum age, experience, game level, time in present grade, training courses, written exam, field evaluation and physical fitness test.

    Referee Education

    • In North Carolina, referees participating in the Grade 9 entry-level clinic must complete 16 hours of classroom training and two hours of field training. In this clinic, referees receive the USSF Laws of the Game, the Referee Handbook and a Guide to Procedures. Upon completion, referees earn USSF referee certification, allowing them to work anywhere in the United States.

    Referee Fitness

    • NCSRA provides its pool of referees with the FIFA Referee Fitness Training Sessions. This program is a detailed, multiweek plan specifically designed for the type of athletic ability required of a soccer referee. The variety of running (jogging, sprinting, walking backwards running), for example, mirrors a field player's movement on the field.

    Referee Mentor Program

    • The NCSRA offers a mentor program for young referees. The goal is "to build a solid base of knowledge and skills in the art of officiating soccer, as well as give opportunity and exposure to the referees." To qualify, experienced referees must be at least 16 years old, have two years of good standing with the USSF, have refereed at least 30 matches, have the desire to advance to Grade 6 and have received a recommendation from an assigner/mentor.