Youth Soccer Referee Training

Soccer is a sport widely appreciated by youth all over the world. For every game, however, there are a plethora of rules that must be understood. Many times kids are not accustomed to the details and intricacies of the rule book and must be guided in the discipline of the sport. A referee is someone who can aid that process by knowing the rules of the game.

  1. Requirements

    • Soccer is an endurance sport, and you must be in decent physical shape to be a youth soccer referee. You need to run the length of the field multiple times throughout a game. You don't need to be an elite athlete, but you may want to run a few days a week to stay in shape. Practice by running backward and sideways, as this is commonly part of the job of refereeing.

    Equipment

    • Basic referee equipment includes a whistle, two yellow and red cards, a watch, a pen and a coin. Clothing for a referee includes a striped shirt, which is the most distinguishable piece of apparel for a referee. It often comes in yellow or black and white stripes. You also need shorts, knee-high socks and cleats. You may elect to wear shinguards like the players do.

    Rules

    • Study the official rulebook for your area or league of refereeing. There are many variations to the game depending on age, especially for players under 5. You need to know the basics and be ready to explain the rules to someone--a player or coach--with questions.

    Strategy

    • As a referee, you may not always be right, but you are never wrong. In this sense, what you didn't see didn't happen. You cannot be responsible for seeing the whole field at once, and being human may lead to errors. But you have to stand by your word and not let a dispute from a player of coach distract you from the task at hand.

    Lead, Don't Follow

    • In terms of being able to keep up with the pace of the game, some extra strategy helps you be a more efficient referee and avoid expending unnecessary energy. Try to position yourself where you imagine the ball going in the next play, rather than chasing the ball after it happens. Predicting the play gives you a chance to conserve energy when the ball is in your area.

    Classes

    • For coaching youth soccer there is no official certification, required although you are expected to have a firm understanding of the rules. The most common way to do this is by taking a class or seminar through the organizational body U.S. Soccer. U.S. soccer offers several referee training classes and seminars depending on your area and level of refereeing. They also offer the Laws of the Game document, which outlines the official rules.