1. Why become a referee?

Being a referee is fun. It’s also terrific way to earn money while getting a little exercise and teaching younger players about the game of soccer (very few jobs pay as much per hour as being a referee). Being a referee is also a great way to develop leadership skills, something that always looks good on a college application.

 

 2. How do you become a referee?

To become a referee you must take one of the courses offered by the Massachusetts State Referee Committee. The course to train Recreational Referees (called a Grade 9 license by the USSF –which has nothing to do with your grade in school) lasts 8 hours. You can find a list of courses by going to the MSRC web site (www.massref.net). Grade 9 referees are licensed to referee 6 v 6 and 8 v 8 games, as well as serve as Assistant Referees for 11 v 11 games.
 

 3. Who can be a referee in Weston?

Anyone can referee in Weston, you do not have to live here or play soccer with the Weston Soccer Club. The Weston Soccer Club starts using referees when they are in eighth grade in school or older.

 

 4. How does a referee get assigned to games?
Once you complete your license course, you should notify the WSC Referee Assignor, who will put you on the list of active referees. Each week of the season the assignor sends out e-mail asking who is available and at what times that week and builds a schedule. The number of games you will work each seasons varies; some weeks there are more referees available than there are games, and sometimes we are especially eager for referees who will work. Most games are on the weekends, but sometimes rescheduled games get played in the afternoons or evenings after school.

 

Referees are paid for each game they work, with the amount of money depending on the level of the game. In addition, the WSC pays a bonus based on how many games they work each season.  

 

Pay scale:

 

U11, U12 8 v 8                                                $25

U12, U14 11 v 11                                           $35

U16 11 v 11                                                     $45

Assistant Referee for U14, U16, U18        $25

 

Bonus scale:

In addition, the WSC pays a bonus based on how many games they work during a season according to the following scale:

 

  6. Referee training and mentoring

The license classes provide new referees with a working knowledge of the rules (referred to as the “Laws of the Game”). To give new referees some help with the practical aspects of being a referee and managing game situations, the WSC arranges field sessions for on the job training. Unlike players, who get to practice in between games, referees only get better by working games. Therefore the WSC has “referee coaches” who watch referees work games and can answer questions and give tips. Our goal is to have all our referees be comfortable with their early assignments and constantly improve to earn the way to work up to ever more demanding games.

 

Although the MSRC allows anyone 11 years or older to take the USSF Grade 9 license course, the WSC has found that referees have longer, more successful and enjoyable careers if they wait to start until they are in 7th or 8th grade.  Although most 11 year olds can quickly master soccer’s rules, it can take a great deal of maturity to properly manage players and coaches and handle complicated game situations.

 

 8. Moving up to 11v11 games

The entry-level USSF Grade 9 license trains referees to work 6 v 6 and 8 v 8 games. To be assigned 11 v 11 games and earn the excitement and higher pay of working these games for older players requires the USSF Grade 8 license. This is a separate course for referees who must be at least 15 years old. The USSF Grade 8 course requires 16 hours of classroom time. Recently the MSRC has started offering a “Bridge” course for referees who already have a USSF Grade 9 license who want to move up to do 11 v 11 games. This requires only 8 hours of classroom time. Considering that each year you must do 4 hours of recertification it’s a great thing!