FCArmstrong

Here are the basics per US Soccer. If you live in Western PA the basics are easy navigating the path is a little more challenging at the current time but there are people out there who can help you, you just need to keep asking,

FYI with PRO there is not longer a State, it’s just Regional.

Requirement:  Each Grassroots referee:

Prior to attempting the upgrade process to upgrade to Regional Referee,

-must pass a formal practical evaluation as the referee on a competitive Senior Amateur (Adult) Division 2 or above level match;
-must be 18 years of age;
-must have a minimum of previous three consecutive years’ referee experience; and
-must have 25 games as a referee and 15 games as an assistant referee at the Adult Amateur level, 11v11, two 45-minute halves (must be documented).

To complete the upgrade process to Regional Referee, Grassroots referees must pass 3 formal practical evaluations as a referee and one as an assistant referee.

Type of match:  Formal practical evaluations will only be performed on matches scheduled for two (2) full 45-minute halves, 11v11, and must be between two current affiliated USSF member teams. All matches must be played to completion in accordance with the rules of the competition.  Any evaluation resulting in a not acceptable performance rating will require an additional evaluation at the same level.   The minimum match requirements are:

1.    One match as a referee on a competitive Highest Youth Level U18/19 match. 
2.    One match as a referee on a competitive senior adult amateur Division 2 (D2) level match or above.  
3.    One match as a referee on a top-level, senior amateur, Division 1 or Premier-level match or above.
4.    One match as an assistant referee (position AR1) on a top-level, senior amateur, Division 1 or Premier-level match or above.

Notes:  
1.    Each match evaluation must be performed by a different Referee Coach.
2.    Referees are encouraged to accomplish the formal practical evaluations at the higher levels of competition. 
3.    Grassroots Referees seeking to upgrade to Regional Referee, before requesting an upgrade assessment, must be 18 years of age, must have a minimum of three consecutive years’ experience, and must have the following minimum game experience:  25 games as a referee and 15 games as an assistant referee at the Adult Amateur level, 11v11, two 45-minute halves (must be documented). 
4.    Other USSOCCER Regional Referee Certification and License requirements can be found in the USSOCCER Learning Center (https://learning.ussoccer.com/referee/resources).
5.    The acceptable leagues for the top-level adult and youth assessments can be found on the SRP website.

Referee Coach Level:  Any currently licensed Regional Assessor, Referee Coach, or National Referee Coach is qualified for this level of evaluation. 

To complete the upgrade process to Regional Referee, Grassroots referees must meet the following additional requirements.

Physical Fitness Test:

     – Male – 40-meter sprints, 6.40 seconds; 75/25-meter interval run/walk, 17/20 seconds
     – Female – 40-meter sprints, 6.6 seconds; 75/25-meter interval run/walk, 17/24 seconds

Regional Referee Upgrade Course and Field Instruction (after game-count and developmental assessment requirement have been met)

Online Regional Referee Test

Additional annual requirements:

Safe Soccer Training/Healthy and Safe Playing Environment
SafeSport Training
Background Check/Risk Management
Annual Regional Referee recertification instruction

MAINTENANCE:

1.    One match as a referee on a competitive Youth U18/19 match. 
2.    One match as a referee on a top-level, senior amateur, Division 1 or Premier-level match or above.

About the fitness test:

Referee Test 1: Repeated Sprint Ability

• Referees run six consecutive 40 meter sprints followed by a recovery period aftereach sprint
  (while walking back to the start line)
• The ‘start’ gate is placed at 0m and the ‘finish’ gate at 40m. The ‘start line’ is marked out 1.5m
  before the ‘start’ gate.
• Referees line up at the start with their front foot touching the ‘start line’. Once the test leader
  signals that ready, the referee is free to start.
• Referees receive a maximum of 60 seconds recovery between each of the 6 x 40m sprints. During
  recovery, referees must walk back to the start.
• If a referee falls or trips, they should be given an additional trial (one trial = 1 x 40 m).
• If a referee fails one trial out of the six, they should be given a seventh trial immediately after the
  sixth trial. If they fail two trials out of seven, the match official has failed the test.

Referee Test 2: Interval Test

• Referees must complete 40 x 75m run / 25m walk intervals. This equates to 10 laps of a 400m
  athletics track. A lap consists of four 75 meter runs with four 25 meter recovery walks
• The pace is dictated by the audio file and reference times are set in accordance with the referee’s
  category.
• Referees must start from a standing position. They must not start before the whistle. On the
  whistle, referees are allowed to start running.
• At the end of each run, each referee must enter the ‘walking area’ before the whistle. The walking
  area is marked out with a line 1.5m before and 1.5m behind the 75m line.
• If a referee fails to place a foot inside the walking area on time, they should receive a clear
  warning from the test leader. If a referee fails to place a foot inside the walking area on time for a
  second occasion, they should be stopped by the test leader and informed that they have failed.