REFEREE 101 - A PROGRAM TO ASSIST OUR NEWEST MEMBERS IN ADAPTING TO THEIR NEW RESPONSIBILITIES.
Click here for a list of equipment you should bring to each game.
How do I get games? Click here for a list of the 2008 assignors.
OK, I'm at the field. What do I do before I start the game? Some suggestions ...
The game started ... what now? Here's a starting point ...
Miscellaneous stuff you should know - with some further explanation below
SRC - State Referee Committee - oversees all referee activities in the state organization which is the WNY Referee Association. New York State is broken into two associations - east and west. Your state association affiliation is Western New York, which encompasses all of New York west of Route 81. Check the web page: www.wnyreferee.org for tournament information, registration status, etc.
SRA (Curt Hamlin) - State Referee Administrator - oversees all referees in state association
SYRA (Bill Campbell) - State Youth Referee Administrator - specifically responsible for development of youth referees in the youth leagues
DRA (Bill Bianchi) - District Referee Administrator - Rochester district representative to the State Referee Committee.
Rochester District - Each state association is broken down into districts. You are in the Rochester District, web page www.rochester.wnyreferee.org. You will find meeting schedules, scholarship information, training information and a wealth of other information at the web page.
Game Record - You must maintain a record of the games that you officiate each year. At a minimum, you must include the date, age level of players, and whether you were the Referee or Assistant Referee. You may click here for a prepared form, create your own spreadsheet, use your Arbiter schedule, or simply use a blank sheet of paper. You will need to turn in a copy of your game report when you register for the following year.
RDYSL - Rochester District Youth Soccer League. The travel league for players ages 8-19 in this area.
RDSL - Rochester and District Soccer League. The adult amateur league.
House leagues - Recreational teams that generally compete only within their own organization or against other house leagues. Usually considered a lower level than travel.
Risk Management - If you are 18 years of age or older and wish to officiate youth games in this area, New York West Youth Soccer requires that you obtain a Risk Management pass. This requires you to complete a brief background check. Information is available at the websites. Click here to obtain a Risk Management application.
Arbiter - A web based assigning system that is used to assign games for youth travel, adult games, and certain house leagues. If you want to do youth travel games, you must be registered in the Arbiter System. If you wish to officiate youth travel games and have not yet received an e-mail inviting you to log into the Arbiter system, contact the instructor from your entry level class and ask that he contact Bill Bianchi to have you added to the system. Instructions on using the Arbiter are available at this link.
Business meetings - The Rochester District holds approximately three business meetings each year and are listed at the Rochester web page. You are expected to attend at least two of three. If unable to do so, you should notify the unit secretary. His/her contact information can be found here.
League Specific Meetings - If you wish to officiate travel games, you are expected to attend one of the pre-season meetings for the RDYSL each year that you wish to officiate the games. If at some point you wish to officiate adult games, you would also have to attend one of the RDSL meetings.
Recertification Clinic - USSF requires each referee to receive a minimum of five hours of classroom training each year. In order to meet this objective, recertification clinics are conducted during the off season. These include a 3 hour classroom training, written refresher testing and registration. You must attend one of these sessions in the off season in order to referee the following year. The additional two hours of training are completed by attendance at the two business meetings as stated earlier.
Fitness testing - If you are a Grade 7 or higher referee, or in certain situations where Grade 8 referees are officiating adult games, a fitness test is required. Fitness standards are based upon the level officiated and your age. Generally speaking, if you don’t know that you need a fitness test - you don’t need one!
Grade (meaning your referee grade): Referee grades are sort of in reverse order. The lower the number, the higher the referee level. If you have a black badge that says Referee, you are a Grade 8. If you have a blue badge that says Recreational Referee, you are a Grade 9.
Upgrade - As you advance in your career, you (hopefully) may want to upgrade to a higher level. If you want to upgrade in the future, talk to a senior official about the requirements.
Referee Assault - If you believe you have been assaulted, immediately contact a senior official to assist you in preparing a written report. There is a short time limit, so make the contact quickly.
What you will need to register next year:
A registration form. This can be done on-line, or you can complete a handwritten form at one of the recertification clinics. If you register on line, print and save a copy of the receipt to submit with your paperwork at a later time.
A copy of your Game Record from the previous season.
Payment for registration cost and local dues
A written refresher test with a score of at least 75% if you are a Grade 8 (given at Recertification Clinics).
As a Grade 8 or 9 referee doing only youth games, you DO NOT need to take a fitness test.
YOU WILL GET MORE INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION FOR NEXT SEASON DURING THE WINTER.