Become a Referee

All referees affiliated with FIFA have a designated referee level. The designation indicates the qualification of the referee to officiate at various levels of local, national and international soccer competition. Read more…

The Basics

 

Register for a course.

Select a course from our list of upcoming events and register to take the course.
Grassroots participants must be 13 years or older to attend.

 

Complete the online training.

Complete the online training modules from US Soccer before attending the in-person referee course.

 

Complete the online concussion training.

Complete the online concussion training before attending the in-person referee course.

 

Attend the in-person course.

Attend the in-person course, take and pass the referee test, and you’ll be a certified referee!

 Sign up for a course today!

 

The Details

Courses for Beginners

The introductory course offered: the Grassroots Referee Course.  The Grassroots course is the starting point for new referees of all ages (subject to the minimum age restrictions defined below).

 

Referee Traits and Skills

Patience, optimism, and a comfort with people, are extremely handy traits for a referee. In addition, physical fitness, familiarity with the game (being a former player is beneficial but not necessary), knowledge of the Laws of the Game, and the ability to interpret and apply those Laws, are essential.  A degree of physical and mental maturity to handle the job is also needed, which is why the minimum age for participants is 13.

 

Scheduling and Compensation

One of the best things about being a referee is the flexibility. Referees are independent contractors and set their own schedules!  Once you complete your entry-level training course, you will choose which organizations you want to work for and will coordinator with an Assignor to create a schedule that is right for you.  Your Assignor(s) can help guide you towards games that are appropriate for your skill level, and work with you to get you as many (or as few) games as you want.

Another great perk of being a soccer official is the pay! Rates vary by league, but averages for starting out can be as much as $20-25 an hour.  Once you gain some experience, you can take on take on more demanding assignments – and with that comes even higher rates of pay.

 

Course Opportunities

The Oregon Referee Committee offers entry-level referee courses year round, all over the state.  If you do not currently see a convenient course option, check back frequently, as new training opportunities are added weekly, or contact coordinator@oregonreferee.com to find out when the next course will be provided in your area.

If you have additional questions, please contact coordinator@oregonreferee.com for support.

Good luck!