Dear Prospective Referee,
We would be delighted to welcome you into our Arizona referee family and program. If you are 12 years old or older and physically able to run and to hold a small flag, you may be eligible to become a soccer referee. If you are or once were a soccer player yourself, we have found an excellent correlation between soccer playing experience and becoming a successful referee.
The first step is that you will need to attend and pass an “entry-level” referee course. You can begin as a Grade 9 Recreational Referee or a Grade 8 Referee. The Grade 9 class is geared toward the younger teens and the Grade 8 is geared toward older teens and adults. After you have earned your certification, you will be required annually to attend and pass a referee “recertification” clinic. If you first certify as a Grade 9 Referee, you may attend a Bridge class to upgrade to a Grade 8 Referee. Each class has a different requirement in terms of classroom instruction hours and testing, so be sure to go to our Classes and Clinics page to compare your options.
Our entry-level courses generally are held between mid-summer and late fall. Our recertification clinics start in August and run through December. Specialty classes may only be held once a year, i.e., Upgrade clinics and In-Service clinics. As classes are added to the schedule, they will be posted on the web site. Please check our site every week or two to see what's new.
You are welcome to email me or any of my staff anytime.
Best, Dan
Daniel L. Christy, III
State Referee Administrator
dan.christy@azref.com