Referee registration is $85. This amount must be paid each year you continue to referee

There are also some “startup costs,” such as uniform and referee gear. This cost varies depending on what level of gear you choose to purchase.

The good news is that you can earn back your registration payment and uniform costs in as little as 1-2 weekends of working games.

Pay varies based on a number of factors, including the age group, level of play (rec vs. competitive), and whether you are the Center Referee or Assistant Referee. The range is typically between $15 and $75 per game.

This is completely up to you! Referees are not “employees,” rather they are “independent contractors.” This means that you can work, or not work, as you choose. You control your schedule, when you work, what time, and even to an extent, where you work. Many referees choose to work between 3-5 games per day.

Detailed instructions can be found HERE.

Instructions are also contained in Lesson 1 of the modules in OMS (where you paid for the Field Course).

Please follow all instructions explicitly!! Failure to do so will result in you getting "lost" in the US Soccer Learning Center navigation.

When you arrive at the US Soccer Learning Center from the link provided, DO NOT use the menu to navigate the site. The landing page is the ONLY place you can access the proper course.

Also, DO NOT pay attention to the wording of the course title. The course is titled “Arizona-Online Course (Hidden).” This name serves an internal function within the US Soccer Learning Center system. Rest assured, this is the correct course.

There are two systems where referees must complete online training:

1) OMS Referee Registration system - This is where you paid for your Registration. This system contains 3 modules that direct you to the proper courses in the Learning Center, and 1 module of the written Final Exam.

2) US Soccer Learning Center - This system contains the training content for new Grassroots Referees, Intro to Safety (concussion and health), and SafeSport (to recognize and report abuse)

NOTE: SafeSport is only required for referees age 17 and up.

Updates to your account status on OMS must be done manually, due to limitations imposed by US Soccer’s data system. Your account will be synced to show completion, but it may take a few days. Accounts are synced immediately prior to all in-person Field Courses, so by the time you attend your Field Course, your account will show completion.

Log in to your OMS referee registration account. Click on the Transfer/Cancel link. This must be done at least 3 days prior to the course date. If it is past this date, please CONTACT US.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport was established under the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017. This act gave The Center the scope and authority to resolve abuse and misconduct reports throughout the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. It also charged The Center with developing and enforcing policies, procedures, and training to prevent abuse and misconduct.

The Center’s SafeSport Code governs all participants in the Movement, including U.S. Soccer Federation. Under federal law, U.S. Soccer and other NGBs are required to adhere to the SafeSport Training policies.

As part of those prevention policies, adult participants – including referees – are required to complete a yearly SafeSport training to receive and maintain a referee license issued by U.S. Soccer Federation. The course training modules are created and maintained by The Center and are therefore subject to change according to The Center.

SafeSport certification expires exactly one year from the date it was last completed. OMS checks your SafeSport status at a moment in time, and if completed, it is marked ‘complete.’ Therefore, it is possible for your SafeSport to have been valid at the time that OMS checked your status, but then the expiration date came later.

Per US Soccer, referees with expired SafeSport certification ARE NOT ELIGIBLE to work matches.

No, but you must upload the certificate of completion to your OMS account. After logging in, choose the ‘Administration’ menu. Then choose ‘Update SafeSport / Background Status.

In the gray bar near the center of the screen, click ‘Browse…’ to choose your SafeSport certificate location from your computer. Finally, click ‘Upload.’

Note that ‘Intro to Safety’ and ‘SafeSport’ are two separate courses. If you are age 17 or above, please be sure you have completed both courses.
Referees under age 17 are not required to complete SafeSport.

Intro to Safety (concussions and injury) is a separate course from SafeSport.

Intro to Safety is required for ALL referees.

SafeSport is required for all referees age 17 and up.

All certifications expire on December 31. In order to referee past this date, you must complete the recertification requirements for your referee level.

EXCEPTION-
If you are a NEWLY CERTIFIED referee AFTER July 1, your registration is valid through December 31 of the FOLLOWING year. For example, if you became newly certified on August 27, 2022, your registration expires on December 31, 2023.

Referee certifications expire on December 31. If you want to referee past this date, you must recertify for the next year.
The recertification window opens July 1. You may complete recertification any time between July 1 and December 31.

Log in to your OMS referee registration account. Under the ‘Registration’ menu, select ‘Order Replacement Badge.’ Pay the fee, and the replacement badge will be mailed to you.

If you are a recertifying referee-
Badge mailings are batched weekly during the recertification window. You will receive your badge in the mail within a couple weeks of completing your recertification requirements.

If you are a new referee-
Your badge will be mailed to you once you complete the required online training that was incomplete at the time of your Field Course.

To find your USSF ID, log in to your OMS referee registration account. Your ID is displayed in the Member Information box.

US Soccer no longer produces paper ID cards, and you do not need one. If a situation arises where you are asked for your ID card, please CONTACT US or contact your assignor.