SYA SOCCER REFEREE PROGRAM

The SYA Soccer Referee Program provides United States Soccer Federation (USSF) certified referees for recreational youth and travel/club soccer leagues.

Our Mission is to recruit, train, and educate USSF certified referees who support the SYA Soccer program, while developing leadership, professionalism, sportsmanship, and team-building skills applicable in all walks of life.

SYA Soccer operates in Centreville and Clifton, Virginia, about 25 miles west of Washington, DC, under the auspices of the Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program.

Many of our referees officiate in the most competitive youth leagues in Virginia, including the MLS NEXT, Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), Club Champions League (CCL), National Premier Leagues (NPL), and National Capital Soccer League (NCSL)—as well as several amateur adult and professional leagues. Our referees also officiate in numerous Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) tournaments, and our best and brightest have been invited to Virginia State Cup, President’s Cup, Olympic Development Program (ODP) and Region 1 competitions.

We welcome both new and experienced referees to join our team! Refereeing is not for everyone, but the rewards are fulfilling. It takes hard work, a positive attitude, and commitment to excellence to be successful. In return, you can expect to improve your knowledge of the game, self-confidence, fitness, and interpersonal skills. Moreover, you’ll become part of the family of thousands of referees throughout Virginia.

If you think you want to become a soccer referee, please read our Frequently Asked Questions. Once you receive your USSF referee badge, please email the SYA Soccer Referee Commissioner and Referee Assignor. We look forward to hearing from you!

David Kwieraga                                                 Alan Liotta
Referee Commissioner                                   Referee Assignor
refcommissioner@syasoccer.org                 cyasoceref@aol.com
(571) 926-4448                                                   (703) 789-6457

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Is there a minimum age to be a soccer referee?

A. Yes. Federal regulations prohibit the collection or use of personal information via websites or online services of anyone younger than age 13. The Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program will not permit registration or clinic enrollment of anyone age 12 or younger.

The US Soccer Federation (USSF) recommends that youth referees be at least 15 years old, but SYA accepts referees between the ages of 13 and 15 so long as you have the maturity and responsibility to handle the demands of being a referee.

Q. Do I need prior soccer or officiating experience?

A. No—we will teach you and help you become a successful soccer referee. We want you to enjoy your experience and remain with the SYA Soccer Program for as long as you want.

Q. How do I become a soccer referee?

A. New “Grassroots” referees should start here: https://vadcsoccerref.com/become-a-referee

Prospective referees need a valid email address to register with US Soccer. If you don’t have one, you can use a parent or guardian’s email.

Prospective referees must attend and pass a USSF online certification course, including scoring at least 75% on a multiple choice, online open-book exam, and attend a field training clinic. Clinics are held throughout the year in northern Virginia and can be found by following the registration instructions on the Metro DC/Virginia State Referee Program website. There will be times during the year when no courses are available, typically once the Spring and Fall seasons are underway.

You do not have to attend a field training clinic offered by SYA Soccer—you can attend any clinic that best meets your schedule.

Once you pass the online course, attend a field training clinic, and receive your USSF referee badge, email the Referee Assignor at cyasoceref@aol.com and Referee Commissioner at refcommissioner@syasoccer.org.

Q. How much does it cost to become a soccer referee?

A. The cost to register with US Soccer and the Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program is $85. You must also have the official USSF uniform and basic equipment package before being assigned to games. The basic uniform and equipment requirements are described on our Referee Uniforms and Equipment page.

Referee “starter kits” generally consisting of a shirt, shorts, socks, whistle, flags, coin, yellow/red cards and score sheets are available through numerous soccer supply retailers and cost about $40-$100. Referee shoes and a digital wristwatch can add another $50-$150 to your initial uniform package cost.

If you decide you love refereeing and want to continue, or you want to work more competitive games, you’ll need to have additional referee shirts in other colors (e.g., green, red, blue, and/or black), as well as both short and long sleeve lengths. The cost for these additional shirts does not have to be incurred all at once, and you can often get discounts if you buy multiple shirts at the same time or during vendor sales throughout the year.

Q. Once I’m certified as a soccer referee, can I referee for as long as I want?

A. No. Your certification only lasts for the calendar year, and US Soccer requires you to recertify each year. Recertification courses also cost $85 and require a 75% passing grade on the exam, but require fewer hours to complete.

Q. How do I get assigned to games?

A. Once certified, new referees should email our Referee Assignor, Alan Liotta,  cyasoceref@aol.com. Alan will set you up in our assignment system, ask you to fill out an IRS W-9 tax form so you can get paid, and solicit your schedule availability to work games.

If you are a new referee, you will typically be assigned games as an Assistant Referee on younger age recreational league games. Based on your performance and interest, you can move up to more challenging assignments. However, SYA Soccer won’t pressure you to officiate games beyond your ability or comfort level. As you gain experience and confidence, our Referee Assignor will work with you to assign you more challenging games based on your age, qualifications, skill level, and interest.

Q. How much money will I make, and when will I get paid?

A. Pay rates vary for different associations and leagues. “Center” Referees typically make more than Assistant Referees, but some assignors have implemented an equal pay policy for all members of a referee crew assigned to a game. In general, higher-level games, both in terms of age and competitiveness, pay more than lower-level games, due to the greater skill and experience required of the referee crew.

SYA Soccer pay rates are available on our Referee Pay Rates page. SYA typically pays its referees twice per year, in the spring and fall, after the end-of-season recreational tournaments in June and November. SYA also has a bonus incentive plan for referees who work a certain number of recreational games per day and/or during the entire season.

Q: What are referee mentors?

Referee mentors are senior, highly experienced adult referees who’ve been trained to work with and provide feedback to younger and/or newer referees. Periodically, SYA Soccer may schedule mentors to observe and assist referees on game days. These mentors are friendly faces who will offer you advice on how to improve your officiating. You can also contact our Referee Assignor, Referee Commissioner, or any of our mentors if you would just like to talk about soccer, refereeing, or other topics. If you’d like to request a mentor to come and watch your game, or to help you achieve your refereeing goals, please email the Referee Commissioner at refcommissioner@syasoccer.org.

Q. Can I become a Regional Referee once I’m a Grassroots Referee?

A. Yes. You can “upgrade” to the next classification level by completing all US Soccer requirements for a Regional Referee. These requirements are demanding, and you must be a Grassroots Referee for a period of time before you can advance to the next level. You must officiate a variety of challenging games, particularly at the adult amateur level, to develop your skills, poise, and fitness. You will also have to pass several referee performance assessments by a USSF Assessor, as well as a fitness test. If successful, you will be in the top 5% of all referees in Virginia.

If you desire advancement, we highly recommend you have a mentor or sponsor who can personally help you reach your referee goals. Please contact our Referee Commissioner if you need help finding someone to guide you on your path to becoming a Regional Referee.

Q. Will I also be certified to referee high school or college soccer?

A. No. Neither high school nor college soccer are played under the IFAB (FIFA) Laws of the Game. High school soccer is governed by the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS). Interested referees should contact the Commonwealth Soccer Officials Association for information about officiating high school soccer in northern Virginia.

College soccer is governed by the National Intercollegiate Soccer Official Association (NISOA). Interested officials should contact the Virginia Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association (VISOA).

Q. Who should I contact if I have more questions or need assistance?

A. Please email our Referee Commissioner, Dave Kwieraga, refcommissioner@syasoccer.org, or Referee Assignor, Alan Liotta, cyasoceref@aol.com.