Want to become a referee? Need to complete the referee training course in order to complete your coaching license? This area of the site is designed to give you the information you need.

Here’s how it works. Referee clinics are offered by the SRC and the local districts. These clinics are held all throughout the year, normally based upon a club or organization requesting a clinic. The district clinic administrators are to notify the site’s webmaster about their clinics so they can be posted here. All known clinics will be posted below. Other clinics may be offered. Please visit the Districts page to locate the district closest to you for contact information.

Referee Clinic Options

The United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer) offers several levels of referee certification. Referees start out at a certain level and through years of experience and a formal upgrade process navigate up through the levels. There are two entry points into the referee program: Recreational Referee (Grade 9) and Entry Level Referee (Grade 8). Ohio North supports the Recreational Referee program as an entry point into the referee program. You can still register as a Grade 8 referee (we’ll explain how below) but you will have to start with the Recreational Referee program.

Please see below for additional information about these clinics.

Entry Level Referee Clinic

The Entry Level Referee clinic is recommended for anyone 14 years of age and older who wishes to officiate youth through adult soccer games. After successfully completing the clinic, students are registered as USSF Grade 8 Referees. As mentioned above, OHN will no longer offer this clinic except in special circumstances. If you are older and are interested in becoming an Entry Level Referee, you can take both the Recreational Referee and Referee Bridge clinics (back to back) to achieve the Referee Grade 8 certification.

The clinic requires approximately 16 hours of classroom time and concludes with a 100 question exam. There may or may not be a cost for the clinic; in some cases, the local soccer clubs cover the cost of the clinic. Participants who complete the class and pass the exam can register with USSF to receive additional benefits (insurance, badge, registration card and so on) for an additional $50.

If you are a coach and need to take the Entry Level Referee course in order to complete your certification, special clinics will be offered for you, please contact the state’s Bill Nest, the State Director of Instruction, for information on these clinics and when they will be offered.

Recreational Referee Clinic

The Recreational Referee (Grade 9) program was created as a easy entry point for younger referees. This course has no recommended minimum age requirement and certifies referees to work as a Referee on recreational youth games (under-14 and younger only) and Assistant Referee all youth matches.

The clinic requires approximately 8 hours of classroom and field time and concludes with a 50 question exam. There may or may not be a cost for the clinic; in some cases, the local soccer clubs cover the cost of the clinic. Participants who complete the class and pass the exam can register with USSF to receive additional benefits (insurance, badge, registration card and so on) for an additional $50.

Referee Bridge Course

The Bridge course is for experienced Recreational Referees who wish to upgrade to the Referee Grade 8 Level. Students must be an existing Recreational Referee to be eligible for this course.

Initially, referees should spend a year at Grade 9 before they take the Bridge course and upgrade to Grade 8. Through special permission from US Soccer, OHN is permitted to offer both the Recreational Referee and Bridge course back to back for those students who wish to go directly to Grade 8. If you wish to participate in this program, you will need to complete the Recreational Referee class and notify the instructors that you will be immediately following-up with the bridge class - the instructor will hold any registrations for you and register you as a Grade 8 referee when you complete the bridge course and Grade 9 referee otherwise.

The clinic requires approximately 8 hours of classroom time and concludes with a 100 question exam. There may or may not be a cost for the clinic; in some cases, the local soccer clubs cover the cost of the clinic. Participants who complete the class and pass the exam can register with USSF to receive additional benefits (insurance, badge, registration card and so on) for an additional $50.

When Are Clinics Offered?

A variety of clinics are offered throughout the year. For more information, please visit our Clinics page for clinic dates and the Registration page to view the current referee fee schedule.

What Do I Get and What Will I Need?

After successful completion of a referee clinic, referees will receive:

• One year registration with the U.S. Federation to officiate USSF sanctioned games.
• Referee badge for the current year.
• Current Laws of the Game rule book.
• Referee Administrative Handbook.

New and existing referees may need to purchase additional items to succeed on the pitch. Officials Sports is the official supplier of uniforms for the U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program. The following are uniform guidelines set forth by USSF:

Official United States Soccer Federation Referee Uniform

• Gold jersey with black pin stripes, black collar, black cuffs (long sleeve), or no cuff (short sleeve) Black shorts, Black shoes, approved uniform socks

Official Alternate United States Soccer Federation Referee Uniforms

• Black jersey with white pin stripes, black collar, black cuffs (long sleeve), or no cuff (short sleeve) Black shorts, Black shoes, approved uniform socks
• Red jersey with black pin stripes, black collar, black cuffs (long sleeve), or no cuff (short sleeve) Black shorts, Black shoes, approved uniform socks
• Blue jersey with black pin stripes, black collar, black cuffs (long sleeve), or no cuff (short sleeve) Black shorts, Black shoes, approved uniform socks
• Green jersey with black pin stripes, black collar, black cuffs (long sleeve), or no cuff (short sleeve) Black shorts, Black shoes, approved uniform socks

Official Uniform for Grade 9 Referees

Any of the above, or:

• Gold T-shirt with black v-neck and the words “Recreational Referee” over the left breast pocket, Black shorts, black shoes, approved uniform socks (For Recreational Referees Grade 9 only)
• Black T-shirt with White v-neck and the words “Recreational Referee” over the left breast pocket, Black shorts, black shoes, approved uniform socks (For Recreational Referees Grade 9 only)

For all grades

• Black Socks with U. S. Soccer Referee Crest on left and right sides of cuff or,
• Black Socks with three-striped white top

The following are additional recommended for items for referees:

• Wallet/Book and Pen/Pencil to record with.
• Red/Yellow Cards.
• Whistle.
• Watch or other time keeping device.
• Referee Flags for assistants.
• And a bag to hold all of your gear!