Program Description:
SYSA sponsors an in-house Referee In Training (Ref-IT) program for youth referees that are playing at the U13, U14, and U15 levels. This program is designed as a stepping stone for soccer players interested in eventually becoming USSF certified referees. This program offers them an introduction to refereeing by refereeing SYSA’s younger U6 and U7 age 4v4 matches on Saturdays during SYSA’s Spring and Fall seasons.
SYSA provides mandatory classroom and field training. There is no need to sign up if interested, just attend the training sessions. And there is no cost for this program other than the cost of obtaining an official referee uniform which can be obtained online from various vendors for approximately $40.
Many referees take the 18 hours of formal USSF sponsored referee training only to discover that refereeing is not for them or they do not have the time to referee as they had hoped. The Ref-IT program provides a taste of what refereeing is all about prior to obtaining formal certification. If the Ref-IT referee is then interested, he/she may pursue formal USSF referee certification to obtain a Grade 8 or 9 badge which then enables them to referee games at the U8 level and above for any soccer club.
Referees participating in the Referee In Training program are compensated for the games they work according to the SYSA payment schedule for U6 and U7 games.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be a current soccer player (travel or SFL) registered with SYSA for the current season in which they are involved in the Ref-IT program
- Must be on a U13, U14, or U15 SYSA team
- Must start the program when on a U13 or U14 team
- Returning Ref-ITs are welcome but must be playing on a U14-U15
Participation Requirements:
- Attend an SYSA sponsored classroom training session prior to the season to learn the laws of the game for U6/U7 and to understand proper game signup procedures and how to get paid – see Referee Corner website for upcoming dates
- Attend an SYSA sponsored field training session prior to the start of the season -– see Referee Corner website for upcoming dates
- Obtain an official referee uniform – see Referee Corner of SYSA website for uniform requirements for the Ref-IT program as well as purchase options
