Referee Programs of PA West and SVSC
To Become A Certified Referee. You must take the Grade 8 entry level class offered by PA West. It is recommended that you be at least 14 years old. These classes are offered in the months of January, February and March of each year. They are hosted by the local clubs within PA West Soccer. They are advertised on the PA West Soccer web site (www.pawest-soccer.org) under "Referees." Click "Calendar" and select the class closest to you. Upon completing and passing the entry level classes, you become a certified referee for that year with the United States Soccer Federation and will receive a black badge stating, "USSF Referee." Upon taking and passing the course, please contact SVSC's Referee Assignor, Patrick Doering (412-462-6217; spdoering@gmail.com), to advise him of your certification. If you are under the age of 18, you must provide a work permit. Upon passing the Grade 8 class, you will be able to officiate (as a referee or assistant referee) any youth game, including Classic League games, or adult games, provided however that in the Youth Division, a referee must be two years older than the game he or she is refereeing. Presently, fees for refereeing games vary according to level of play, but the top fee is $45/game.
Recertification. Grade 8 referees must attend a recertification course yearly in order to be able to referee the following year. These recertification courses are typically offered in the last few months of the calendar year.
Upgrades. Upgrading is the process of moving up from a Grade 8 referee to a higher grade. For example, a Grade 8 referee can become a Grade 7 referee, a Grade 7 referee can become a Grade 6 referee, and so forth. To become a Grade 7 referee, for example, a referee must at least 17 years old, have worked a minimum of 100 soccer games, 75 as a referee and 25 as an assistant referee, pass a written exam, pass an assessment on a U17 game or higher as a referee, pay an assessment fee, do five hours of advanced clinic time, and pass a fitness test.
Becoming An In-House Referee. Opportunities are available to become a referee for in-house games, for which you will be paid. The current pay rate is $10/game. If you are interested in becoming a referee for inhouse games, you must attend a 3-hour course for in-house referees. These courses are put on by PA West and are at no cost to the youth referee. Steel Valley Soccer Club will periodically host such courses. Please call the SVSC Referee Assignor, Patrick Doering (412-462-6217) or the Inhouse Referee Coordinator, Kelly Caruso (412-461-1663; kellycaruso923@hotmail.com), for more information. In order to be scheduled, you must attend the course.
In-House Referee Course. SVSC will host an in-house referee course on Monday, March 28, 2011, from 6;30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at Steel Valley High School. If you intend to referee in-house games this Spring, you must attend this course, or another one offered by PA West at other locations. Please check back to this website for information on how to register for the course.
Referee Schedule. To be posted HERE.