Referee Resource Page

NORTAC provides referees for home games played by younger teams. This is a great opportunity for players (12 and older) to learn more about the game, develop leadership skills and to earn some extra money. For games played by older teams, NORTAC works with the Pierce County Soccer Referees Association (PCSRA) to provide referees. Questions? Please contact the club's referee assignor, Mike Rivers.

Referees are an important aspect of the game and should adhere to the Washington State Youth Soccer Referee Code of Conduct:

• I will always maintain the utmost respect for the game of soccer.
• I will conduct myself honorably at all times and maintain the dignity of my position.
• I will always honor an assignment or any other contractual obligation.
• I will attend training meetings and clinics so as to know the Laws of the Game, their proper interpretation and their application.
• I will always strive to achieve maximum teamwork with any fellow officials.
• I will be loyal to my fellow officials and never knowingly promote criticism of them.
• I will be in good physical condition.
• I will control the players effectively by being courteous and considerate without sacrificing fairness.
• I will do my utmost to assist my fellow officials to better themselves and their work.
• I will not make statements about any games except to clarify an interpretation of the Laws of the Game.
• I will not discriminate against nor take undue advantage of any individual group on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
• I consider it a privilege to be a part of the United States Soccer Federation and my actions will reflect credit upon that organization and its affiliates.

Want to be a Referee?

Overview

If you are interested in being a club referee, there are a number of steps that you must complete:

1. Obtain a referee license by attending a clinic and completing the licensing exam. Clinics cost approximately $50.

2. Register with the USSF (US Soccer Federation). Applications are available at the referee clinic once you pass the exam. Annual cost to register is $50.

3. Obtain a RMA (Risk Management Assessment) card. This involves a background check by the Washington State Patrol and is required by the WSYSA to ensure the safety of all players. Applying for an RMA card can be done on-line - click here. When registering, indicate that you are a referee and that you are associated with the Pierce County Soccer Referee Association.

4. Obtain referee equipment - uniform, flags, notebook, whistle, etc. Prices for kits are $40-$70. Please contact the club assignor if you need recommendations.

5. Register with Pierce County Soccer Referee Association (PSCRA). Go to pcsra.org, select the logon screen and then the registration link. All Nortac games available for assignment are posted on this site.

Licensing Clinics

There are 2 types of clinics.

• The Grade 8 license is a 16 hour clinic with a 100 question test and a field practicum. Since the exam is written for a 14 year old, the minimum recommended age to take the clinic is 12 years old. This clinic is known as the Entry Level Clinic (ELC).
• The grade 9 licensing clinic is only 8 hours and enables referees to work recreational games age U-14 and below. This clinic is known as the Recreational Level Clinic (RLC).

All clinics are taught by licensed instructors from PCSRA. For a list of scheduled clinics in Pierce County, please see their website.

Current Referees

Overview

After a referee is licensed and on the club list, they will be eligible for assignment to home games played by club teams. Once the fall season starts, matches will be available for self-assignment through the PCSRA website. Referees are paid for their work. Checks are distributed at the monthly club referee meeting. If you can not attend the meeting, checks will be sent out via mail 2-3 weeks after the meeting. At the monthly club meeting, we will also conduct formal training and share ideas that help referees improve their skill.

Annual License Renewal

Once a Referee completes a clinic and obtains a license, they must renew their license on an annual basis. The Washington State Referee Committe provides a good overview of this process at the following website.

Game Assignments

When games are assigned, several rules apply:

• Referees can not work a game where a relative is a player on one of the teams
• Center referees must be at least 2 years older than the players on both teams.
• AR's must be at least 1 year older than the players on both teams.
• Assignors have the discretion to make excption to these rules based on the skill of the referee and the competitive level of the match.

Preparation Before a Game

Although the Laws of the Game are defined by FIFA and US Soccer, state and location organizations can make modifications to the rules. As a result, before a game begins, referees have an obligation to understand the rules that will apply to the specific game they are working. Below are the rules:

US Soccer Federation (USSF) - Laws of the Game

Washington State Youth Soccer Assoc (WSYSA) - Administrative Handbook - Please see Section 3 (Rules of Competition) on pages 58-70. The same info can also be found in the WSYSA Coaches Handbook.

District 3 - No additional rules. Follow WSYSA rules.

Tacoma Pierce County Junior Soccer Assoc. (TPCJSA) - Policy and Procedures - Applies only to Inter-Association games

Small-Sided game rules (U11 and below) - Follow WSYSA small-sided guidelines

After the Game

After completion of a game, referees are required to submit the following to the club assignor using the PCSRA website:

1) Match report - Summary of game results & misconduct. Also include any issues with coaches, parents, fields or equipment.

2) Misconduct report - Used for disciplinary hearings for cautionable (yellow card) & send-off offenses (red card)

REFEREE FEEDBACK- If you are a parent / coach and want to provide feedback to the referees at a game, you can do so at the PCSRA website. Select the following link, enter search criteria to find the match, and provide feedback. Questions? Contact Mike Rivers.

Website last updated on January 3, 2011