Complete the course: Take (and pass) the Referee R9 Entry-level Certification course offered by the State Referee Department. This is a 9-hour course that is typically held on a Friday night (for 3 hours) and then continues on Saturday (for 7 hours). The course is only offered certain times during the year (summer and winter) at various locations throughout the state. There is no age requirement, but course material is designed for reading and comprehension at the high-school level. The course is typically $30, and then there is another $20 fee for USSF registration, assuming you pass.
Follow this link for finding a list of available offerings on the Georgia State referee website: GAReferees.com.
Get equipped: Once you are certified, you need to buy a referee’s uniform, flags, whistle, cards, and a stopwatch to do game timing. Kits may be purchased at local stores or online. Check out www.soccer.com or www.officialsports.com.
Express an interest: Let Norcross Soccer Association (NSA) know that you are interested in refereeing by contacting the referee assignors at refassign@norcross-soccer.org.
Continue your referee education: Each year you are required to recertify, which is a 5-hour course and costs starts at $50. There are also occasional referee meetings that you will be expected to attend at NSA.
Becoming a Referee
