There are four parts to becoming a referee:
- 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 referee.assignor@nsafury.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.
NORCROSS NEW REFEREES
Congratulations on passing the R9 referee class and exam. If you are interested in working at Norcross Soccer Association, below are the instructions to get started.
1.) Set up a user id and password in gameofficials
b. Click on the My Assignors tab and add me as an assignor – group 31 access code Norcross
2.) Purchase a uniform
a. Uniforms can be purchased online at www.officialsports.com. You need a minimum of an official yellow referee jersey, official referee socks, black shorts, black cleats or soccer shoes, a whistle, a stopwatch and a set of flags.
3.) During the season:
a. You need to log into gameofficials under the new user that you set up and add your availability – I will see this when I log in and assign you games based on when you are available. If you skip this step, I do not know that you are available and I can’t assign you games.
b. Once you are assigned a game, you will receive an email indicating that you have been assigned. You need to log into gameofficials and accept the assignment so that I know that you will be there. Games are assigned on Sunday nights. If you have not accepted by Wednesday afternoon, you will be removed from the game and another referee will be assigned.
c. Show up to your assigned game 15 minutes early, dressed and ready to go.
4.) Pay
b. Pay Checks are sent every two weeks via mail.
c. In order to get paid, you need to send a W-9 to Cindy Griswell. W-9’s can be printed from www.irs.gov and mailed to Cindy Griswell at the Norcross Soccer Office.
5.) If you have any questions, please contact the following:
