Attention future referees! The Wisconsin Soccer Referee Development Program (WisRef) has announced courses for 2022 registration. Referee candidates who are first time Referees, or previously registered Referees who have had a lapse in registration may register for certification starting December 10th. NOTE: U.S. Soccer Policy mandates a minimum age of 13 to start the certification – there are NO exceptions or waivers to this U.S. Soccer Policy.

The total cost of the course is $70; a background check, if 18 or older is an additional $30 (for a 2-yr period). As an incentive to grow Referee numbers for the Youth game, the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) will fully reimburse new and lapsed Referee candidates who successfully complete all of the requirements from January 2022 through April 2022. The reimbursement will include the registration fee and background check fee, plus a 10-piece referee uniform starter kit.

New Grassroots Referee Courses require a combination of independent learning and in person, virtual instruction. The independent learning starts in the U.S. Soccer Learning Center, is followed by WisRef content, and finishes with a WisRef Virtual online Zoom session. Total instruction time is estimated at 16 hours, with the final four hours being the Virtual online Zoom session.

The Learning Center and WisRef content can be done at your own pace, and during multiple sessions.  Once the Learning Center and WisRef content is complete, the Referee candidate will be availed of the opportunity to select the date and time for the Virtual online Zoom session.  The Virtual online Zoom session times will typically be 8 AM – 12PM or 1 PM – 5 PM Saturdays or Sundays and will start on Saturday January 8^th.

Additional times or days may be added based on demand. If  the Referee candidate is <13, or the dates and times of the Virtual online Zoom sessions conflict with your schedule, additional courses will be offered in August of 2022, however without the reimbursement or uniform kit as outlined.

To register to become a 2022 USSF Grassroots Referee please follow the steps as outlined here https://wisref.org/grassroots-new-ref-instructions/.  These steps are also available on the WisRef website www.wisref.org.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a part of the game, while learning and earning!

What do these two organizations ask in return? We ask that you commit to refereeing all of 2022 and registering again for 2023 minimum. We would also hope that you continue in 2024 and beyond.

In addition to the WYSA reimbursement and uniform package, many clubs and districts also provide additional referee incentives, for a minimum number of games worked in a season. Referees should contact their local Assignor for more information on these programs, once they begin assignments.

Thomas Mesalk tom@wisref.org

Registrar, State Referee Committee

Wisconsin Soccer Referee Development Program

http://www.WisRef.org and https://wisref.gameofficials.net

2021 Registration & Courses are now closed. 2022 Course information will be posted on http://www.WisRef.org in early December.

Attitude - Aptitude – Performance

I, like the rest of the members of the State Referee Committee are volunteers - so our responses may be a little delayed.