Referee Information
The referee mentoring program is designed to teach and prepare aspiring referees before they get certified. It is for those who are either too young to get certified as of yet and those who wish to get some training before getting certified. Participants in the program will receive training and information on how to referee before a season begins and then will practice and improve upon their refereeing abilities through refereeing U7 and U8 games with the guidance and evaluation from an experienced referee that will be present at all games. Participants in the program will also be paid $10 per game they referee.
There are limited number of open spots to be in the referee mentoring program. For questions on how to sign-up for the mentoring program, please email refereetraining@skysoccer.org.
For a complete course listing and registration details,
click for HERE Kentucky & HERE for Tennessee.
Interested in being a SKY Soccer Referee?
You see them at all games. They are the three individuals carrying either a whistle or a flag. Their uniforms up until recently were black, but now referee fashions include yellow, red or blue. They are the referees or more correctly the referee and the assistant referees. Referees are an integral part of the game of soccer. Their primary functions are to ensure that the laws of the game are followed and that the safety of the player is ensured. The duties of the referee are specific and carefully outlined. The referee has the authority to:
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Enforce the laws of the game
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Apply the advantage clause
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Keep a careful record of the game
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Terminate a game if deemed necessary
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Caution players guilty of misconduct or ungentlemanly behavior
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Stop the game for serious injury
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Allow no other person other than players and assistant referees to enter the field of play
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Send a player off the field
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Signal for the game to start after a stoppage of play
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Decide whether all other conditions are appropriate for play including the ball, field of play and player’s equipment.
Referees are proud of their contribution to soccer and take their appointments seriously. Their basic requirements are: an understanding of the spirit and the letter of the laws; superior physical condition; cooperation with fellow officials; personal flexibility that allows for a totally unemotional approach to all decisions despite experiencing the myriad of participant emotions during a typical game; and to make the game of soccer enjoyable to play and watch.
So what does it take to become a referee?
The first step is to sign up for an entry level clinic in your area. Several are held during the year and at various locations. An entry level or Grade 8 requires attendance of a 16-hr clinic wherein you learn about the Laws of the Game and their interpretation and enforcement as well as proper referee decorum and demeaner. From there, you can move up the grade level to state, national and FIFA levels. For more information contact the KYSA State Youth Administrator.