Referee
Q & A
Q. WHY BECOME A REFEREE?
A. Learn the Game: By becoming a referee,
you will develop a better understanding of the rules and regulations
of soccer, making you a better player or a better-informed spectator.
Give Back to the Club: You can help assure
that we have qualified referees to officiate our games. It is
also a way to show support to the Club.
Make Money: Depending on the position - center or assistant referee - the pay ranges from $10.00 to $40.00 per position per game.
Build Confidence: Young referees who officiate their first match are generally for the first time in their lives in charge of children and adults. This atmosphere helps to develop the referee's character and confidence. Many referees go onto other jobs because they have been referees and employers recognize this activity as being one of responsibility and importance.
Q. WHAT TRAINING IS REQUIRED?
A. The initial certification course is 12-16 hours
over a Friday evening and Saturday, ending in a written certification
test. One class is held by the Club each spring and fall prior to the beginning of the season. Dates will be posted on our website. To register, proceed to the Iowa Referee Committee web page under training. If you cannot make the dates sponsored by the West Des Moines Soccer Club, other Des Moines area clubs also offer courses that you can attend.
After successfully competing the certification course, you will have the opportunity to practice in an on–field clinic for new referees which will be held immediately prior to the beginning of the spring season. This is mandatory training for those wishing to referee for the West Des Moines Soccer Club. In addition, each newly certified referee is assigned a more experienced referee as a mentor
The West Des Moines Soccer Club assigns all games through an online system known as Arbiter. Training is also given by the Club on how to use this system, and is mandatory for all West Des Moines Referees.
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Q. WHAT DOES IT COST?
A. The certification course cost varies from year to year and is posted on the Iowa Referee Committee web page. Iowa has gone to an annual re-certification class starting in 2008. Your uniform and equipment will cost $50-100 depending on how much you buy and how fancy. To help offset these costs, the Club will reimburse referees once they have refereed 15 games for the Club (any age level, any position) within the 2 seasons following first becoming certified.
Q. HOW DO I GET ASSIGNED TO GAMES?
A. Once you have passed your certification test you will be given a form to fill out that registers you to referee for the club. You are then placed into the Arbiter system and are given a ranking for both Center and Assistant Referee positions. Most referees, youth and adult, start doing U7 and U8 games. Many referees move up quickly and are doing U11 games after one season.
Q. HOW MANY GAMES WILL I REFEREE PER
SEASON?
A. As many as you want. The Arbiter system allows you to self-assign games. This is a huge advantage over older systems which required the club assignor to actually give you games. Initially, all games are assigned based upon your blocks. After the games are assigned you have the right to accept or decline the games. If accepted, the game is yours unless you notify the assignor of an issue. If you decline games, others may self-assign the game based upon their skill and ranking.
Q. WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T COVER
A GAME I’M ASSIGNED TO?
A. We realize schedules change. Referees are responsible for finding their own substitutes (usually by contacting other refs they know.) If this does not work, we maintain an email list of all our refs and have had little difficulty finding subs for referees.
Q. WILL I HAVE TO REFEREE MY OWN KIDS/SIBLINGS
GAMES?
A. We do not knowingly assign referees to their own kid’s
or siblings' games. However, in cases where games
are being rescheduled, we will sometimes use parents and siblings
as linesmen if possible.
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Q. WHAT AGE-LEVEL GAMES WILL I REFEREE?
A. We will never assign you to a game that is of a higher age level than you feel comfortable with. Newly certified youth referees will start out on U7/8 games and move up in age level upon demonstrating competency. Adult referees will typically be started on recreational level games that are U12 or lower unless they have playing experience. As you register each season, you will be asked to determine the age level of games you feel comfortable working. The assignor has the final say on the age levels to which you are assigned.
Q. HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO BECOME
A REFEREE?
A. At minimum, 12 years old. However, we recommend taking into consideration the maturity and confidence level of the child, and have certified referees as young as 10.
DO YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS?
Contact the Director of Referees,
Jeff Brennan
Phone:
710-7077
jkbrennan4813@aol.com
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