Question Number: 23948

Other 9/17/2010

RE: High School

Ken VM of Middleville, MI USA asks...

I was a ref in high school and for a while after. I want to help ref my son's games with AYSO and I believe that it was with u.s.s.f. that I originally got my certification. When I had talked to the person in charge of our refs for ayso he said he couldn't find my certification. How can I find it for myself? It has been almost 20 years but the rules are still pretty much the same. Thank you, Ken

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If you do not renew your USSF registration (along with the required training and testing) for more than 2 years, you must begin again with the entry level class. You would be likely to progress faster than others in your class because of your experience, but you must start from the beginning.

If all you want to do is AYSO, you should contact your local league for how to certify - which is evidently what you did. If you want to be USSF certified, you can find classes here: http://www.msysareferee.net/ (No classes are currently scheduled, as the instructors are referees themselves and are busy with the current season.)

While the basics remain the same from 20 years ago, there have been a number of changes. There were two major rewrites and several changes in the Laws. In addition, there have been interpretation and mechanic changes. Taking a new course will get you up to speed on all these changes.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Only a currently certified USSF referee can 'cross-over' to AYSO.

But, after 20 years, it is far better for you to take the AYSO referee class. It's an 8 hour investment of your time that will cover AYSO's safe haven program for working with children, the laws of the game, and current USSF procedures and mechanics as a referee and assistant. Your past experience will be very helpful for new referees who have never taken the field.