Question Number: 14769

League Specific 1/31/2007

RE: Adult

Deirdre Durkin of Abington, PA USA asks...

I would like to become a referee, but am not sure what or where to go. Can you help me? I am a former college player, who now is teaching and coaching at the Junior High level.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Get to a USSF Entry Level Clinic near you. Talk to an assignor in your area to find out about them.

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

Trust me, once you DO become a referee lots of people will be glad to TELL you where to go. LOL. All the best,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Ha Ha Ha LOL Love Ref Lacy's answer! We do not want to put you off it just that it takes a strong backbone and considerable character to bear the brunt of the dissenting opinions that flow like crap uphill from the touchlines. Will you be able to seperate the three positions teaching and coaching and refereeing? They do overlap but a refereeing official can not be concerned with outcome as the needs of the match and the desire for victory are player, coach, parent or fan requirements. Fair play has a way of presenting one's self and interpreting the laws within the spirit of the game by the character and integrity of your effort, decisions and knowledge which all come from experiance and your heart. I recall coaching and playing thinking that referee is crap when I began I refereeing I found myself thinking that coach and player are crap! Strange how it goes! We need to be able to agree to disagree and move on and if you can abide by a simple premise one with integrity sees what he sees the transition between coaching and refereeing goes much easier!
Cheers
PS try these sites for a contact if you have no local luck.
http://casrarefs.org/
or
http://eteamz.active.com/epsarc/index.cfm?