U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Regional Referee Certification Requirements
For 2020
Last updated: July 13, 2020
Certification Requirements
Enrollment
Registration
Age
18 years of age or older
Previous Game Experience
50 Games as a Referee /
25 Games as an Assistant Referee
at local adult amateur level
Previous Certification Experience
Minimum 3 years as Grassroots Referee
Training
Regional Referee Course
Safety and Compliance
Safe Sport Trained
Laws of the Game Test
Online – Regional Test
Fitness Test
Sprint/Interval Test
(USSF Regional Referee Test)
Practical Evaluation
Minimum of two (2) passing evaluations as a
referee at the adult amateur level. One (1)
passing evaluation as an assistant referee at the
adult amateur level. One (1) referee evaluation
can be at the highest youth level. (U18 or U19)
Annual Recertification Requirements
Enrollment
Registration
Training
Regional Referee Course
Safety and Compliance
Safe Sport Trained
Laws of the Game Test
Online – Regional Test
Fitness Test
Sprint/Interval Test
(USSF Regional Referee Test)
Practical Evaluation
Minimum of two (2) passing evaluations as a
referee at the adult amateur level. One (1)
passing evaluation as an assistant referee at the
adult amateur level. One (1) referee evaluation
can be at the highest youth level. (U18 or U19)
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Regional Referee Certification Requirements
For 2020
Last updated: July 13, 2020
Fitness Test Administration and Standards
Hosting Requirements
• EMS and/or a medical trainer must be available on site
• Available from 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. to allow for weather delays
• Should have a minimum of 6 lanes (400 meters or 200 meters if it is an indoor facility)
• Surface should be rubber type coating to help prevent injuries
• Sound system at the track with the ability to play a DVD or audio file on a computer
• Restrooms and drinking water must be available to the participants
• Timers, monitors, scribes must be recruited from local volunteers
• Equipment needed includes colored pennies with numbers on both sides (or pins with numbers),
cones, flags, whistles, clipboards and timing watches
Referee FIFA Fitness Test
The official fitness test for referees consists of two tests. Test 1, Repeated Sprint Ability (RSA),
measures the referee’s ability to perform repeated sprints over 40m. Test 2, Interval Test, evaluates
the referee’s capacity to perform a series of high-speed runs over 75m interspersed with 25m walking
intervals. Referees must pass the FIFA Fitness Test at least once a year. The time between the end
of Test 1 and the start of Test 2 is 6 to 8 minutes maximum.
Referee Test 1: Repeated Sprint Ability
• Referees run six consecutive 40 meter sprints followed by a recovery period after each sprint
(while walking back to the start line)
• The ‘start’ gate is placed at 0m and the ‘finish’ gate at 40m. The ‘start line’ is marked out 1.5m
before the ‘start’ gate.
• Referees line up at the start with their front foot touching the ‘start line’. Once the test leader
signals that ready, the referee is free to start.
• Referees receive a maximum of 60 seconds recovery between each of the 6 x 40m sprints. During
recovery, referees must walk back to the start.
• If a referee falls or trips, they should be given an additional trial (one trial = 1 x 40 m).
• If a referee fails one trial out of the six, they should be given a seventh trial immediately after the
sixth trial. If they fail two trials out of seven, the match official has failed the test.
Referee Test 2: Interval Test
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Regional Referee Certification Requirements
For 2020
Last updated: July 13, 2020
• Referees must complete 40 x 75m run / 25m walk intervals. This equates to 10 laps of a 400m
athletics track. A lap consists of four 75 meter runs with four 25 meter recovery walks
• The pace is dictated by the audio file and reference times are set in accordance with the referee’s
category.
• Referees must start from a standing position. They must not start before the whistle. On the
whistle, referees are allowed to start running.
• At the end of each run, each referee must enter the ‘walking area’ before the whistle. The walking
area is marked out with a line 1.5m before and 1.5m behind the 75m line.
• If a referee fails to place a foot inside the walking area on time, they should receive a clear
warning from the test leader. If a referee fails to place a foot inside the walking area on time for a
second occasion, they should be stopped by the test leader and informed that they have failed the
test.
Standards for Regional Referee Certification
Test Type
Sprint Standard
Interval Standard (walk)
Referee
6.40 secs
20 seconds per 25m