Become a Referee!
Top 10 Reasons to Become a WSSL Referee!
- Great exercise (The referee below was having a great time running up and down the field to keep up with the kids and their exciting game on both ends of the pitch)!
- Best place to see the game
- Wonderful interaction opportunity with the players
- Love of the game
- Opportunity to clear your head of all the normal day-to-day clutter
- Arm got twisted
- Child's team didn't have at least two certified referees
- Great way to fulfill WSSL volunteer requirement
- Camaraderie with other referees
- Teens get community service credits
- (Ok, so it's 11...) Awesome uniforms!
Whatever reasons motivate you to take the field as a Referee, we try to provide support and encouragement to make this a rewarding experience for you and the players!
WSSL Certification Courses for Referees & Assistant Referees
Prior to every season and often in between seasons, WSSL offers a series of certification courses for parents who wish to become referees and assistant referees (including teenagers). This is the beginning of your training, not the end. Participating in and completing the certification process is a requirement in order to take the pitch as a referee. All referees and assistant referees must take Safe Haven and must take the age appropriate level of certification training for the kids' games they are officiating.
- Safe Haven -- all referees and assistant referees
- U8 Official Referee Course for referees in U6, U7 and U8
- Basic Referee Course for referees in U9 and up; the U8 Official and Safe Haven are Prerequisites
*See WSSL's Calendar for WSSL Certification courses that are offered locally and their dates/times.
Safe Haven for All Volunteers
To ensure the safety of both children and volunteers, each coach is required to take a short in-person training session called Safe Haven. It focuses on safety and appropriate behavior with children as well as first aid and other on-field issues. Safe Haven also gives volunteers the highest degree of protection available under the law. Agreeing to a background check is also required for each volunteer.
We ask that every volunteer take the in person Safe Haven course at least once during their WSSL volunteer career. Referees should renew their familiarity with the Safe Haven materials each year through this excellent on line resource. Click here for your Safe Haven refresher.
All Referees & Assistant Referees Must Be Registered
All referees and assistant referees must be registered with AYSO national.
Referee and assistant referee backrounds and references are checked by national staff to ensure the safety of our children. Your information will not be shared with any third party. Key personal information (e.g., social security numbers) is encrypted. You will need to fill in specific information including details on personal references. Once you are ready, please click on the link below to register as a volunteer through AYSO national's eAYSO system. http://www.eayso.org/
Tips On Registration
It's easy to do. Just follow the Log In instructions. Click on Volunteer on the top of the eayso site, sign up and go. (Make sure you hit Volunteer, not parent.) If you have registered as a volunteer before, it takes just a few minutes to update your record. If not, it is easy to sign up as a new volunteer and takes just an extra couple of minutes. Once you are done, print the form, sign it (this is essential for you to be covered by insurance) and give it to your Division Head. Your Division Head will then give the form to the League's Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA) for processing.
If you forgot your password, you will need to call the lovely people at eAYSO, not the lovely people at WSSL. eAYSO folks can be reached Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm Pacific Standard Time at 866.588.2976. They can help you find your password or generally trouble shoot your volunteer registration.
If you are having other troubles with your volunteer registration, please contact our Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate at cvpa@wssl.org.
Referee Q&A Sessions
WSSL is committed to providing referees with opportunities to discuss their experiences on the pitch and to learn from each other. Sessions take place on weekday evenings during the season. See WSSL's Calendar for details.
Referee Q&A sessions often cover interesting topics beyond general questions. Sometimes they review footage from a recent professional match and discuss the calls made and sometimes they discuss particular popular topics such as the offside rule or restarts. Participants find the sessions particularly helpful to on-field practice.
Advance Your Studies
Referees who are gifted and passionate about the job are encouraged to share their gifts with others. WSSL needs more Referee Instructors who are willing to be certified, trained and to train others in pre-season courses or in more informal coaching clinics.
Here's some insight on the path to becoming a WSSL Referee Instructor:
- Complete Safe Haven, U8 Official Course, Basic Referee Course
- Pass Intermediate Referee Course
- Introduction to Instruction
- Referee Instructor Course