Referee volunteers can take the online self-study courses at any time, however in order to be eligible to referee games in WSSL there are additional requirements. Please see below for details.
Please read the instructions for How To Become a Referee before enrolling for a class. There are several steps to the process and it is important that they are completed in the correct order. All courses and a referee uniform are provided free of charge.
ALL TRAINING MUST BE ENROLLED FOR AND COMPLETED USING YOUR OWN EMAIL AND LOGIN, NOT THOSE OF A FAMILY MEMBER.
DUE TO LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, WE CANNOT GIVE CREDIT FOR TRAINING COMPLETED USING SOMEONE ELSE'S LOGIN.
Referee Certification Classes
Before enrolling for any class, AYSO requires that all volunteers have:
1) Registered on the WSSL.org website under Player & Volunteer Registration. This includes players who want to also be a referee (player registration is not sufficient). Registration as a volunteer kicks off an annual background check for adult volunteers which is a legal requirement. Volunteers under 18 years of age do not need a background check; and,
2) Completed the online Safe Haven course; and,
3) Completed the online CDC Concussion Awareness courses. See below.
4) Volunteers over 18 years old must also complete the SafeSport online course. Unlike Safe Haven, this is an annual requirement. Please visit SafeSport for more information and instructions on taking the class.
Next, pick the level of referee certificate that is relevant to your needs:
Entry Level: The 8U Official online course is the entry-level course for beginners. You will be eligible to referee games in 6U, 7U and 8U after completing this course and the other requirements.
Course Prerequisites: Please see the green box above.
The course is split into two components, both of which are mandatory:
a) 8U Official Online course (online at eTrainU). You can complete the online 8U Official course at any time, at your own pace. Here's how:
b) Attend a 40-minute "WSSL referee seminar" to cover some specifics of being a referee in WSSL. If you intend to take an in-person Regional Referee class very soon then you do NOT need to attend the seminar. The seminar will be offered regularly either on Zoom or in person, usually at the start of each season. Here are the materials that will be covered at the Zoom: 8U Seminar
Where and When:
The series of 8U seminars for Spring 2025 has concluded. Further 8U Official Seminar dates will be added depending on demand. Once you have completed the online component, please email the referee instruction team to register interest in future seminars and to receive further information.
Second Level: The Regional Referee - Online + In-Person Companion Course is our second-level course. You will be eligible to referee games up to and including 12U after completing this course.
Course Prerequisites: Please see the green box above.
The course is split into two components which must be completed in order:
a) Regional Referee Online course (online at eTrainU). You can complete the online component of the Regional Referee course at any time, at your own pace.
b) Regional Referee - In-Person Companion Course (classroom or Zoom)
The companion course is a three-hour class that assumes you have learned everything in the online class and will be focused on confirmation of learning, answering any questions, and highlighting WSSL-specifics.
Where and When:
The WSSL Regional Referee (second level) classes for Spring 2025 have concluded. Further dates will be added depending on demand. Please email the referee instruction team to register interest in future sessions.
Third Level: The Intermediate Referee class is strongly recommended for referees in 13U to 19U and is mandatory if you plan to be Center Referee in those divisions. The course includes in-depth modules on fouls and misconduct, advantage, offside and positioning. The class is aimed at experienced referees who have a strong understanding of the Laws of the Game.
Course Prerequisites: Significant practical experience at the Regional Referee level. A good knowledge of the Laws of the Game is assumed and not taught at this class but will be on the test. Pre-course preparation is recommended. Please see the green box below.
Where and When: The next WSSL Intermediate Referee class has not yet been scheduled. You can check eTrainU for Intermediate classes in other regions (clear the Regions filter).
Fourth Level: An Advanced Referee class is aimed at experienced referees who want to be ready to take on demanding games.
Course Prerequisites: Intermediate Referee Certification, a thorough knowledge of the Laws of the Game is assumed as well as significant accumulated practical refereeing experience. Please see the green box below.
Cost: No fee. Lunch included.
Where and When: Not currently scheduled in WSSL. Please check eTrainU for classes in other regions (clear the Regions filter).
How to Register for a Class
Please see the instructions below and email our Director of Referee Instruction, Michael Titowsky, and our Regional Referee Administrator, Stan Ince, with any questions or requests for training. [Click here]
If you would like to prepare ahead of the class, check out the Referee Survival Kit for lots of useful information. More information about referee training can be found here.
Teen Referees
Young people aged 10 years and over, including Core and Travel soccer players and their siblings, and are very welcome to attend referee classes. Please bear in mind that classes are quite intense and take approx. 3½ hours. WSSL awards community service credit for time in class and refereeing on the field, subject to approval by the school. The Teen Referee program welcomes new members and will make sure that you have fun as well as serving the league!
Volunteer registration for young people is a little different from that for parent volunteers. Go here for Teen Referee instructions.
How to Register for a Referee Class
These are the steps that need to be completed to register for a course. Some of them only need to be done once, if they're done properly. Please try to do these in order. It will cut down on problems and having to repeat any of these steps.
Safe Haven, Concussion Awareness and Regional Referee Companion Courses Online
The above courses are offered online and can be taken at any time at your convenience.
For Safe Haven and Regional Referee Courses, all modules for each course must be taken for the course to be considered complete.