How To Become A United States Soccer Federation (U.S.S.F.) Referee

To become certified as an outdoor U.S.S.F. official, an 18-hour course must be taken and a written test must be passed. The course is offered annually at Westminster High School. The next session will begin on Sunday, February 3, 2008, from 2pm-5pm in room A107. It will involve three-hour sessions on February 3, 10, 17 & 24 and on March 2 with the final test taking place on March 9. No pre-registration is necessary, just be there on the first night. Tuition is $30 (checks payable to “Old Line Board of Soccer Officials” or “OLBSOA”). U.S.S.F. registration is another $25 (checks payable to “Maryland Soccer Referees” or “MSR”).

Organizations other than the Old Line Board of Soccer Officials (Carroll Co.) offer this certification at different times and at different locations. Check www.marylandsoccer.com/referees for information.

How To Maintain U.S.S.F. Referee Certification

All officials must attend five hours of in-service annually, take a test annually, and register annually. The next local recertification will on Sunday, February 17, at Liberty High School from 11am-5pm.  A 2008 recertification clinic will also be held on Sunday, March 16, Noon-6pm in the 2nd floor cafeteria at Westminster High School.  Registration with U.S.S.F. requires that officials bring their pre-printed form sent from U.S.S.F. in the fall and the registration fee of $25 (checks payable to “Maryland Soccer Referees” or “MSR”). An additional local in-service is planned for the fall of ‘08, date and time TBA.

How To Become A C.I.S.C. Referee

To be assigned games as an official at Carroll Indoor Sports Center, one must be certified by one of the three certifying organizations for outdoor soccer in the United States- U.S.S.F., N.C.A.A., or National Federation of High Schools. Then, an official must atend a C.I.S.C. rules clinic and pass the C.I.S.C. rules test. The clinic is given at least once annually with the next session on Tuesday, November 11, 2008, at 7pm at Carroll Indoor Sports Center.

How To Become A High School Referee

To become a high school official with the Old Line Board of Soccer Officials, a candidate must have passed the U.S.S.F. referee class. An official must be over the age of 18 and a high school graduate. The official must attend a State High School Clinic, it is mandatory. The clinic will be held in Westminster at Westminster High School in the upstairs cafeteria on Monday, August 11, at 7pm. (Other clinic dates and locations may be found at www.mpssaa.org).

The candidate must be present at the full slate of high school meetings, just one miss allowed, and shall work three high school scrimmages for assessment, instruction, and observation. You must pass the National Federation of High Schools soccer rules test. Please contact Jim Myers, Commissioner of High School Officials, if interested at (301)829-4744, or e-mail myersar@aol.com (Subject must read "referees").

Upcoming Tournaments

Old Line Board of Soccer Officials will be assigning for several tournaments.

Fitness Test

Tentatively, efforts will be made to hold a fitness test in Westminster at East Middle School on Tuesday, July 22, at 7pm (rain date July 24) pending availability of a state assigned instructor and an on-site EMT.

Tentatively, a summer fitness test will be run in Frederick, Md., usually at Frederick High. Date and time are TBA. Check www.marylandsoccer.com/referees for current fitness testing information.

Meeting Schedule

The Old Line Board has set the following meeting schedule for its certified high school officials and applicants: