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Michigan Referee Program / Become A Referee

How to become a referee?

We’re excited for you to become a USSF certified referee! You will find that being a referee is a rewarding experience where you can give back to the game, stay active, and earn some extra cash. Please follow the registration instructions below, and you will be 1 step closer to officiating your first match!

NOTE: New referees must be 13 years old at the time of registration.

1

Create a U.S. Soccer Learning Center Account

To begin, create a Referee Profile on the U.S. Soccer Learning Center website.

  • Make sure a unique email is used for each referee.
  • Sign up using the referee’s name & DOB. (Not the parent or guardian)
  • If the referee is under 18, add a secondary email (e.g., parent, other) to the profile.

2

Register for a First-Time Referee Course

Within your newly created U.S. Soccer Learning Center account:

  1. Hover over “Courses” and click on “Available courses”.
  2. Click on “Go to course list” on the right side of the screen.
  3. Search “Michigan State Referee Committee” under “Host”.
  4. Register for the appropriate 2024 First Time Referee course.
  5. Complete all of the course assignments, and attend the field session.

Should you have any questions during the registration process, please contact Kristy Bos at mgr.recruitment@michiganrefs.org

Why should you become a referee?

Stay Active and Involved.

Whether you are a current or former player, parent, spectator, or fan there is always a place for you to stay involved in the game of soccer as a referee.

Join a Diverse Community.

When you become a referee, you will join a dynamic and diverse group of officials from across the state. The Michigan referee community supports and celebrates our diversity.

Earn Money. Set Your Schedule.

Becoming a referee is a great way to earn some extra cash while giving you the flexibility to set your own schedule. There are games in your area that need referees now!

FAQs

Referee certifications are valid from January 1st – December 31st of each calendar year. You must re-certify every year. Look for emails in late Fall (August – November) with instructions for how to certify for the next registration year.

IF you completed a NEW Referee course after July 1st of any given year, your certification will not expire until December 31st of the following year (EX: Completed a NEW Referee course in August 2023; candidate will receive a 2024 badge and be certified until December 2024).

The website to purchase the official uniforms of US Soccer Federation Referee Program is officialsports.com. You should buy a yellow jersey first and then green.  As you gain more experience, you will want to consider buying the remaining colors in this order: red, blue, black.  You should buy short sleeve jerseys because you can wear a plain black long sleeve shirt underneath. Eventually, you should buy long sleeve jerseys as well.