US Soccer Referee Pathway
Thank you for giving your time and efforts to refereeing at Atlanta Panthers Soccer Academy. We value your time and high quality referring. Whether you are a seasoned veteran, or a newly-qualified referee, we want to make sure that we you efforts and recognize the vital role you play in ensuring that all our players, parents, and coaches have a safe and enjoyable soccer experience.
Our experienced staff is placed in the following areas:
APSC Atlanta, GA
APSC Marietta, GA
Bernie Beale ([email protected]), 202-421-3636
These contacts will be your primary go-to resource when it comes to questions about assignments, Game Officials registration and account management, ongoing assessments, and feedback about your experiences through our Referee Mentor Program.
Support Manager, Bria Harris ([email protected]), available as a point of contact for general questions about the club, and as a confidential point-of-contact for issues related to coach misbehavior, in support of the staff listed above. If you have any coaching problems please feel free to contact Bernie Beale @ (atlantapanthersoccer.com)
ASSIGNING PROCESS
APSC uses the Game Officials system to handle the assigning for all regular season and tournament games. If you are a certified referee and interested in refereeing at APSC, please follow the instructions below. Please be sensitive to the fact that we have multiple assignors across the club as a whole though, so issues may arise if you commit to different locations (and therefore different assignors) for the same weekend. Please try to provide as much information as possible therefore with respect to your preferred locations, and your abilities especially as they relate to whether you are comfortable acting as a center referee.
NEW GAME OFFICIALS ACCOUNT
Go to www.gameofficials.net and click on “New Official?”. Enter "1094" in the Group Number box and in the Access Code box. Click continue and compete the registration including selecting your APSC location of preference, adding emergency contact information etc. Email your local area staff (information above) once you have competed the registration or if you have any questions. If you are 18 years-old or older, please be sure to complete the Kidsafe Disclosure Form found HERE (log in and the Kidsafe Form link will appear under the main menu).
EXISTING GAME OFFICIALS ACCOUNT
Go to www.gameofficials.net and Login. Go to My Assignor and click on Join a New Group. Enter "" in the Group Number box and in the Access Code box. Click Join Group and email your local area assignor (information below) that you have joined our group. If you are 18 years-old or older, please ensure that your Kidsafe Disclosure Form is current. It can be found HERE (log in and the Kidsafe Form link will appear under the main menu).
ASSIGNMENTS
Referees are booked (5) days in advance. Each club referee should set his/her availability in Game Officials weekly or e-mail their ref assignor by Sunday of each week with your availability and any other restrictions in your schedule. Assignments are e-mailed by Wednesday. Please accept your assignment promptly in Game Official to confirm you are taking the assignment. Click here for more information on how to get started in Game Officials.
GAME DAY EXPECTATIONS
Please to view our game day referee expectations check list.
REFEREE UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT
Items, including a beginners set containing a yellow shirt, shorts, socks, and equipment, can be purchased through online stores such as soccer.com, refereestore.com and epicsports.com. For referees looking to be assigned to Select and Academy games, a green referee shirt should also be purchased as an alternate given that APSC's home jersey color is yellow for these programs.
RULES
Different leagues have different rules regarding such things as game duration and substitution restrictions. To view rules league-by-league, please click HERE.
HOW TO REPORT COACH/PLAYER/SPECTATOR DISCIPLINE ISSUES (Red and Yellow Cards).
The process varies depending on the league. For details, please click HERE.
SCORE REPORTING
All score reporting to each league is done by the team managers, so there is no obligation on the referee's behalf to submit scores.
REFEREE PAYMENT
2021/22 Ref Pay Rates:
APSC Select/Academy Games |
Age | Center | Assistant Referee |
7-a-side Academy
and tournament | 25 | 13 |
9-a-side Academy
and tournament | 30 | 15 |
U13/14 SCCL-Premier
and tournament | 35 | 20 |
U15/16 SCCL-Premier
and tournament | 45 | 25 |
U17/19 SCCL-Premier
and tournament | 50 | 35 |
U13 GAL/NPL/DPL League | 60 | 40 |
U14-U16 GAL/NPL/DPL League | 70 | 40 |
U17-U19 GAL/NPL/DPL League | 80 | 50 |
U12 SCCL-Club | 35 | 20 |
U13-U16 SCCL-Club | 65 | 40 |
U17-U19 SCCL-Club | 75 | 50 |
| | |
Rec Games |
5-a-side Rec | 15 |
|
7-a-side Rec
and Rec tournament | 22 | 13 |
9-a-side Rec
and Rec tournament | 25 | 15 |
U14 Rec | 28 | 18 |
U16 Rec | 35 | 23 |
U19 Rec | 45 | 30 |
Special Circumstances:
§ Payment is made every two weeks through GOPay. The process allows for the referee to choose either payment to go directly into a referee's bank account without a fee, or by a check mailed for a $6 processing fee (per check) deducted from the amount paid.
§ To set your GO account to process payments correctly, please click HERE.
§ It is the responsibility of the Center Referee to post the score of each of their games in Game Officials and list any assignment change(s) or game incidents.
§ Any referee that makes a change to their assignment must contact the assignor within 24 hours.
§ APSC tournament pay to officials is made by GOPay under the same terms above, but payment is processed within one week of the tournament being completed.
NEW REFEREE, RECERTIFICATION, AND CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES
For information on scheduled classes, please click HERE. Classes cost $90, though referees typically make this money back in just their first weekend of games.
REFEREE CLASSES
WHY REFEREE?
§ Get Paid! Earn good money to participate in a sport you love. To see pay rates, please click HERE.
§ A flexible schedule – Provide your own availability to assignors to work around your busy schedule.
§ A new way to be a part of the game – Continue being involved in the game we love in ways other than playing or coaching.
§ Fitness and health – Where else can you get paid to work out?
§ Challenge yourself – It is no mystery referees make mistakes. Becoming a referee is a rewarding process full of challenges and opportunities to advance to higher level and higher paying games.
§ Develop life skills – Discipline, leadership, organization, communication, professionalism, and confidence.
§ Improve our sport – Think you can do better than that other referee? Prove it!
§ Travel – Sign up for tournaments all over the state of Georgia and the USA.
CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION
The State Referee Association/US Soccer hosts regular online classes for individuals age 13 or older looking to gain referee certification, as well as online classes for current referees looking to renew or upgrade their certifications. Once certified, an individual is able to sign up to an APSC location of their preference and referee games on a schedule convenient to them.
GRASSROOTS REFEREE (FORMERLY GRADES 9, 8 AND 7)
A referee’s journey begins at the Grassroots level. U.S. Soccer Grassroots Referees are qualified to officiate competitive, small-sided or recreational youth matches and amateur adult matches.
The U.S. Soccer Grassroots License has both an online and in-person component - registration for both parts is $90 in total. Grassroots Referees will register for courses through the US Soccer Referee Learning Center (click HERE for view the website) and be certified through State Referee Committees.
Becoming a Grassroots Referee in the US Soccer Referee Program consists of accomplishing both of the following:
§ Grassroots Online Course. - the online course takes a total of 4.5 - 6 hours to complete through the US Soccer Referee Learning Center
§ Attending the Grassroots In-Person Field Session - a one-day class lasting approximately 4 hours*
For a schedule of available In-Person classes, please click HERE.
For details on how to register for online and in-person classes, please click HERE.
REFEREEING AT APSC
For information on how to sign up to receive assignments at the APSC location most convenient to you, along with the most up-to-date pay scale, please click HERE.