Providing trained and qualified referees for youth soccer games is important for the safety and enjoyment of the game by participants and spectators. IAFC employs a two-tier referee program where referees are assigned to officiate games based on training and experience.

Club Referees – officiate small sided Recreation games for the U7 and uU8 age groups. The Club Referees are trained by IAFC in a two hour class and are allowed to referee IAFC Recreation games only for the U7 and U8 age.

USSF Certified Referees –officiate Recreation and Select level games up to U19 based on the referees age, certification level (Grade 9 or Grade 8) and experience. Certified Referees can serve in either a Center Referee or Assistant Referee (linesperson) role for a game. Certified Referees are trained by instructors from the Georgia State Soccer Association under the auspices of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). Training classes for Grade 9 and Grade 8 are nine hours in length each, typically conducted over two sessions for each grade level. A Grade 9 referee must officiate for one season before qualifying to take the Grade 8 class. Once certified, a referee is eligible to officiate youth games throughout the State of Georgia and other states (e.g., tournaments, other local soccer associations) based on the guidelines for that grade level and state/local practices.

All referees are paid for games officiated according to the pay scale published by IAFC. Pay levels generally increase in accordance with the age group and level of competition. Referees are assigned to games by the IAFC Referee Assignor based on a number of factors including: games scheduled, referee age, experience and training/certification. Every attempt it made to best match a referee with games that fit with their schedule and capabilities.

The table below summarizes the different types of referees employed by AYSA:

	IAFC  Club Referee	USSF Certified Referee
		Grade 9	Grade 8
Highest Levels of Competition
Center Referee	U8 Recreation (IAFC only)	U14 Recreation	U19 Select and Recreation
Assistant Referee		U14 Select and Recreation	U19 Select and Recreation
Training
Class Length	2 hours	9 hours	9 hours (must be  Grade 9 for  one season
Cost	Free	$55	$60
		(course application fees are reimbursed by IAFC upon request after officiating 5 gamesover a seasonal year e.g. Fall/Spring)
Pay Scale (per game)	$15	$15 - $30	$15 - $45

Additional information regarding the IAFC Referee program is available at www.interatlantafc.com Additional information regarding the USSF Certified Referee program, course schedules and registration are available at www.gasoccer.org.

If you have any questions regarding the IAFC Referee program, please contact the IAFC Referee Assignor at [email protected]