US Soccer Referee Pathway
Referee Program Overview
The following pages explain the policies and guidelines we expect you to follow while working for the Inter Atlanta FC (IAFC). We strive to become a league that people describe as having a solid and experienced pool of referees. To meet this goal, we as a league and you as our referee must always be striving to improve.
It is our hope that the included materials will answer many of your questions or concerns related to the logistics of working for the IAFC in all our programs.
Referee Programs and Certifications
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 9U-12U age groups. The Club Referees are trained by IAFC in a two-hour class and are allowed to referee IAFC Recreation games only for any of our 9U-12U age groups. Click here to sign up for our next class hosted at Arizona to become a Club Referee.
USSF Certified Referees
Officiate Recreation, Academy, Select, and National League level games up to U19 based on the referee's age, certification level (Grassroots or Regional), and experience. Certified Referees can serve in either a Center Referee or Assistant Referee (lines person) 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) in a non-COVID-19 year. The way the referees become certified as Grassroots referees is now conducted 100% online and that course is found here.
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 being either a Grassroots or Regional referee and state/local practices. Click here to sign up for our next class hosted at Arizona to become a Certified Referee.
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 is made to best match a referee with games that fit with their schedule and capabilities.
Referee Refresher Courses and Recruitment Days
Inter Atlanta FC works hard to make sure that all our referees, especially those coming out of becoming certified during COVID-19 are ready to hit the fields with proper knowledge and know-how. If you are a newly certified referee or aspire to become a referee and are planning on completing your Grassroots certification within the next month, please join us on Saturday, August 7, 2021 for our Referee Refresher and Recruitment Day. The session will be from 9am-11am at our home fields at Arizona Avenue. Click here to rsvp, so we can plan ahead.