Requirements:

You should be physically fit, emotionally mature, at least 13 years of age, and have the time available to referee games.

• If you are 18 or older, you must undergo a National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) Background Screening and receive SafeSport Training. The NCSI background check is the only one that U.S. Soccer will accept, and SafeSport training is required by Federal Law.

The Grassroots Referee Course has both an online and an instructor-led, in-person component. Online assignments are completed in the U.S. Soccer Learning Center before attending the in-person clinic. In-person courses are listed in the events calendar. If you find one that you are interested in taking, click on the course and follow the instructions provided to create a Learning Center Profile and register. 

• If you don’t find a grassroots course near you on the calendar, you can complete the online requirement in advance and have your credentials connected to the in-person course administrator at a later date. To request the credential transfer contact IaRefereeHelpDesk@gmail.com.

The cost is $62.50, and you pay online. Credit cards, debit cards, or pre-paid cards issued by VISA, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are accepted.

• After you have created a Profile and registered / paid for a course, you can enter its online CLASSROOM. There are 6 tasks you must complete under the ASSIGNMENTS tab. These must be completed before attending the in-person clinic:
  • Background Screening (Required for ages 18 and older)
  • SafeSport Training (90 minute module required for ages 18 and older)
  • Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments (30 minute presentation)
  • Online Grassroots Referee Course (4 hour module – go at your own pace)
  • 2022-23 Laws of the Game Update
  • First Time Grassroots Referee Quiz (Do this last)
• IMPORTANT: As you complete each assignment, be sure to click on ‘Save and Confirm’. For the longer assignments, periodically save your progress every 15-20 minutes.
• Upon completion of the 4 hour Online Grassroots Referee Course assignment, you will be issued a completion certificate downloadable from your Learning Center Profile.

After you have completed all the online Learning Center assignments for the Grassroots Referee Course, you are ready to participate in the instructor-led, in-person clinic part of the course.

In addition to the practical on-field exercises to be held, the topics that will be covered include:

• How to get games / Working with Assignors 
• Demosphere assigning tool overview
• Referee / Assistant Referee Signals
• US Soccer’s Advice to New Referees video series
• Laws modifications for short-sided play, i.e., 7v7 and 9v9
• Offside Position / Offside Infraction / Offside Decisions
• Annual Recertification & Registration

Congratulations on successfully completing the requirements to become a grassroots referee.  My name is Lou Agocs and I’m your State Director of Assignment (SDA).  You can email me any time with questions.

How to Get Games

In order to be assigned to referee soccer matches in Iowa, you must get in contact with a U.S. Soccer certified Referee Assignor. You should have been given a list of local assignors during the Grassroots Referee course

• As a U.S. Soccer certified referee, you are an independent contractor and as such may work for any assignor, but it is your responsibility to contact them for games.
• It is your responsibility to contact your local assignor and let him/her know that you are a certified official and are ready to work games. Most assignors will want to know your availability so be ready with the list of dates and times that you are/are not available to work matches when you contact them.
• Also, be sure to let them know of a reliable way to contact you in case of last-minute schedule changes. Many assignors will assign games on a week-by-week basis so be sure to ask what the procedure is for getting games in the future.

If you are interested in becoming an assignor, contact Lou Agocs.

As a new soccer official, you should be prepared to work mainly as an Assistant Referee or as a Referee on the younger age groups until the assignor is able to identify your abilities to handle more difficult games.

• Do not be discouraged if your first season is spent doing “little kids” as all referees go through this process of development.
• If you have the opportunity to work with more experienced referees, be sure to ask them any questions you might have as their advice will come in handy when you receive harder assignments.

Understanding the Hierarchy of Games

The Game Hierarchy table is your guide to the levels and priorities of games to which a referee can be assigned. It is important that you share your goals with each of your assignors so that they can work together with you to provide assignments that will enhance your career path. You should then work the highest level of game that you can.

• Game Hierarchy Table

Congratulations on successfully completing the requirements to become a grassroots referee.  My name is Alec Clark and I’m your State Director of Instruction (SDI).  You can contact me any time with questions, via email. 

• Laws of the Game: The Laws of the Game Made Easy is a simplified version of the LOTG (at only 55 pages) and includes the small-sided rules modifications:
  • Laws of the Game Made Easy
• The full 246 page International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game (LOTG) and related laws updates are available here:
  • 2021-2022 IFAB Laws of the Game
  • Circular 22 – AGM Decisions
  • 2021-22 IFAB Laws of the Game Changes, with video

Assistant Referee Preparations

• Make sure you understand what the referee wants you to do in managing substitutions, how long to hold the offside signal, etc.
• Hold the flag in the proper hand. Referees usually run a left diagonal, which means the flag will be in your left hand most of the time.
• If you turn sideways to walk up or down the field, switch hands with the flag as necessary so the flag is field side and the referee can see the flag clearly. The flag should always be switched hand to hand in front of you, below your waist, and not above your head.
• Make eye contact with the referee as often as possible throughout the game when you are not watching for offside or attending to other AR duties.
• Stay even with the second-to-last defender. (The goalkeeper is usually the last defender, but not always.) This positions you to make accurate offside decisions.
• Follow the ball all the way to the goal line so you’ll be in position to see if the ball completely crosses the goal line. Following the ball to the goal line each time is an excellent habit to get into.
• When you’re running a line, side-step so you stay square to the field as much as possible. This position allows you to continue to see the field and players. When you need to sprint to the goal line to follow play or the ball, then run in a normal sprint, while watching the field.
• Run to the corner flag, or close to it, when signaling for a goal kick or corner kick. Raising your flag yards away from the corner flag or goal line not only calls attention to the fact that you not in the correct position to make that decision, but also carries with it the idea that you are either lazy, or you don’t care enough about the game to be in the proper position to make the call.
• When signaling for a ball that is clearly off the field across the touchline, point your flag in the direction the throw-in will be taken (not straight up). This is very helpful for the referee in making a decision on which team last touched the ball and which team should be awarded the throw-in.
• Assist the referee in making sure the throw-in is being taken from the correct spot by pointing with your free hand to where the player should be standing when taking the throw-in. Be proactive, don’t wait for the player to make a mistake, help them get it right.

Referee Preparations

• You will probably do more games as an AR at first, but when you are assigned as a referee, remember to conduct a pre-game with your ARs. Tell them what you would like them to do in various situations, such as throw-ins, free kicks, goal kicks, etc. and make sure they understand what you are asking from them.
• Review offside and make sure the ARs have a clear understanding of the Rules of Competition for the league in which you are working.
• Be aware of your position on the field. It’s tough enough to properly call a soccer match when you are on top of the play. It’s impossible to make correct decisions when you stay close to or within the center circle. Even when officiating at the small-sided game level, get in the habit of being in the proper position and working hard. Always think about your positioning – you should know why you are where you are. What do you gain by being in this position?
• Maintain good eye contact with your ARs throughout the game. A good habit to get into is to make eye contact with your ARs on every dead ball situation.
• If you are working a game alone, remember to appoint club linesmen to help you out with balls in and out of bounds. Club linesmen cannot call offside or fouls, so this means you have to work extra hard in the middle and concentrate to make sure you are covering offside on both sides of the field. Ask for a club linesman from each of the teams, rather than two from the same team. Tell them to only indicate when the ball has completely crossed over the touchline or goal line, and not the direction the throw or whether it is a goal kick or corner kick. That is your decision. Remember that ball in and out of play is the only thing they can call as club linesmen.
• Make your hand signals clear; point the direction with a straight arm.
• Blow clear and sharp whistles. Learn how to make your whistle “talk” for you. Use the whistle to communicate control. Too many newly certified referees make a call with barely an audible “tweet” which tells everyone on the field that you are unsure of yourself. On your first call, give the whistle a firm blast and confidently point in the direction of the play. A firm whistle will eliminate 50 percent of the arguments. Vary the strength of your whistle depending on the infraction. For a serious foul, blow the whistle very loudly.
• Be decisive in your calls. Players and coaches may try to take advantage of the situation if you seem unsure.
• Run the diagonal system of control when you have ARs assigned with you. The most accepted diagonal system is from the right corner to the left corner – referees refer to this as a “left diagonal”.
• At half time and after the game, review all the results (number of cards, scores for each team and any incident that occurred, as well as the information required to be reported by that particular league) so your game report is accurate.

Remember to take care of the final part of your match assignment: submitting reports (including any “supplemental” reports) and using Demosphere to submit the report that will trigger your getting paid.

Assignment and Reporting Management Tool: Demosphere

• Beginning with the Fall 2020 Season, Assignors began using Demosphere to assign referee crews to Iowa Soccer League (ISL) and Iowa Soccer Cups (Presidents, State, League America, Copa) matches.  It is also used by crews to submit post-game Iowa Soccer League reports, which triggers payment for your services (see additional details below).
• Accessing Demosphere
  • As with the U.S. Soccer Learning Center, the preferred browser to use for Demosphere is Google Chrome.
  • Account creation or log in
    • Go to the Demosphere site
    • If you have not created a Demosphere account, click “create an account.”
    • If you have forgotten your password or need to retrieve your account, click “Forgot password or Retrieve Account.” Make sure to use the e-Mail address that is associated with your registration in the U.S. Soccer Learning Center.
    • If you have a Demosphere Account, enter your User ID/e-Mail and password to sign in and access your Dashboard.
• Helpful guides
  • Referee user guide
  • Assignor user guide
• Once logged in
  • Open the REFEREE MANAGEMENT tab and then click the “Access Your Profile” button to manage your Assignments, Calendar, Game Reports, and Preferences using Demosphere’s Referee Management System (RMS).
• Demosphere help
  • Your Iowa Soccer contact for help with Demosphere is Hidajet Tica.  Email him for assistance.
• Demosphere app for your smartphone
  • Google play (android)
  • App Store (iPhone)

Getting paid for your work for Iowa Soccer

You must fill out a game report within 48 hours of your Iowa Soccer League (ISL) match so that you and your crew get paid. Those who do not have Direct Deposit will be mailed a check. Iowa Soccer will issue payments twice a month.

• Iowa Soccer will be using cPayPlus, LLC to pay referees by Direct Deposit. To participate, you need to complete this Automated Clearing House (ACH) Credit Authorization Agreement.
• Required fields are highlighted in dark blue and with an asterisk. Enter your Social Security Number (SSN) for FEID # (Federal Employment IDentification). When you’ve completed the form, click DONE at the top of the page to submit.
• If you have questions, send an e-Mail to support@cpayplus.com.

All referees must re-certify and re-register every year between July 1 and December 31. Referees who miss this registration window are assessed a late fee.

• If you don’t re-register during the normal registration window, you run the risk of not receiving a new referee badge.
  • Registering means you are current with your annual registration fees and have been issued your badge for the year. The earlier you register, the sooner you get your new badge.
  • As part of re-registering, recertification courses will be made available in the Learning Center each July. Once the assignments associated with the recertification module are completed and registration fees are paid, you will be registered for the following year.
• Recertification is valid for each calendar year; however, recertifications can start as early as July for the following year.
  • If you first certified as a referee between July and December, your certification is valid for the remainder of that year and for the entire next calendar year.
  • If you originally became certified in the first half of the year, then your certification is valid through December of that year.
• Why is registration and recertification required annually?
  • The Laws change. Memoranda are issued every year. Recertification ensures that you have been made aware of the changes and of any points-of-emphasis for the next registration year. The process of re-certifying means you have met U.S. Soccer’s annual continuing education requirement. Re-registering means you are up-to-date on administrative requirements.