Becoming an NYS Referee

To qualify as a trainee, you must meet certain criteria prior to your application being accepted. Once you have met these provisions, you will then be accepted as a potential Referee and placed on a waiting list.

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QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS

**NOTE**
You may apply prior to becoming eleven years old
as long as you are currently in the NYS Program

To Begin Training:

You must be 11 years old to begin as a NYS Referee.

Or, if your birthday falls within the season as indicated below:

Example (not actual seasons dates):

The season is from September 1st, to November 15th

You Qualify if:

Your 11th Birthday is before September 1st

Your 11th Birthday falls between Sept. 1st and Nov. 15th

You DO NOT qualify for the season if:

Your 11th birthday falls on or after November 16th

It is MANDATORY to sign and return the "Service Agreement"

It is MANDATORY to fill out and return the "Availability Form"

You must now, or previously have been in the NYS program.

You must live in Norwood.

Have reliable transportation to and from the field.

Have a positive attitude (to be determined).

Must be responsible (Outlined in the Service Agreement)

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Every season there are several individuals who request to become Referees. Please keep in mind, we can only have a certain number of individuals on the roster as "Regular active referees" at any one time. This changes season by season, due to many factors. There is no way of forecasting how many referees are required to accommodate for a particular season. However, that does not mean, you cannot start training.

TRAINING

Training period consist of 4-6 games (Coordinator's discretion).

You will be shadowing a veteran referee

Shadowing:

Here's the training progression:

At least 4 games of training as a U6 center, and one game as an AR (assistant Referee) at U7

1st game - shadowing the head referee for the 1st half, observing and not making any calls.  2nd half, making calls with assistance from the head referee shadowing.

2nd game - making calls for the entire game with the head referee shadowing the 1st half, then standing on the sideline for the 2nd half

3rd game - making calls for the entire game with the head referee on the sideline the entire game

4th game - Same as 3rd game

5th game - U7 AR; 1st half shadowing head AR, 2nd half making calls with head AR shadowing.

6th game - (Fully trained) U6 center referee with no support

7th game - U7 AR with no shadowing

8th game - U7 center with no shadowing

9th game - U9 AR with n shadowing

10th game - TBD

Pay schedule

• 1st 5 games are trainee pay at $6/game
• Trained, non certified; 6th game - $6 AR; $8 center & Snack Shack duty
• Fully certified $8 AR; $14 center & Snack Shack duty

A referee will usually be assigned one game per weekend (sometimes two or three), depending on how many referees are on staff, and how many games are to be played in one weekend. Although a Veteran Referee will have preference on being assigned to games first, I always make an attempt to schedule everyone with about the same number of games per season. There may be times due to schedule conflicts a veteran can not cover a game. This is where you (as a fully trained referee) will be asked to fill that time slot.

Age LEVEL Requirements All Referees must be at least TWO years older than the team in which you are to officiate.

Restrictions for newly trained referees
*For TWO full seasons (One year)* referees whose ages are 11-12 will be assigned to U6 games only.
Ages 13-18 will be assigned to U9 games.
Regardless of your age, you will START training at the U6 level.
*The Referee Coordinator can make exceptions at his discretion*
In the event that you do not have the opportunity to officiate a game after your "on field training" period has been completed, have no fear. You will still have an opportunity to make money as a "Floating Trainee".

Floater (Snack Shack)

Floater

A Fully trained referes primary responsibility is to work in the "Snack Shack". A Floater's secondary assignment is to officiate any game in the assigned time slot in an event that a scheduled referee does not show for a game unexpectedly. If all Referees show up for their assigned games, then the Floater is to assist in the Snack Shack duties.

Trainee Floater

Pay remains same as if you were actually officiating a game, until you have completed the on field-training period. After completing the on field training, you will then become a "Floater".

Floater & Trainee Floater responsibilities

A Floater will assist in taking orders from customers and help keep the Snack Shack organized and running smoothly.

A Floater assigned to the last game of the day is responsible for assisting in the clean up and closing of the Snack Shack, which is *Mandatory*

Ongoing Responsibilities

After the first two seasons of becoming a fully trained referee, you are required to become a certified referee by attending a certification class.

Please monitor the MassRef website often, for certification classes near you. You must be diligent to register for one of these classes, because once they post on the website, they fill up quickly.

By not becoming a certified referee, you risk the chance of not being scheduled additional games. The course is extremely easy, so please sign up as soon as you can.

**PLEASE NOTE:**
YOU MAY BECOME CERTIFIED PRIOR TO BEING TRAINED AS AN NYS REFEREE (RECOMMENDED)
It is to your advantage to become certified. Not only will you be at the top of the pay scale after the initial training period, more importantly you will learn several aspects of the game and proper Referee techniques prior to you taking the field for the first time.

CLOSING STATEMENT
I would like to thank you for your interest in becoming an NYS Referee. It is the most rewarding job you will ever have as a young adult. This is more than a job, not only are you receiving payment, but you will also have a ton of fun. There are not many jobs that allow you to run around with a bunch of kids and blow a whistle for money? You will be proud of what you can accomplish as a referee. Moreover, you won't be able to wait for the next game before you can get out on that field again.

Thank you,
Peter Varitimos
Intramural Referee Coordinator

REGISTRATION FORM