Introduction
The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) is the recognized national affiliate of the international soccer governing body, FIFA. It is an umbrella organization that includes a large number of affiliates, such as Major League Soccer (MLS), the United Sates Amateur Soccer Association (USASA) and United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA).
Locally, USSF affiliated leagues include the Professional Development League (PDL), Super-Y League (SYL), which are part of the United Soccer Leagues (USL); West Michigan Soccer League (WMSL), which is affiliated with the Michigan Soccer Association (MSA), which is part of USASA; Grand Valley Soccer Association (GVSA), which is affiliated with the Michigan Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA), which is part of USYSA; the Michigan Champions League (MCL), which is affiliated with US Club Soccer (USCS); and various regions of the American Youth Soccer Association (AYSO).
One thing all of these leagues have in common is that they require USSF certified officials for their games.
Note that college, school, and Rec department leagues are not part of USSF, nor are the various local Hispanic leagues.
Officiating in USSF
USSF trains and certifies practically all officials in the USA and provides a system whereby officials can advance to higher levels, including officiating in professional and international games. USSF also trains and certifies Referee Instructors, Assessors and Assignors.
USSF Grade 9 Certification Classes
The first step in officiating youth soccer, high school or college play is to become certified as a USSF Referee. The Level 9 class is an eight hour long class aimed at new referees. Upon completion of the class, and passing the written test, USSF will issue a Recreational Referee Badge good for the current calendar year.
USSF Grade 8 Bridge Class
This eight hour clinic will upgrade a Grade 9 Referee with one season’s officiating experience to a Grade 8 (see http://msysareferee.net for requirements). This is a requirement for officiating in local youth competitive leagues (Grand Valley Soccer Association Center above U10 and sides above U12, Michigan Champions League, Michigan State Premier Soccer League and Super Y-League) as well as the adult amateur West Michigan Soccer League (WMSL)
Classes, including Recertification classes if you missed the local one, are listed at the Michigan Referee Committee website.
If you have questions about what is covered in the class itself contact Mike Wint, the Grand Rapids District Director of Instruction for the Michigan Referee Committee.
USSF Level 7 Upgrades
Once you have officiated 100 USSF games (any age or level, but 75 Centers are required) you may apply to upgrade to Grade 7, which will also require an assessment and physical test. Grade 7 Referees are certified to do any youth (U19 or younger) games, and generally State Cup and Super Y-League games and Assistant Referee on Professional Development League (PDL) are only assigned to Grade 7 and higher officials. Grade 7 is also the stepping stone to becoming a State Referee (Grades 6 and 5).
GVSA Rewards Upgrades (1-12-2006)
The Grand Valley Soccer Association (GVSA) has instituted a plan to encourage USSF Referees to upgrade from Grade 8 to Grade 7. Now's the time to upgrade (see next article).
Any official upgrading from Grade 8 to Grade 7, who has done at least 10 GVSA games in the year he/she upgrades will be reimbursed by GVSA for the upgrade fee ($50).
Any Grade 7 or higher official doing GVSA games will received an additional $10 per game (up to a maximum of $100 per season) directly from the league at the end of the year. For example, if you do a U17 Center the home team will pay you $40, the GVSA will pay you an additional $10 at the end of the season.
Gerry Ouellette, a WMSOA member and the USSF State Director of Assessment has already praised this plan: