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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.
Referees
usually start out by taking the Level 9 Referee class, which
consists of 9 hours of classroom training, followed by a written
examination. These classes are offered in our area during the winter
(January-March). An annual refresher is required (usually done
in December) to maintain your status as a USSF Referee. After one season as a Level 9 Referee you mya take an additional 9 hourc class to move up to Level 8. Most local USSF games require that you be a Level 8 official, or else work with a USSF mentor.
Usually
a new USSF Referee will officiate younger age group games in GVSA.
The usual progression would then typically take you to older youth
games at higher levels (e.g. in the Michigan State Premier Soccer
League). Once you have done 100 USSF games, including 75
centers you may apply for an upgrade.
Upgrades
Advancement in USSF officiating is done through the upgrade process.
Most USSF officials never go past grade 8, but moving is necessary
to do higher level youth games (e.g. State Cup), Adult Games and
professional games.
Upgrades
require that you officiate a certain number of games at the level
which you are aspiring to, have a game assessment done, pass a
physical test and obtain a higher score on the written test. A
level 7 Referee (the first upgrade) is considered able to do all
youth games. Level 6 and 5 Referees are called State Referees
and are considered capable of handling Adult amateur games.
Level 4 and 3 Referees are National Referees and would typically be
doing professional games, while Grades 1 and 2 are FIFA Referees,
who do international matches, including World Cup.
Click
here for the upgrade form, directions and requirements.
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:
Board Members of GVSA,
As
the USSF Michigan State Director of Assessments I want to personally thank
you for your support of USSF youth soccer and referees in West Michigan. The
step you recently took to assist in the Upgrade process will help all
referees in West Michigan to become better. With your approval of the
assistance for Upgrade and fee increase for referees who Upgrade, you have
set in motion what is to become known as the best in our State. It takes
this kind of commitment to raise the bar for referees. Thanks again for your
lead and future thinking.
G
W Ouellette
USSF State Director of Assessments
Michigan Referee Committee
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