New Referee certification is available from July through May.  Click Become a Referee.

Returning Referee recertification for 2026 is available by clicking Instruction.  Select the appropriate Path.

Referees who complete their first-time certification or recertification process between July 2025 through May 2026 will receive a 2026 referee badge and may begin officiating immediately.

New US Soccer initiative:  All referees younger than 18 on the day they register will receive a green 2026 referee badge. Other referees will receive the traditional black badge.

Posted July 31, 2025

US Soccer’s updated Referee Abuse Prevention Policy (Policy 531-9) is designed to make youth and amateur matches more safe, more fun, and more empowering for everyone involved.  The updated policy includes clear examples and consequences of misconduct.

Learn more about the US Soccer Referee Abuse Prevention Policy

Key points:

• Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience soccer without risking his or her well-being. 
• We must protect those in service to the game.
• Both physical and non-physical abuse have no place in our game.
• Suspensions will be for a number of games or time-based (or sometimes both) depending on severity and circumstance.
• Players, coaches, and spectators are all encouraged to report abuse.

When you as a referee are involved in an abuse situation…
1.    Your first call should be to your referee assignor.
2.    Complete your game report as usual.
3.    Submit a MDCVASRP Referee Abuse Report online.
4.    Your Area Referee Administrator will contact you to discuss the incident and next steps.
5.    Email the SRP Office if you do not hear from your ARA within 48 hours.
6.    We strive to resolve referee abuse incidents within 30 days.
7.    Additional information on processing and adjudicating referee abuse incidents is included within the Referee Abuse Report.

Posted March 13, 2025

Our State Referee Committee has an agreement with Official Sports International (OSI) for our referees to purchase their referee kits at a discount.  OSI provides proper uniforms and equipment and is a sponsor of US Soccer.  OSI uniforms are what you see on professional referees at US Soccer events.

If you have not purchased your referee uniform and equipment, you may procure them from OSI. 
On your OMS Member Information, under the Registration drop down menu, select "Order Referee Starter Kit".

Revised Nov 17, 2025

The MDCVASRP Policy Manual received significant updates in April 2021.  Look for it under the Resources tab.

Posted April 28, 2021

Our new MDCVASRP website is supported by volunteers like you.  We are committed to making this website valuable and informative for everyone in our program.  Please contribute your ideas by clicking here.

Modified Nov 4, 2020