Become A Referee
Become a Referee
Welcome to the first step in becoming a soccer referee!
You must be age 13 or older to become a soccer referee.
To become a certified Referee, you will need to complete three phases of instruction: Online, Classroom, and Field Instruction.
If you will be 18 years old or older during the referee year, SafeSport certification and a background check will also be required. These requirements are built into the registration and online instruction process.
Here is what you need to know:
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Online instruction will be done via the Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program (MDCVSRP) Officials Management System and the US Soccer Learning Center. Most new referees need 6-7 hours to complete the online instruction.
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Classroom instruction is scheduled at various locations and lasts about 2-3 hours.
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Field instruction is scheduled at various locations and lasts about 4 hours.
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Classroom and Field instruction sessions will be scheduled as one clinic.
Upon successful completion of all phases of instruction, you will be certified as a Grassroots Referee.
There are step-by-step directions to guide you through the process, on creating a profile, and registering for courses.
You will have to set up two or three User IDs and Passwords: one for MDCVSRP Officials Management System, one for US Soccer Learning Center, and if applicable, one for SafeSport. Because these are all for being a referee, you can use the same User ID and Password. When you enter your name, be careful to use the same name consistently, for example, Thomas vs Tom.
We look forward to seeing you on the field soon!
Registration and Instruction Process
The first thing you will do is go to the Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program’s Officials Management System (OMS). This is where you will register as a referee, sign up for a clinic, and complete online instruction.
To become a referee, you will need to do the following:
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Create your username and password and enter your personal information.
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Pay your referee registration fee. Cost is $80, payable online via credit card only.
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Sign up for a referee clinic from the list of available clinics.
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Complete your online instruction lessons.
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Attend the classroom and field instruction sessions, only after completing all online instruction.
The link to the OMS homepage for the Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program is this: https://mdcvasrp.omgtsys.com If needed, you can return to our OMS system to manage your personal information or sign up for other clinics.
In OMS, the “I want to:” and “I need Help” buttons will be helpful.
Online Instruction Lessons
The online instruction consists of four parts.
On your OMS Member Home Page, to the right of the clinic that you reserved, click to “Online Lessons” button. This will take you to the OMS page where you Take/Retake each of the online lessons.
Part 1: US Soccer Digital Learning Center (DLC) Online Course (about 4.5 hours) Before you start the Learning Center Online Course, there is an Introduction to the DLC to explain how to initially sign up in the Learning Center, create a profile, log into the Learning Center, and start your Learning Center Online Course. Using the RED Button on the last slide in the Introduction, sign up and create your profile in the Learning Center. Log out of the DLC and return to OMS and reselect the RED Button in the Learning Center Introduction. Then, begin the Learning Center Online Course, “DC / Virginia – Online Course (Hidden)”.
When you complete the US Soccer Learning Center Online Course, save the certificate of completion to show the instructor(s), if needed. Then return to our Officials Management System (OMS), and select "Online Lessons" to complete the other three parts of the online instruction.
Part 2: Providing a Healthy and Safe Playing Environment (about 30 minutes)
Part 3: 2020 Grassroots Referee Test (about 30 minutes)
Part 4: SafeSport Training Every referee who will be 18 years and older during the soccer year must complete SafeSport Training (about 1.5 hours). We cannot certify any referee 18 years or older without SafeSport Training. Save your certificate of completion.
To upload your certificate of completion after completing the SafeSport Training, return to your OMS "Member Home Page," select "I want to:", then select “Provide SafeSport Documentation."
After you upload the document, you must go back to the OMS lesson and continue where you left off. You must answer the two questions and complete the lesson. Clear the error code that appears on the next-to-last screen. You must wait 15-20 seconds while the lesson closes out and takes you back to the lesson list. At that point, you must select the “Push Here to Update Results (after completing the lesson)” and again wait 20 seconds while the lesson list is updated. If you close the windows too soon, the lesson will not be updated.
The Risk Management Officer (RMO) needs to verify your certificate and review and approve your Background Check before this lesson shows as complete. The RMO verifies, reviews, and approves risk management daily.
Note: Please do not waste everyone's time trying to attend the in-person clinic without completing all of the online instruction. You will not be admitted to the class if the roster shows that all online lessons have not been completed.