Referee FAQs

FAQs For New Referees

Club & Travel Games

  • Indiana Soccer Assignors assigns their games through GotSport. This is the best way to get your name exposed to assignors in your area.
  • If you already have a GotSport account because you've played or coached, do not create a new account. Instead, add referee profile to your current account. If you do not have a GotSport account, just click on this link to create one: https://system.gotsport.com/programs/8080S4815.
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Recreational & Small-Sided Games

  • While GotSport is the primary assignment system in Indiana, there a multitude of assignment systems being used throughout the state for non-USYS Indiana Soccer games as well as many recreational and small-sided games. You will need to ask your assignor which system they use. 
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Find Licensed Assignors in your area

Contact your District Referee Administrator (DRA).

Registration for the first-time referee course costs $95. This does NOT include the cost of the referee uniform.

All USSF badges will be mailed out by Official Sports International. You should receive your badge within a couple of weeks after the completion of your on-field experience. If you still haven't received your badge after a couple of weeks, contact your District Referee Administrator (DRA).

You will need to recertify every year.

Referee recertification is completely online and can be completed at the U.S. Soccer Learning Center.

If you have not completed any work, a full refund can be issued. Otherwise, you will need to contact your District Referee Administrator (DRA) to determine if you are eligible for a partial refund.

You must be 13 years old at the time of registration.

Approximately 4 hours

SafeSport is an independent nonprofit committed to building a sports community where participants can work and learn together free of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and misconduct.

Only referees 18 years and older need to complete the SafeSport certification. Note this will need to be completed every year.

Only referees 18 years and older need to complete an NCSI background check at the U.S. Soccer Learning Center. This needs to be completed every 2 years.

  • Jersey - Official Sports International (OSI) is the exclusive uniform supplier of U.S. Soccer. We have partnered with OSI to offer discounted starter kits for new referees. Contact your District Referee Association (DRA) for more information. You should start by buying a yellow jersey first and then a green. As you gain more experience, you will want to consider buying the remaining colors, red, blue, and black in that order. Start by buying short-sleeved jerseys because you can wear a plain black long-sleeve shirt underneath. Eventually, you may want to consider buying long-sleeved jerseys as well.
  • Black shorts
  • Black socks
  • Tennis shoes or cleats - predominantly black is preferred
  • Flags
  • Whistle
  • Watch - a wristwatch that counts up
  • Yellow and red cards

A: Each competition authority (leagues, clubs, tournaments) has its own referee pay schedule and methods of payment. As an independent contractor, it's important that you check with the assignor when accepting the game to determine how you will be paid.