Request a Referee Course
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For Clubs & Licensed Assignors
Request a First-Time Referee Course in Your Area
Need more referees in your community? Clubs and licensed assignors can request a first-time (entry-level) referee course. All requests are made through your District Referee Administrator (DRA) — please allow at least 3 weeks' notice so the course can be staffed, approved, and posted in time.
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The short version: Courses can only be requested by assignors and clubs, and only through their DRA. Individual new referees don't request a course — you simply register through the U.S. Soccer Learning Center.
Who can request
Who can request a course
- Licensed assignors serving a league, club, or area.
- Clubs that want to grow their own pool of referees.
- All requests are submitted through your District Referee Administrator (DRA) — the DRA confirms the requirements below and files the official course request.
- Individual candidates who want to become referees don't request a course — register in the Learning Center to find a session near you.
Before you ask
Minimum requirements
Your DRA will confirm these are in place before submitting the request. Having them ready speeds everything up.
| Requirement | What's needed |
|---|---|
| Lead time | At least 3 weeks' notice before the desired course date. |
| Candidates | A minimum of 12 candidates. If registrations run low, players aged 13–17 may be used to supplement — they must attend the entire session. |
| Date & time | Any day except Sunday mornings. Allow a 4–5 hour block scheduled between 8:00 AM and 9:30 PM. |
| Facility | Field address (and number). Goals and field lines preferred. Indoor space of at least 80′ × 50′ (a high-school basketball court) per 12–15 people, or about half a full-sided field per 24–30 candidates. Accessible bathrooms or port-a-pots are mandatory. Shelter should be available, and the field must be lit if the session runs into twilight. |
| Staffing | One referee coach and one mentor to teach — arranged with your DRA. |
| Background check & SafeSport | Anyone attending an on-field session where minors may be present must have a clear background check and a valid SafeSport license in the Learning Center. |
Step by step
How it works
- Contact your DRA with your preferred date, location, and expected number of candidates.
- Your DRA confirms the minimum requirements above — space, bathrooms, shelter, staffing, and the 3-week lead time.
- Your DRA submits the online Course Request Form.
- The Course Logistics Coordinator posts the course to the U.S. Soccer Learning Center and the ISRA website (usually within about a week).
- Once it's posted, the requesting club or assignor gets the go-ahead to promote it.
- Enrollment is open to anyone eligible (candidates 18 and older need a background check and SafeSport) — a course is never limited to just the requesting club.
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Requirements are drawn from the ISRA Handbook for Administrators (Entry-Level Referee Course Process & Hosting On-Field Sessions). Your DRA is your best resource for anything specific to your district.
Ready to request a course?
Reach out to your District Referee Administrator to get started.