PA West Soccer Referee Qualifications
Eligibility & Age Requirements
- Must be at least 13 years old to begin US Soccer Grassroots Referee training.
- Youth referees (ages 13–17) may use a parent-signed affidavit instead of FBI fingerprint clearance.
- Referees age 18+ must complete full background checks and SafeSport certification.
Required Clearances & Training
All referees (age 14+) are required to complete the following:
- PA State Police Criminal Record Check
- PA Child Abuse History Clearance
- FBI Criminal Background Check (or affidavit for minors)
- SafeSport Training (mandatory for ages 18+
- Annual refresher courses are required at no charge
- Clearances are valid for 5 years.
For more information on obtaining your clearances, visit How to Become a Referee.
Registration & Coursework
- Create an account on the US Soccer Learning Center.
- Register in the PA West Online Management System (OMS).
- Pay the course fee (typically around $65) and upload all clearance documents.
- Complete online modules and exam through the Learning Center.
- Register for and attend an in-person field training session.
Uniform & Equipment Requirements
- Upon certification, referees should acquire and maintain:
- Clothing:
- Yellow USSF-approved referee shirt
- Black referee shorts (with pockets)
- Black socks (with two-stripes)
- Black shoes (cleats or turf shoes)
- Equipment:
- Whistle (Mini Fox 40 recommended)
- Wrist/finger lanyard
- Stopwatch
- Yellow/red cards (this is called the card "wallet" and is not required), flipping coin
Certification & Recertification
- Once certified, referees receive an official USSF badge and ID number.
- Annual recertification is required (approx. $50) and includes:
- Updated SafeSport certification (20)
- Online refresher modules and exam
- Updated background clearances if expired
Advancement & Referee Pathway
- Grassroots Referee: Eligible for youth and amateur adult matches
- Regional Referee: Requires addit