Advanced Referee Training Program

 

      

The OSA Advanced Referee Training Program (ART) offers a unique environment where the highest level Provincial Referees can receive the best available training and education in the company of National Instructors and Assessors, and the top Provincial Instructors and Assessors that are poised to go to the next level.

While the participants are improving their knowledge and understanding of high level refereeing during the training and education sessions, they are also honing their skills in program appointed games and taking their experiences back to their respective districts.  This serves to raise the standard of education and training of the lower tier referees in a trickle-down effect.  

This program offers a number of benefits to the referees which included

• Uniform education and training of the top-level referees
• Uniform understanding of the expectations of our officials
• An understanding of the requirements and expectations to be nominated
• A "trickle down effect" to other referees in the province
• This program is designed for 20 referees each year and there are criteria a referee must meet in order to apply to the program.  Please see the criteria selection further down the page.

 

The Program
The program is a 10 month program starting in February and ending in November each year.  Participants in the program will be required to attend all education sessions.  Throughout the year the referees in this program will be assigned top level games and be assessed in those games (CSL, OUA, OSL etc.).  The participants of this group will only be instructed and assessed by the instructors and assessors that are involved in this program.

Referees will receive a minimum of four assessments throughout the season.  At the end of the season all the participants are ranked according to an established set of criteria which includes both on-field and off-field components. The rankings will be shared amongst the group.  The ranking is important as the top 10 participants will be invited back to the program the following year, while the others will be required to re-apply and be considered among the rest of the people applying for the program.

Once in the program a referee is not removed except under extreme circumstances. The fact that referees in this program are consider some of the top referees in the province and will be given some elite opportunities, the fitness component is key.  At the second education session each participant will be required to run their annual fitness test.  Failure to pass that fitness test will result in the immediate removal of the referee from the program.

Entrance Requirements 

2013 OSA Advanced Referee Training Program

Application Process:
Submit a covering letter, resume and game log to the OSA before November 19th, 2012 via e-mail to Kathleen McCarthy at kmccarthy@soccer.on.ca.

On-Field Performance: 

• Centered a minimum of 10 games as a Referee at the Provincial Level
• Ontario SL Provincial (Men’s & U21 Men’s)
• Canadian SL (also Reserve Division)
• OUA
• Ontario Cup Senior Divisions
• PDL & W-League
• Completed a minimum of 5 games as an Assistant Referee at the Provincial Level (same level games as above)

 

Assessments:

• Received a minimum of three (3) assessments at Provincial Level games (centre official, not assistant referee) 
• The referee must demonstrate they are refereeing consistently at the Procvincial level (assessments will be reviewed based on the CSA Referee Expected Competencies document found on the OSA website).
• OSL Senior Provincial
• OWSL Senior Provincial
• CSL (Reserve Division)
• OUA
• OCAA
• Ontario Cup - Senior Divisions
• PDL and W-League
• All three assessments must be completed by an OSA appointed Provincial Assessor or higher

 Reviewing Applicants:  

• Applicants history will be reviewed as well. This entails responding to your appointments in a timely manner, your number of declined games, keeping your availability up to date, complaints on performance, your discipline record and also the time it takes to submit your reports.
  
• If you meet the Entrance Requirements, you may be required to attend either a conference call or interview.
  
• If you pass the interview process and are accepted into the program, you will be required to take a Laws of the Game exam and pass with a minimum of 80%. Those who do not pass will be removed from the program.
• If you pass the written exam, you will be required to pass a fitness test at the Provincial Standard. If you do not pass you will be removed from the program.
  

  2013 ART APPLICATION FORM - CLICK HERE