Mini Soccer Referee

Effective 2009, the Canadian Soccer Association raised the minimum age of the Entry Level Referees to 14 years.  This created a gap for the hundreds of 12 and 13 year old Ontario Soccer Association referees.  In order to continue to provide development opportunities for the younger referees, the OSA Referee Department developed a Mini Soccer Referee Course for 12 and 13 year olds.

To participate in a Mini Soccer Referee Course, an individual must be at least 12 years old on or before March 31st the year of the course, and cannot be older than 13 on or before March 31st the year of the course.

If a 12 year old took the mini course in 2012 and will not be old enough in 2013 to take the Entry Level referee course, this individual will have to take the mini course again in 2013. The annual taking of the course provides the referee with education opportunities on an annual basis, ultimately preparing them for the 11 v 11 game.  This course also acts as a refresher and as a means to register that referee for the year with the OSA.

Participants of the course will become certified Ontario Soccer Association Mini Soccer Referees, and will be qualified to referee 7 v 7, Tiny Tot and Mini Soccer games. These referees will not be certified to referee or act as the assistant referee on any 11 v 11 games at any level until they reach the age of 14.

In 2014, there will be a change to the course material as Mini Soccer will become Small Sided Soccer based on LTPD.

Youth Referee

In order to become a Youth Referee, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must  be 14 or 15 years of age on or before March 31st of the current year.
• Register in an Entry Level Referee Clinic . To register in an Entry Level Referee Clinic visit www.refcentre.com/ontario
• Pass the online Entry Level Examination with a mark of 80% or higher.

Youth Referees are permitted to referee 11 v 11 recreational games up to two years younger then the referee. Therefore, if you are 14 years of age, you can referee 12 and under. If you are 15 years of age, you can referee 13 and under.  

District Referees

In order to become a District Referee, you must meet the following criteria:

• If you are 16 years of age on or before March 31st of the current year, you can register in an Entry Level Referee Clinic. To register in an Entry Level Referee Clinic you e-mail the course coordinator directly.  All the contact information will be shown under the particular course you wish to attend.
• Those who pass the Entry Level Examination with a mark of 80% or higher and are above the age of 16 will then be certified as a District Referee.
• District Referees are permitted to referee 11 v 11 recreational games up to two years younger then the referee until the referee turns 18. Therefore, if you are 16 years of age, you can referee 14 and under.
• Once the referee turns 18, then they can referee any age level.
• The registration fee for District Referees is as follows (for registration purposes, the fees will be $83 if the referee turns 18 on or before March 31st of the current registration year, and $42 for those that turn 18 on or after April 1st of the current registration year):
  
  • 16 and 17 years old = $42 per season
  • 18 years old or older = $83 per season.

While a District Referee, you can apply to the Regional Upgrading Program if you wish to further your career.  Click HERE (insert link) for information on the Regional Upgrading Program.

Regional Referee

Referees must be an active District Referee over the age of 18 for a minimum of 2 years with the OSA in order to apply to the Regional Upgrade Program. Those who are interested in Upgrading need to apply to the Regional Upgrade Program.

2013 REGIONAL UPGRADING APPLICATION

Regional Upgrade Program

• Applications to Lyndon Hooper lhooper@soccer.on.ca OR faxed to 905 264 9445

To qualify to attend the CSA Regional Upgrading Education Weekend, you must complete and pass the following:

• Regional Fitness Test
• Pass the Written Exam

 
Once you have passed the above requirements and attended the weekend, you will be placed in the Regional Upgrading Pool.  You must receive 3 assessments above competency (70.5 and higher) in order to earn your status as a Regional Referee.  You must complete 20 games in the middle in a qualifying game, and 5 as an Assistant Referee. 

No assessments are included in the $175.00 fee for the Regional Upgrading Program.

In order to continue to maintain that status, annually you will have to pass the Regional Fitness test annually and receive the required number of assessments, and perform at the required competency.

Upgrading to a Provincial Referee

 

Referees must be an active Regional Referee for a minimum of 1 year in order to apply to the CSA Provincial Upgrade Program. 

• Applications to Kathleen McCarthy at the OSA kmccarthy@soccer.on.ca.
• Applications is available here

PROVINCIAL UPGRADING APPLICATION and can be e-mailed, faxed or mailed into the OSA office.

NEW for 2011 and moving forward

Those interested in upgrading to Provincial Referee have the option to apply to the Winter Upgrading Program.  This is a program that is dedicated to preparing a referee for upgrading.  Fitness programs, online tests and video, dedicated weekend at the OSA office with Provincial and National Instructors and Assessors.  The cost of this program is $250.00.  This fee does not include the cost of any of the assessments required to upgrade. 

WINTER PROGRAM INFORMATION

No matter what choice you make, you must still  pass the following:

• Provincial Fitness Test - normally in early to mid April
• Pass the CSA Written Exam - normally late April
• Attend a 2-day course with the CSA in May (locations may vary depending on the year)
  • 

 
Once you have passed the above requirements successfully, you will be placed in the Provincial Upgrading Pool.  You must receive 3 assessments above competency (70.5 and higher) in order to earn your status as a Provincial Referee.  You must complete 20 games in the middle in a qualifying game, and 5 as an Assistant Referee.  In order to continue to maintain that status, you will have to pass the Provincial Fitness test annually and receive an assessment showing you are performing at the required competency.

Upgrading in the System

Assessment Payments

In 2013, an assessment will cost $65.

Regional Maintenance Assessments - A Regional referee's registration fee is $134, which includes the cost of one assessment. Any additional assessments will cost $65.


Regional Upgrade Course Assessments - Course fee is $175. This fee includes:
1)  Two days of the Regional Upgrading Course
2)  Lunch on both days
3)  A travel subsidy for those travelling over 200km one way(with prior approval from the Manager of Referee Development)

*****The Regional Upgrading Course fee of $175 does not cover the cost of any assessments required to complete the upgrading program. Each assessment will cost $65.
*****Regional Upgrading referees will register as District referees before entering the upgrading program. This registration fee does not include the cost of an assessment.

Provincial Maintenance Assessment - A Provincial referee's registration fee is $134, which includes the cost of one assessment. Any additional assessments will cost $65.

Provincial Upgrading Course - Course fee is $250, which does not cover the cost of any assessments required to complete the upgrading program. A Provincial Upgrade referee will register as a Regional referee, therefore, the cost of one assessment in the Provincial Upgrade program is covered in this registration fee. Each assessment, thereafter, will cost $65.