Getting to the Field
Congratulations on recently completing the US Soccer on-line referee course. We hope you enjoyed the experience!
In the meantime, it’s time to get you out on the pitch!
USSF ID Number: You have been registered with US Soccer and now have a 16 digit USSF ID number. You can locate this number when you log into your account at Referee Log in. This was established when you registered as a referee candidate on the USSF Learning Center.
Uniform and Gear: Do you need a uniform and referee gear kit? You may order your uniform at any time! You should contact Official Sports International directly to order your uniform and any other gear or equipment you need or desire. OSI can be reached at https://officialsports.com. Do keep in mind that EPSA default referee uniform kit is a YELLOW TOP, BLACK SHORTS and BLACK LONG SOCKS.
RISK MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS:
Background Clearances – EVERYONE 14 years of age and older must complete Risk Management protocols correctly!
- Pennsylvania Background Clearances NOTE: clearances may take up to 30 days to complete (although many are coming back within a few days) – allow sufficient time.
- There are THREE BACKGROUND CLEARANCES THAT MUST BE COMPLETED by everyone, dependent upon age:
- ALL ADULTS (18 years and older) must complete the FBI FINGERPRINT CLEARANCE USING CODE 1KG6XN via www.identogo.com
- ALL MINORS (Those persons under 18 years of age) must complete the Affidavit of Compliance with parental/guardian signature- see immediately below:
https://epsarc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Disclosure-Statement_Minors.pdf
- ALL PERSONS must complete the Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Clearance via https://epatch.pa.gov/
- ALL PERSONS must complete the Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance via www.compass.state.pa.us or https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/clearancelearnmore
3. Once you have received all three (3) relative risk management forms, you will:
- Upload clearance documents into your OMS EPSARC account for review:
- Be sure the documents are saved on your computer as a pdf or jpeg file format
- Log into your account at epsarc.omgtsys.com
- Click on Administration > Provide SafeSport/Background documentation
- Upload each document individually.
EXPECTATIONS
It is expected that you will have completed and successfully passed your USSF Referee Examinations, completed and successfully passed your Safesport course, and applied, obtained and submitted ALL of your RMO/Clearance documents PRIOR to your field session. Once you have successfully completed your field session, you may receive your badge on site. Once this process is complete, then you may contact an assignor and begin your journey as a USSF Referee.
If you have attended the field session without obtaining and submitting ALL of your RMO/Clearance documents, you will not receive your badge. Once you have been notified in writing that you have successfully passed your USSF Referee Examinations, successfully pass your Safesport course, and have received RMO/Clearance verification notice from EPSARC/USSF, then you can referee without your badge until it arrives from a third party vendor. Do keep in mind, that assignors are also obligated to establish the validity of each referee’s compliance status.
4. You are almost on your way to becoming a certified US Soccer referee! The last step in the process of becoming a USSF referee is the mandatory field session:
REQUIRED FIELD SESSIONS FOR NEW REFEREES
IMPORTANT: Entry Level outdoor field sessions are held throughout the year. There may be limited indoor field sessions over the winter. Continue to check the EPSARC website for current courses. The field session MUST be successfully completed in its entirety prior to approval to referee matches, in conjunction with a passing grade on the USSF Referee On-line Examination and complete fulfillment of the Risk Management Requirements. Once these critical and mandatory components have all been successfully performed, you should be anticipate the following:
2025 NEW REFEREE FIELD SESSIONS
GENERAL LIST OF IN-PERSON FIELD SESSIONS FOR 2025:
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-01-0724EGRH PHILADELPHIA, PA SATURDAY 7/13/2024 9AM-3PM CONNOR ROBICK (crobick@Palumbosoccer.org) Palumbo Soccer 725 S. 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-07-0824EGRH GLENSIDE, PA SATURDAY 7/20/2024 12PM-6PM FRANZISKUS BERTI (udsc.info@gmail.com) Hunter SC Clubhouse, 220 Houston Avenue, Glenside, PA 19038
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-09-0724EGRH ROYERSFORD, PA SATURDAY 7/27/2024 8AM-5PM PAUL LUCAS (plucas@westmontunitedsoccer.org) West Mont Soccer 560 Royersford Road, Royersford, PA 19468
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION #SA-14-0724-EGRH DOWNINGTOWN, PA SUNDAY 7/28/2024 1PM – 7PM MALISSA MOORE ( mmoore@sidelinesoccersolutions.com) USTC 1426 Marshallton-Thorndale Road, Downingtown, PA 199335
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-02-0724EGRH HERSHEY, PA SATURDAY 8/3/2024 9AM-4PM DOUG BROWN (dbjbhershey@outlook.com) Hershey Tech Center-Founders Park 1025 Reese Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-20-0724-EGRH LANGHORNE, PA SATURDAY 8/3/2024 *AM-2PM CHRIS ROMANO ( romana.chris7@gmail.com) The Barn 2600 Langhorne-Yardley Road, Langhorne, PA 19047
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION #SA-13-0824-EGRH CHAMBERSBURG, PA SATURDAY 8/10/2024 9AM- 12N JARED THOMAS (jaredandtrish@comcast.net) Union Soccer Club 296 West Washington Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION #SA-19-0824-EGRH HARRISBURG, PA SATURDAY 8/10/2024 9AM-3PM CHRIS MAGNESS ( chris@susquehannasoccerclub.org) Veterans Park Clubhouse 1955 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION #SA-11-0824-EGRH HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA SUNDAY 8/11/2024 9AM-3PM BRAD SORKIN (brad.sorkin@gmail.com) Valley Youth Center 625 Red Lion Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-18-0824-EGRH WEST CHESTER, PA SUNDAY 8/11/2024 12N -6PM BRAD VAN COTT ( vancott4@verizon.net) West Chester Rustin High School 1100 Shiloh Road, West Chester, PA 19382
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-23-0824-EGRH CHALFONT, PA SUNDAY 8/18/2024 8AM – 2PM Tae An ( exec-dir@warringtonsoccerpa.org) IPW Fieldhouse 3400 Bradely Road, Chalfont, PA 18914
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-04-0824EGRH LANDISVILLE, PA SUNDAY 8/25/2024 9AM-330PM JAMES SMITH (jwscoach@aol.com) Hempfield Rec Center 950 Church Street, Landisville, PA 17358
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-08-0824EGRH GLENSIDE, PA SUNDAY 8/25/2024 12PM-6PM FRANZISKUS BERTI (udsc.info@gmail.com) Hunter SC Clubhouse, 220 Houston Avenue, Glenside, PA 19038
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-15-0824-EGRH FOLSOM, PA SUNDAY 8/25/2024 10AM – 430PM TIM STAPERT ( stapert2010@gmail.com) Ridley High School 901 Morton Avenue, Folsom, PA 19033
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-32-1024-EGRH LANDISVILLE, PA SUNDAY 10/27/2024 9AM – 330PM JAMES SMITH (jwscoach@aol.com)Hempfield Rec Center 950 Church Street, Landisville, PA 17358
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION #SA-34-1124-EGRH GLENSIDE, PA SUNDAY 11/3/2024 12N – 6PM (STATE RUN SESSION) ARCADIA UNIVERSITY- STADIUM FIELD, 450 E. Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-03-1124EGRH HERSHEY, PA SATURDAY 11/9/2024 9AM-4PM DOUG BROWN (dbjbhershey@outlook.com) Hershey Tech Center-Founders Park 1025 Reese Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION # SA-33-1124-EGRH YORK, PA SUNDAY 11/10/2024 9AM – 330PM JAMES SMITH ( jwscoach@aol.com) PENN STATE-YORK Campus, 1031 EDGECOMB AVENUE, YORK, PA 17403
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION #SA-35-1124-EGRH DANVILLE, PA SUNDAY 12/8/2024 8AM- 4PM THOMAS REBER (tomreber@yahoo.com) DANVILLE High School 733 Ironman Lane, Danville, PA 17821
NEW REFEREE FIELD TRAINING SESSION #SA-36-1224-EGRH DOWNINGTOWN, PA 12/30/2024 3PM- 9PM MELISSA MORE ( mmore@sidelinesoccersolutions.com) UNITED SPORTS TRAINING CENTER, 1426 Marshallton- Thornedale Road, Downingtown, PA 19335
Referee Badge: It is expected that you will have completed and successfully passed your USSF Referee Examinations, completed and successfully passed your Safesport course, and applied, obtained and submitted ALL of your RMO/Clearance documents PRIOR to your field session. Once you have successfully completed your field session, you may receive your badge on site. Once this process is complete, then you may contact an assignor and begin your journey as a USSF Referee.
If you have attended the field session without obtaining and submitting ALL of your RMO/Clearance documents, you will not receive your badge. Once you have been notified in writing that you have successfully passed your USSF Referee Examinations, successfully pass your Safesport course, and have received RMO/Clearance verification notice from EPSARC/USSF, then you can referee without your badge until it arrives from a third party vendor. Do keep in mind, that assignors are also obligated to establish the validity of each referee’s compliance status.
Working Games: Once you have your uniform you can start accepting games. Click here to see how to contact assignors in your area, or you may contact the EPSARC Director of Assignors.
Independent Contractor: You are an Independent Contractor, which means you can work where and when you want. You must solicit games by reaching out to an Assignor. See what information they need from you, and what method they use to assign games (Game Officials, phone calls, emails, etc.)
- Remember the 3-Ps when working with assignors: Patience, Persistence and Pleasantness.
Recertification: EVERY YEAR, every referee must recertify, so look for information during the summer and fall for upcoming recertification guidelines.
Congratulations, and welcome to the world of officiating!