At the Spring Workshop, April 11-13, 2003, the National Referee Commission approved some major revisions to the National Referee Program.

The Task Force that developed the recommendation revisions included in its objectives:

• Maintain training integrity and quality
• Reduce unnecessary duplication of training material
• Eliminate excessive emphasis on referee training levels tied to age specific matches
• Offer maximum training flexibility
• Institute a program of referee training as a continuing process

The new referee training program has been developed in modules that can be used for either referee up-grade or continuing education.

The U-8 Official Course (old Referee Course) is conducted in seven modules ranging from one quarter to one hour in length. These modules, to be delivered in sequence, provide a total of four hours of training, including one hour of safe haven certification (Safe haven certification may be conducted separately). The content of these modules is very similar to the current Referee Course and will train individuals to officiate U-8 AYSO matches.

The Assistant Referee Course comprises the seven U-8 Official modules plus at least two additional modules. These additional modules are taken from the Intermediate Course (old Area Course) or the advanced Course (old Section Course). The two additional modules can be attended in any sequence include instruction in offside, fouls, and referee and assistant referee communications. Total time required for certification as an Assistant Referee, including the U-8 Official Course, is between five and one half and seven and one half hours. The time will depend upon which additional modules are attended by the candidate.

The Basic Referee Course (old Regional Referee Course) is taught in six additional modules that total four and one quarter hours. These modules range in length from one half to one hour in length and are to be taught in sequence. This training, which contains all of the material in the current Regional Referee Course, will provide the educational requirements for certification as a Regional Referee. This referee, who will receive a total of eight and one quarter hours of training, will be able to referee an AYSO match under FIFA Laws of the Game and AYSO National Rules and Regulations.

It is recommended that the U-8 Official, Assistant Referee and Basic Referee courses be conducted concurrently. Using the modules in sequence will provide the flexibility to conduct the training over several evenings, two half days, or one full day.

Replacing the old Area and Section Courses will be training modules that can be presented and taken in any sequence. They can be taught as a course or used as individual training for meeting education requirements for up-grade or for continuing education. The total time required to complete these modules has been reduced by almost 30% by eliminating duplication and rearranging the existing material. While there is adequate reinforcement of concepts, there has been a significant reduction in redundancy.

The Intermediate Referee Course (old Area Course) consists of six modules ranging from three quarters of an hour to two and one half hours (most are one hour or less). Total additional training of seven hours is required to meet the education requirements for up-grade to Intermediate Referee. These modules provide training that will make the Intermediate Referee comfortable refereeing more physically and mentally demanding and challenging AYSO matches under FIFA Laws of the Game and AYSO National Rules and Regulations. In addition to the material in the old Area Course, concepts including coach, player and referee accountability, principles of play, the diagonal system of control, and foul play are introduced in these modules.

The Advanced Referee Course (old Section Course) is a total of seven hours in five modules ranging from one to two hours in length. As in the Intermediate Course, current material was retained and additional concepts introduced. Flow versus control, gamesmanship and player tactics are introduced. Greater emphasis is placed on referee positioning and foul recognition. Completion of these modules will provide necessary training for the Advanced Referee to referee most AYSO matches under FIFA Laws of the Game and AYSO National Rules and Regulations.

A new National Referee Course has been developed which is designed as a residence course 18 hours in length. This course incorporates the concepts currently taught in the old National 2 and National 1 courses. Reduction in redundancy and combining several concepts such as the decision making process with decision making in match management have allowed the total time commitment to be reduced. None of the core training concepts of the old National courses has been deleted.

All of the 24 modules developed and the individual classes in the new National Referee Course have been written to allow them to be offered as continuing education training as well as for up-grade. Using the module concept Regions, Areas and, most important, the individual referees are offered maximum flexibility to receive training in a course environment or as individual modules.

National 2 and National 1 Certification Combined

National Referee: The National Referee Commission voted to combine the National 2 and National 1 referee designations into one level called National Referee. This became effective April 15, 2003. The accompanying box shows the new criteria for up-grade to National Referee.

The commission felt that the current two levels of National certification resulted in unnecessary barriers for referee up-grade. By revising training material and up-grade criteria, opportunities for up-grade to National Referee would be enhanced and more referees would be exposed to training opportunities at our highest level.

Time in Grade Requirements Changed

The National Referee Commission voted to eliminate all "Time in Grade" requirements for upgrade except for a one year Time in Grade requirement for up-grade from Advanced Referee to National Referee. The Commission felt that the Time in Grade requirement was an artificial barrier to referee up-grades and of no benefit except at our highest level.

New Lesson Plans and Upgrade Forms on the AYSO Web Site

The new modular lesson plans are available on the AYSOhelp.org web site to authorized instructors. A new AYSO Application for Referee Certification (Up-grade Form) is also on this web site. Instructors will sign these new up-grade forms for referees attending their modular training sessions and referees should keep these forms until all remaining required modules and other requirements have been completed. Once all requirements are completed and verified with appropriate authorizing signature, the referee should submit the form for up-grade.

Transitioning to the New Designations

Existing National 1 Referees:

Referees who are currently National 1 Referees will be immediately re-designated National Referees. Anyone completing the National 1 requirements will be awarded National Referee certification.

Existing National 2 Referees:

National 2 Referees who have completed the National 1 course need not take the new National Referee Course, but must complete all other requirements for certification as a National Referee.

All other National 2 Referees must…

•Complete new National Referee Course

• Pass new National Referee Exam

• Pass National physical test

• Be successfully assessed as referee in one U-19 match, if available. The Section Referee Administrator may authorize substitution of U-16 for U-19, if a U-19 match is not available. Candidates should be aware, and assessors notified, that if a U-16 match is substituted, U-19 assessment criteria will be used.

• National 2 Referees who have partially completed the existing National 1 up-grade requirements need not repeat any of them but must complete all remaining requirements for certification as a National 1 Referee by January 1, 2005.

• If this transition is not completed by the specified date, the referee will remain a National 2 Referee. Thereafter, the new National Referee requirements will apply.

Existing Section Referees:

Section Referees who have successfully completed some but not all of the existing requirements for upgrade to N-2 must…

• Complete the remaining requirements for certification as National 2 Referee by January 1, 2005.

• After certification as National 2 Referee:

o   Complete the new National Referee Course

o   Pass the new National Referee Exam

o   Pass the National physical test

o   Be successfully assessed as referee in one U-19 match, if available. The Section Referee Administrator may authorize substitution of U-16 for U-19 if a U-19 match is not available. Candidates should be aware, and assessors notified, that if a U16 match is substituted, U19 assessment criteria will be used.

o   These modified requirements must then be completed by January 1, 2006.

Those Section Referees who have not completed the requirements for certification as National 2 Referee by January 1, 2005 will become Advanced Referees. Those who upgrade to N2 during this transition, but who do not complete the remaining N2 transitional requirements for upgrade to National status by January 1, 2006 will remain National 2. Thereafter, the new National Referee requirements will apply for all Advanced and National 2 referees.

New AYSO Referee Designations

The National Referee Commission felt the AYSO referee designations and referee badges should better reflect the training and experience of referees, and voted that effective April 15, 2003 that the designations would be:

U8 Official (formerly Referee)

Assistant Referee (unchanged from Assistant Referee)

Regional Referee (unchanged from Regional Referee)

Intermediate Referee (formerly Area Referee)

Advanced Referee (formerly Section Referee)

National Referee (combining National 2 and National 1)

New Badges:

The new badges will be black and gold in color. Look for an announcement soon on when they will be available. Existing referee badges may be worn during the transition to the new badges.

AYSO National Referee Requirements

• Pre-requisite game count of at least 80 matches as referee prior to attending the new National Referee Course

• Successfully complete the new National Referee Course.

• 100 total matches as referee with at least 30 in U-16 and U-19 matches, of which at least 15 must be in U-19, if available. The Section Referee Administrator my authorize substitution of U-16 for U-19, if U-19 matches are not available. Game count may include non-AYSO matches.

• 25 as Assistant Referees with at least 10 in U-19, if available. The Section Referee Administrator my authorize substitution of U-16 for U-19, if U-19 matches are not available. Game count may include non-AYSO matches.

• Successfully pass the National Physical Test & National Written Test.

• 2 satisfactory assessments as referee in U-16 or U-19 with at least one as U-19, if available. The Section Referee Administrator may authorize substitution of U-16 for U-19, if U-19 matches are not available. Candidates should be aware, and assessors notified, that if a U16 match is substituted, U19 assessment criteria will be used. It is recommended that assessments be done in both boys and girls matches.

• 1 satisfactory assessment as Assistant Referee in U-16 or U-19

• Perform 5 service units