Kansas Assessment Program

Program Description

      Assessors observe a crew of officials' performance on the field, and provide verbal and written feedback to the crew after the match. Assessments at an appropriate level of competition are required for all referees wishing to upgrade in rank and for maintaining USSF Referee Grades 7 and above annually as part of the re-certification process.  See below or the specific upgrade and re-certification requirements by referee grade as provided by USSF. Assessments are also a great way to improve your skills as a referee.

An assessment doesn’t hurt a bit; in fact, feedback is what everyone needs in order to improve.  In Kansas, several types of assessments are offered to the referee community.

I.  Developmental Assessments – Developmental assessments, primarily given during tournaments, are designed to help referees with their on-field development as referees. During these informal assessments, assessors may watch part or all of a match and provide referees with feedback after the game.  During the feedback session, the assessor will offer comments or ideas to further develop the referees’ skills and ensure soccer rules are properly understood and applied.  These, as all assessments, are to help the referee understand the mechanics and dynamics of the soccer match as viewed by an experienced, trained observer.  These assessments are provided at no cost to the referee.

II. Upgrade Assessment – Upgrade assessments are given to referees wishing to move up in grade rank.  Moving up in rank allows an official to work more advanced and challenging games.  During this type of on-field assessment, the assessor will concentrate on one match only. The assessor will pay exacting attention to the referee looking to upgrade.  Detailed feedback will come during the assessor’s post game debriefing with the referee crew from that match.  A formal, written assessment will also be provided to the referee. This assessment is paid for by the referee requesting the assessment.

III. Maintenance Assessments - These assessments are performed annually for all Grade 7 and above referees as part of the USSF recertification process.  The purpose of the maintenance assessment is to make sure the referee performance remains at the level required by USSF for the given grade. These assessments are done on specific games with requirements depending on specific rank. Again, formal and detailed feedback can be expected from this assessment.  This assessment is paid for by the referee receiving the maintenance assessment.   

To schedule an assessment please contact Bronson Broockerd, State Director of Assessment (SDA).   Please include in your email the following information:

1. Your first and last name

2. Assessment game details (if known) – date, time, location, game level, field #

3. Purpose of assessment (Upgrade or Maintenance)

4. Current referee grade

5. Email address & telephone number

Assessment Fees (as of 1/1/2010):

U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Grades

To provide uniform standards for soccer referees in the United States, the U.S. Soccer Referee Committee has adopted the following referee grades. These grades supersede all grades that may have been adopted by state associations and leagues so that uniform and comparative grading exists throughout the United States.

Grade 12 - U.S. Soccer Federation Assistant Referee

· Minimum Age: None (State Associations may set minimum age for their games)

· Badge: U.S. Soccer Assistant Referee, with current year

· Authorized Assignment Level: Assistant Referee on all youth and adult games

· Note to Assignors: Minimum age of 17 suggested for assignment to adult level games

Grade 9 - U.S. Soccer Federation Recreational Referee

· Minimum Age: None

· Badge: U.S. Soccer Recreational Referee, with current year

· Authorized Assignment Level: Referee on recreational youth games U-14 and younger only and assistant referee on any game U-14 or below

Grade 8 - U.S. Soccer Federation Referee

· Minimum Age: None

· Badge: U.S. Soccer Referee, with current year

· Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games, assistant referee in comparable games

Grade 7 - U.S. Soccer Federation Referee

· Minimum Age: 17

· Badge: U.S. Soccer Referee, with current year

· Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games and mixed leagues, assistant referee in all adult games below the top division

Grade 6 - U.S. Soccer Federation State Referee

· Minimum Age: 18

· Badge: U.S. Soccer State Referee, with current year

· Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games and adult amateur games through second division and assistant referee in the top adult division and Amateur Cup games

Grade 5 - U.S. Soccer Federation State Referee

· Minimum Age: 19

· Badge: U.S. Soccer State Referee, with current year

· Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games and adult games including first division and assistant referee in professional league and international cup games

Grade 4 - U.S. Soccer Federation National Referee

· Minimum Age: 23

· Badge: U.S. Soccer National Referee, with current year

· Recommended Assignment Level: All games except formal FIFA international matches; assistant referee for international matches

· U. S. Citizen or Permanent Resident

Grade 3 - U.S. Soccer Federation Professional Referee

· Minimum Age: 23

· Badges: U.S. Soccer Professional Referee, with current year and National Referee, with current year

· Recommended Assignment Level: All games except formal FIFA international matches

· U. S. Citizen or Permanent Resident

· By invitation of U.S. Soccer

Grade 2 - U.S. Soccer Federation International Assistant Referee

· Minimum Age: 23

· Badge: FIFA Assistant Referee, with current year, on international matches*

· Recommended Assignment Level: All games

· U. S. Citizen

· By nomination of U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, and approved by FIFA

Grade 1 - U.S. Soccer Federation International Referee

· Minimum Age: 25

· Badge: FIFA, with current year

· Recommended Assignment Level: All games

· U.S. Citizen

· By nomination of U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, and approved by FIFA

The U.S. Soccer Federation grade and title of an official will be determined solely by the standards and examinations issued by the U.S. Soccer Referee Committee and the U.S. Soccer Federation Board of Directors. Annual re-examination is required.

A referee must officiate at the next - higher level to accumulate experience to be certified competent at that level. Assignors must exercise care to increase the difficulty level of the game assignments in a gradual and orderly manner for the good of the official and of the players.

*International Assistant Referees must wear U.S. Soccer National Referee badge when assigned as referee in domestic matches.

Referee Certification Criteria (including Upgrade and Annual Renewal Requirements)

This information has been extracted from the U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Administrative Handbook for 2009-2010.  For full information on referee standards, registration, certification criteria details & definitions, policies and procedures, please refer directly to the administrative handbook.

Helpful Information:

· US Soccer Referee Development - http://www.ussoccer.com/Referees/Referee-Development.aspx

· US Soccer Instructional Materials – http://www.ussoccer.com/Referees/Referee-Development/Instructional-Materials.aspx

o Advice to Referees:

§ This book of Advice to Referees is specifically intended to give USSF referees, assistant referees and fourth officials a reliable compilation of those international and national guidelines remaining in force, as modified or updated. It is not a replacement for the Laws of the Game, nor is it a "how to" book on refereeing. It is an official statement of Federation interpretations of the Laws. Affiliated leagues, associations, competitions, and officials must implement them to the fullest extent possible.

o Referee Administrative Handbook:

§ The Referee Administrative Handbook is meant to be used as a guide to the administrative processes of the U.S. Soccer Referee Program. It contains information about policies, by-laws and requirements that affect all referees.

§ Of importance, are the various recertifying and upgrade requirements should any referee wish to consider moving to a different grade.

• State Contact Information

Bill Davey	State Referee Administrator (SRA)
Phil Thies	State Youth Referee Administrator (SYRA)
Michael F. Chrissie, Sr.	State Director of Instruction (SDI)
Robert Walters	State Director of Education (SDE)
Bronson Broockerd	State Director of Assessment (SDA)