Are you interested in being a high school and/or middle school soccer referee?

Next scheduled training sessions will be August, 2010  (see detail below).

Requirements: Be 18 years old as of the start of the Fall soccer season, finished high school and have an interest in serving the student athletes. Prior experience in playing , coaching or refereeing soccer at any level is useful but not necessary.

Games: All games (boys and girls) are played in Sept and Oct. Most games are played at or near local high schools in the afternoon after school, Monday through Friday. A few games are play in the evening, Monday through Saturday, and a few games are play on Saturday afternoon. No games are played on Sunday. Certified referees may request to do from 1 to 6 games per week. Games fees range from $50 to $72 per game.

Training: EMSOA conducts training for new soccer referees under the National Federation rules. The next regular Entry Level Training courses are listed below. Candidates must communicate with the contact person before the first session to let them know who is coming and to find out about any last minute changes. Those who hold a current USSF referee license grade 7 or better (Grade 6, 5, etc.) only need to come to the last two hours of the training session where NFHS and MIAA specific rules are covered and then take the entry level test. There is a clinic fee of $130.00 which includes EMSOA dues for 2010.

OTHER ASSOCIATIONS: Although EMSOA is the largest NFHS referee association in the Massachusetts (500+ members). There are several others Massachusetts NFHS referee associations (with another 400+ members) and many more across the country. You may do your training at any one of the associations and then do games in the area of any other association. The rules are the same; the commitment to excellence is the same. Only the area covered is different.

WHERE AND WHEN

NORTH CHAPTER: The next training session for new NFHS referees will occur August 26-28, 2010.  Thurday and Friday evenings 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM and Sat 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The location will be the Unitarian-Universalist Church, Bedford, MA. There is a maximum capacity of 30 seats at the session and a minimum requirement of 10 people to sign up in advance.  If there is not enough who pre-register, the clinic will be canceled.  A $25 deposit toward the clinic fee must be paid 7 days in advance with a check payable to EMSOA and sent to Cal Perry, (Tel: 978-475-5924; e-mail: cgeeco@bigfoot.com) 25 Timothy Drive, Andover MA 01810.  The deposit is fully refundable if the course is canceled due to less than minimum pre-registration.  USSF Referees grade 7 or better (Grade 6, 5, etc.) are only required to attend the last four hours of the course.

SOUTH CHAPTER:  The next regularly scheduled set of classes will be held April - May, 2011 at Hanover High School. All classes begin at 7:00 p.m.   Prior to coming to the clinic, you must contact Michael Kelley (508-822-0233) or  Ronald Cocuzzo (rcocuzzo@verizon.net) at least 3 days in advance, especially if you are a USSF grade 7 or better (Grade 6, 5, etc.) referee. 

WEST CHAPTER:  A training session for new NFHS referees will occur August 18th and 21, 2010. Wednesday @ 6:15 pm-9pm & Saturday--9 AM to 5:00 PM. The location will be the Westwood Council on Aging, 60 Nahatan St,  WESTWOOD MA. A $25 deposit toward the clinic fee must be paid 7 days in advance.  Make check payable to EMSOA and sent to Ed Rae, 209 Winter St, Westwood MA 02090. The deposit is credited towards course fee. USSF Referees grade 7 or better (Grade 6, 5, etc.) are only required to attend the last four hours of the course. For information, phone (M-F 0nly) 781-329-8799 or e-mail:EdRae@massref.net.

EXTRA SESSIONS: If 3 or more people contact the chapter trainers about joining at a time when a regular session is not scheduled, a special session might be set up at a mutually convenient time and location.  During the high school soccer season (September and October), an extra session cannot be scheduled during these months.

There is a clinic fee of $130.00 which includes clinic materials, EMSOA dues for 2010 E.M.S.O.A. ($75) payable at time of clinic.  Badges for the uniform, membership directory, liability insurance coverage, MIAA Enrolment, etc. will be provided after successfully completing the course.  Member will obtain an appropriate uniform at his/her own expense.