Authorization

Purpose

To define a general policy and provide minimum guidelines under which the National Referee Development Program will be organized and administered within each state association to comply with US Soccer Federation Rule 3.3.4 (1), that referee registration fees are more effectively used for the development of all referees within each state association. These guidelines should serve several important purposes:

1. Set rules of procedure
2. Establish the Committee structure
3. Ensure continuity of purpose and effort
4. Provide for the allocation and disbursement of referee funds

Responsibility

It will be the responsibility of the the National Board of Directors (NBOD) to ensure that this directive is adhered to by all states.

It is the responsibility of the SRC to provide a detailed annual activity report to the NBOD and the state association.

The NBOD delegates its authority to oversee the proper implementation of all guidelines contained herein to the National Referee Committee (NRC), who will report any misapplication of these guidelines to the NBOD for their immediate action.

Policy

Each state shall have only one referee development program within its jurisdiction. This program should be managed by the State Referee Committeeand be responsible for the development of all referees within its jurisdiction.This development includes: (1) Administration, (2) Registration, (3) Recruitment, (4) Instruction, (5) Mentor Programs, (6) Assessment, (7) Retention, and (8) Assignment.

Membership

1. The committee should consist of the following:
   1. Chairman (jointly appointed by Amateur and Youth State Associations)
   2. State Referee Administrator (appointed by the Amateur Association with concurrence of the Youth Association)
   3. State Youth Referee Administrator (appointed by the Youth Association with concurrence of the Amateur Association)
   4. State Representative (appointed by the Amateur Association)
   5. State Representative (appointed by the Youth Association)
   6. State Director of Instruction (jointly appointed by Amateur and Youth State Associations)
   7. State Director of Assessment (jointly appointed by Amateur and Youth State Associations)
   8. The Amateur and Youth Presidents shall serve ex officio with no voting authority. They shall be notified of all meetings.
2. The technical members of the committee are: the SRA, SYRA, SDI, SDA and their duties and responsibilities are outlined in the Manual of the National Referee Program.
3. The State Directors of Instruction and Assessment shall be currently licensed.

Voting

All members of the SRC shall have one vote except the Amatuer and Youth Presidents (see above).

Dual office holding on the committee shall be prohibited.

Under no circumstances shall a voting member have more than one vote.

Finances

The State Association(s) through the SRC shall provide for such fiscal control and fund accounting procedures necessary to assure prudent use, proper disbursement and accurate accounting of all funds received.

Meetings

Provisions should be made for committee meetings that include rules of procedure, quorums, notice of meetings, records and compensation for travel expenses for all committee members. The SRC will meet a minimum of four times annually.

Referee Program Areas

The committee shall develop and implement programs in the following areas:

1. Referee Program Budget
   1. The technical committee members shall annually identify program needs within their functional areas and prepare a budget proposal for each.
   2. The committee shall then review all program budget proposals, prioritize them and prepare a budget based on anticipated revenues and proposed expenditures.
2. Registration
   1. The committee shall provide for a timely submittal of registration forms for referees, assessors and instructors.
   2. The committee shall implement procedures for upgrading officials.
   3. The committee shall be responsible for scheduling, testing and examinations required for recertification.
   4. The committee shall cooperate with the USSF National office in the use of computer-related systems.
   5. The committee may determine the level and the number of games a referee must officiate annually to register and re-certify at an existing grade level.
3. Referee Recruitment

   The committee shall develop a recruitment program which identifies prospective candidates through the use of advertising, promotional articles and speaker bureaus.

4. Instruction
   1. The committee shall provide training for new referees, new instructors, new assessors and new assignors.
   2. The committee shall provide clinics for all levels of officials and for the production of training aids under the guidance of the SDI.
5. Assessment
   1. The committee with the guidance of the SDA shall be responsible for the training and recruitment of assessors.
   2. The committee shall oversee the coordination and assignment of assessorsto youth and amateur leagues, tournaments and intra state cup matches.
   3. The committee shall oversee the assignment of assessors to meet the assessment needs of all referees.
6. Mentor Program

   The committee shall provide a program to mentor promising officials within the amateur and youth state associations.

7. Retention Program
   1. The committee shall provide for the retention of currently registered referees, assessors and instructors. This plan will include direct communication with officials through the use of publications and other means.
   2. The program may provide incentives for the continued participation in the referee program.
8. Assignment
   1. The committee shall provide clinics to train assignors.
   2. The committee shall compile and provide a list of registered officials for use in assigning youth and amateur leagues and tournaments.
   3. The committee may set the priority of assignments for state level competitions.
   4. The committee, at the request of the state association(s), may oversee the coordination and assignment of referees for the state leagues or tournaments.