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Becoming a Referee
Development & Progression
Referee Handbook
Welcome
My name is Jason Gauthier and I’m the Head Referee for the Gloucester Dragons Soccer Club. I have been involved with the club since 2012 as a Referee and have been running our Officials Development Program since 2016!
Every spring, we recruit new referees to get trained partially by Ontario Soccer through online training modules, ZOOM meetings and a very simple online test. After this, you will do a day of on field training, likely with myself and several other senior and head referees. Then we’ll have a brief training session on how to use our systems, then the season starts!
Refereeing offers a great opportunity for people of all ages. Young people may find this a great first job. You learn responsibility, scheduling, working with people, and leadership – and get paid to do it.
Older referees are always in high demand. Refereeing can be a great way to get some exercise and continue to be involved in soccer and personally, I enjoy giving back to the community and the sport that we’ve all felt so passionate about for years.
New referees are trained by the Gloucester Dragons Recreational Soccer Association. Your first seasons will always start off refereeing recreational level games, both as the center referee and as an assistant referee. Working as an assistant referee is a great way to learn from more experienced referees.
As you develop your skills, you may be offered more challenging game assignments, progressing to officiating competitive games over time if you so choose.
I look forward to meeting each and every one of you and wish you the best this upcoming season! If you’ve got any questions there’s information HERE, and my email is always open!
Jason
headeferee@dragonsoccer.ca
Becoming a Referee
If you wish to become a referee, you must complete and pass an Ontario Soccer mini soccer (7v7) or entry-level referee course. A new referee may not skip this step and register directly with Ontario Soccer. Registration for these courses opens in late January or early February and must be registered for ONLINE. For first year Referees at each level, the cost includes the Ontario Soccer registration as well as the clinic fee.
**VERY IMPORTANT! When registering for a course you MUST select a “home club”. Please ensure you have selected GLOUCESTER. If you select any other club I will not be able to see you in the system**
7v7 Small Sided Soccer Referee
To participate in a Small Sided Soccer Referee Course, an individual must be at least 12 years old and no more than 13 years old on or before March 31st the year of the course.
For information on course application, click here
11 x 11 (Entry Level) Referee
To participate in the Entry Level course, an individual must turn 14 years of age on or before March 31st of the current year.
For information on course application, click here
Updated: February 2023
Development and Progression
The Ontario Soccer Association’s Referee Development Program has as its mission, “To prepare and certify referees for the club, district, regional and provincial levels of the game”. Each season, Ontario Soccer offers training at all levels for referees, including those referees who are entering the program for the first time to those seeking promotion to the next level.
Referee training follows the same process for both Small sided and Entry Level Referees.
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- Register online for your clinic once Ontario Soccer opens registration
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- Complete your pre-course work
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- Attend your online modules (zoom classes)
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- Take your open book test at the end
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- Sign up for one of our on-field sessions and ATTEND. Several dates will be offered and you cannot graduate if you do not attend
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- Meet with me, your Head Referee to get information on scheduling, payment etc
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- Get out on the pitch!
Development within the Ottawa Gloucester Soccer Club is a cooperative effort between Gloucester Dragons and the Hornets. Initial training is provided by the Gloucester Dragons at the recreational level. You may have the Head Referee, or one of our amazing mentors out to watch and coach your games.The Gloucester Hornets provide work assignments for more experienced referees to further develop their skills in a competitive league environment.
7 x 7 Small Sided Referees
To become a Small Sided Referee, an individual must be at least 12 years and no more than 13 years of age on or before March 31 of the current year. OSA Small Sided Referees are qualified to referee 7 v 7 Small Sided Soccer games but are not certified to referee or act as the assistant referee on any 11 vs 11 games at any level. In Gloucester Small Sided Referees are employed up to the U-10 age group and we might get you started as an assistant referee for the U13’s
For information and course application, click here
11 x 11 Entry Level Referee
The Canadian Soccer Association requires that all game officials have reached the full age of 14 years on or before March 31 of the current year. Once you have completed your Entry Level Referee process you will be eligible for all 9v9 and 11v11 games, so everything U11 and up both as a centre referee and assistant referee. New entry level referees must complete a minimum of five games with Gloucester Dragons or another recreational league before being eligible to referee for Gloucester Hornets.
For information and course application, click here
District Referees, who must have reached the full age of 16 years before April 1 of the current year, and have at least 2 years experience are eligible to referee competitive and recreational soccer games across the district. You may also be able to referee some of the higher level OPDL and provincial leagues.
Regional Referees
Regional Referees must have reached the full age of 18 years before April 1 and must have a minimum of three years' experience as a District Referee. They must successfully complete the Regional Referee Upgrade program.
References
Useful information for referees can be found at the following sites:
Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association
Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association Referee
Ontario Soccer
FIFA Laws of the Game
Ask The Referee
Referee Handbook
Click on the image to see the new Referee Handbook
The Referee's Role
The role of game officials is to serve and protect.
The Referee's Responsibility
The responsibility of the referee is to protect those who want to play the game from those who enter the field just to destroy it.
The Referee's Job
The job of the referee is to know when to stop the game, and how to get it going again.
"The official who, through the influence of his/her presence, causes players to avoid violations of the Laws of the Game, has attained the perfect relationship to the game."