An Entry Level Referee course for individuals ages 14 and older is scheduled for April 24, April 25 and May 1, 2010. Cost: Bolton Wanderers Club members - FREE; outsiders - $50. Uniforms will be available for purchase.
To register, please provide your name, contact phone number, email address and date of birth in an email to the Club at
. The Entry Level Referee Course is an introductory Referee course designed by the Canadian Soccer Association. All individuals with no refereeing experience prior to 2009 must take the Entry Level Referee Course in order to be certified as a referee in Canada.
Please note: An individual must be 14 years of age as of March 31 in order to enroll in the Entry Level Referee Course.
REFEREE PROGRAM
One of the most challenging activities within Soccer is to become a Game Official. It is rewarding to be involved in a leadership position - to ensure the safety of the players, to keep the match flowing, protect the skilled players and to encourage fair play and enjoyment by the participants.
Individuals who are 12 and 13 years of age are welcome to take the initial Mini Referee training course to become a referee. This program combines classroom instruction with on-field practical skills training and is designed to prepare individuals for the role of being a referee - the person responsible for the smooth operation of the match. Once certified as a referee, individuals gain experience, attend further education and training sessions and then can receive opportunities to officiate games played at the higher levels. The Caledon Soccer Club will be hosting this clinic in May. Additional details to follow.
The promotional path for referees is an important indicator of the experience and skills that a game official has developed. Referees are encouraged to continue developing their knowledge and skills throughout their careers as on-field officials. The starting point as an official is as a C4 with the other classifications as C3, C2, C1 and then entry in the National Programme as a Nominated National Referee. Other than the minimum age of 12 years (as of January 1st of each year) to become a Class 4 Referee and the minimum age of 16 years to become a Class 3 Referee, classification as an official up to and including Class 1 is based on performance criteria through on-field assessments, written examinations and fitness testing. The maximum age for entry into the National Programme is 40 years of age.
The mission of the Referee Development Programme of The Ontario Soccer Association is "to prepare and certify referees for the club, district, regional and provincial levels of the game". To this end, the training and support provided to referee leaders such as Club Head Referees, District Referee Coordinators, Instructors and Assessors is an ongoing program activity intended to enable these leaders to assist with training and developing referees in communities across the Province.
For those involved in the referee development program, they find much more than an opportunity for part-time employment but develop a desire to be the best official that they can be and to help the other officials in their communities. Officiating is also a family activity which, in many cases, has several referees from the same family carrying on a tradition of support to the game.
For more information on Referee Courses, Registration and other related referee matters, please go to the Ontario Soccer Association web site at: http://www.soccer.on.ca and select the Referee section.
