SABR referees are certified by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and recertified annually. You can begin the online coursework as early as July and we recommend you get it done well before the SABR season starts in November. Most recreational referees are now known as “Grassroots” level referees and this would be your level when you complete the coursework.

Under Florida labor law, you must be at least 14 years old to be paid as a referee.

The link to Florida Soccer Referees is www.flsoccerrefs.org and this site in turn has links to the USSF Learning Center at U.S. Soccer Learning Center (ussoccer.com), since Florida participates in the nationwide referee program, and there are links for both certifying and recertifying.

Both the Florida and USSF websites have FAQ sections from which you should be able to get most of your questions answered.

The coursework begins with a “Safe Soccer” module which includes an annual background check if you are 18 or over. Next, there are several modules on the Laws of the Game which have questions to answer before you go to the next section, and an exam after you complete all modules, which fortunately, you can retake if you fail.

New referees need to attend an in-person session (details for our club to be announced this summer), and recertifying referees either attend the in-person session, or if the website indicates (depending on specifics of your past coursework), you may have the choice to attend a webinar certification clinic instead.

When you take the course, it may be handy to have a copy of the Laws of the Game handy. The entire laws published by FIFA are at laws-of-the-game-2024-25 (theifab.com); however, this document is 230 pages long and while thorough, contains much information not particularly relevant to recreational-level referees.

There are several sites at which you can review or print an abridged version of the essential rules you will need to pass the exam. One such site is https://soccerblade.com/rules-of-soccer/.

If you want to be a referee at the recreational level, please send your email and phone information to Brian Behrmann at assignor@sabrsoccer.net.

For recreational games, you will list your weekly availability and receive your assignments at Welcome | Referee/Game Management (soccerref.net). If you are a new SABR referee, please register at this site.

For Team Boca, the contacts are Sheri and Lou Hecht at coach99323@aol.com.

We look forward to you joining our SABR referee team.

Bruce Spidell

SABR Director of referees

Email: referees@sabrsoccer.net

Tel.: 561-350-4148