2021 Recertification is now open on Game Officials.
Here are a couple of reminders:
- if you have certified in 2020, USSF has waived all fees for recertification in 2021 and you will not have to pay for recertification in 2021.
- If your clearances or Safe Sport Training expire in 2020, they must be renewed for 2021! Click here to review how to renew your clearances. If you were not certified in 2020 but wish to recertify for 2021, you must send recertification payment by CHECK ONLY to Peggy Neason.
If you are looking to certify as a new referee, please be on the lookout for more info. New Referee Courses will be posted soon.
I’ve done this for 20 years and , yes, I don’t see everything the same way a coach does. But for the first time, I found out on the last day of the Fall season, why coaches have to control themselves when it comes to criticizing a ref. A great percentage of volunteer youth coaches in a large part of the USA really don’t know everything there is to know about soccer and youth fans don’t either. When a coach,especially, a novice coach, shouts out criticism at a ref, it gives license to the fans to do the same. Even if I’m completely wrong, it doesn’t matter. If the coach is whining about a call that he doesn’t understand, he’s ruined my credibility nonetheless. I explained my calls to the coach after the match and i went home knowing that he didn’t understand what I had said. But for the parents seeing the game for the first time, they can decide I’m a rotten official, and it’s ok to badger referees if they make a call against your side
When doing the SafeSport section, it looks like we only have refresher to take if we completed the full 3 modules last year. Is this correct?
Safe sport has to be completed every two years. If you completed it in 2019, you will have to complete it again in 2021. All 3 modules have to be completed every two years.
This is a follow up to the original question. I took this course in December 2019, so I assume it expires in December of 2021. When I log in to the SafeSport site, my only options are to reprint the certificate or take the refresher. Is this certificate like the clearances where it must be valid for the entire year? If so, how do I retake the course?
If you took the safesport in December 2019, then it will count for 2019 and 2020. This is why it’s better to wait until January. If you take the safesport course in January 2021, then it will count for 2021 and 2022.
Unfortunately you will have to take the refresher as reprinting the certificate will not count for the 2022 season.
So the refresher is the only course available and when you do it you get to download the certificate. It does not allow you to do a “2 year” course until your 2 year time limit is up so it cannot be required to be renewed until the 2 year mark.
When did you last do the safesport course? You should be good to do the refresher. Next year, you will have to do the modules again.
Are new clearances required every year? I got all of my clearances for certification last year.
No. FBI, Child abuse and criminal record check are good for 5 years.
Safesport clearance is good for 2 years.
My son’s license was issued 7/1/2020 and it expires on 12/31/2021. Does he need to do anything for recertification now?
Im sorry. What license? The safesport? The referee license? The driver’s license? If you email our SDI (sdi@wparef.com) with your son’s name, he will be able to look up your son to give you more specifics.
Thank you