All referees affiliated with FIFA have a designated referee level. A list of grade levels managed by US Soccer is given here. Each grade has a recommended assignment level. All referees in Western PA begin as grade 8s. Officiating at a competitive level could be a rewarding experience. As the game evolves, assignors are assigning higher-level matches based on the grade of the official. Therefore, referees that want to officiate at a higher level should want to upgrade.