Greetings!

Lower on this page is information about becoming a referee. But first here is some information for current THJSL referees:

OK - back to "Becoming A Referee..."

Thank you for your interest in becoming a soccer referee.

The schedule for the Introductory Referee Training Classes is maintained on the Oregon Referee Committee website. Here you can find the class(es) that best fit your schedule and sign up via e-mail or by calling the telephone number listed there.

The cost to take the class is $35.00. Upon successfully passing the written test (taken the end of the last class session) you will then pay another $40.00 to register with USSF (United States Soccer Federation).

Having passed this Introductory class you receive a ranking of Grade 8 Referee. This qualifies you to officiate the Center of the youngest youth recreational games and to be an Assistant Referee(“AR”) for the youth competitive games (“Classic” games) and, after a little experience, as an AR for the easier adult games. One of the best ways to increase your experience will be to sign up to officiate at any of the youth soccer tournaments that take place over the summer.

Click Here for a list of the upcoming tournaments so you can start planning now.

Within a couple of weeks of passing the class your name will appear on (1) the list of registered referees that is distributed to accredited referee assignors and (2) on the Oregon Soccer Central website which you will be using to obtain, accept and reject your assignments. Continuing this fall THJSL will be using this Oregon Soccer Referees' website to maintain the referee schedule. Normal communication between the referee assignor and the referees will be via website and e-mail; phone calls will be used only in the most urgent situations. You must have (1) access to the internet; (2) an account on the OregonSoccerCentral website (which is free); and (3) a working email address which you check on a regular basis.

Additional costs in becoming a referee include your uniform and equipment. Referees are required to have the official jersey*, black shorts, black socks with three stripes at the top. Your equipment will include your shoes, whistle, cards, notebook, flipping coin and a host of other miscellaneous items. *There are actually three official jerseys: yellow (preferred), red and black.

(Note: for THJSL games, the extra jerseys are not required. But if you plan to work summer tournaments you should probably get them.)

If you sign up to work games for THJSL and successfully complete at least ten (10) games the league will reimburse you for some of your "startup costs." Included in your paycheck will be an amount to pay for the class ($35) plus registration (another $35) plus an additional $34 to help pay for your uniform and equipment.

The THJSL pay scale for referees, efective Fall 2010, is as follows:

Games are scheduled so that a (fit) referee can do up to four (4) U-8 games per day, and up to three (3) U-9 or U12 through U-14 games per day. There are some sites where we have four U10/U11 games. This schedule would require a commitment of approximately 5 hours on a given day - 8:30 am until about 1:30 pm (or 8:30 am until about 3:00 for the four-game sets at the  U10/U11 level). Working four U-8 games at $15 per game pays $60 for the 5 hours or $12 per hour. Four U10/U11 games in the 8:30 to 3:00 time frame pays $100 in 6-1/2 hours or just over $15.25 per hour.  Three (3) U12 games pays $90 or $18 per hour. Three (3) U-13 or U-14 games in that five hours for $105 dollars yields $21 per hour.

While we’re talking about pay, you need to remember that referees for the Tualatin Hills Junior Soccer League are independent contractors and not employees of the league, or the park and recreation district nor of the Oregon Youth Soccer Association. As such, no with-holding of taxes is done and other employee-employer relationship such as workmen’s compensation, sick-pay, vacation do not apply.

Paychecks are distributed twice during the season; once shortly after the halfway point, the second after the end of the season. To receive payment for games officiated a game report must be received from the referee. No Game Report, No Payment, No Exceptions. Any payments not disbursed, because of missing game reports, by December 1st are forfeited.

The referee assignor for the THJSL is Keith Ericson. You can reach him via email if you have any other questions about classes, registration, assignments or refereeing in general.

Thanks again for your interest in soccer refereeing.

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