2021 Recertification Now Open for Referees!
Colorado soccer teams are getting ready to take the field this Fall – youth and adult games are beginning to start up. While things will look a little different as we work to keep everyone safe, there is one thing that remains the same – GAMES NEED REFEREES!!
The time is now for you to recertify as a referee! There are online courses open now for referees who certified in 2020 and especially for those who didn’t recertify for 2020 but are now ready to help out as Colorado returns to play!
As part of the Colorado Referee Committee and Colorado Soccer’s continuing effort to simplify the recertification process, we are pleased to announce that all national requirements will now be completed in the US Soccer Learning Center instead of in two separate web portals as was the case in 2020.
We believe that “one-stop” certification will help referees to take care of their annual requirements quickly and conveniently while still providing the highest levels of training possible. Our OMS website will still be used for continuing education courses and behind-the-scenes recordkeeping but having one place for all referee required learning should help everyone.
So, if you are ready to recertify for 2021, there are two paths to choose – depending upon if you certified in 2020 or if you did not. Either path will have you ready for the games ahead this season and for all of 2021.
IF YOU CERTIFIED IN 2020, HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
1) Navigate to the US Soccer Learning Center. Log in with your email address and password you created last year.
2) Update your mailing address/email address/phone and any other profile information
3) Go to Courses / Available Courses / Supplemental Courses
4) Scroll down to the FREE Laws of the Game Update and when the screen refreshes, click CLEAR and then click on the Laws of the Game Update Course Details in English or Spanish
5) Register for the Laws of the Game Update and complete the course.
IF YOU ARE AGE 18 OR OLDER, YOU HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL STEPS – You must complete SafeSport or the SafeSport refresher, which is also on the Supplemental Courses page AND you must do the Background Screening (which costs approximately $32 and is good for 2 years)
Once you have completed these steps, you will be certified for 2021 at no charge, courtesy of US Soccer and the Colorado Referee Committee.
IF YOU DID NOT CERTIFY IN 2020, HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
1) Navigate to the US Soccer Learning Center. Sign Up with your email address – be sure to link your US Soccer 16 digit ID number to your account so your history will be connected to your account.
2) Update your personal information – a second unique email address is required for all referees under age 18 – be sure your mailing address is correct, that’s where your badge will be mailed when you complete the recertification process.
3) Click on COURSES/AVAILABLE COURSES/LICENSE PATHWAY and then choose Grassroots – Recertifying Referees (Regional, National and Emeritus courses will open by September 1)
4) Click the red box – Go To Course List
5) Choose the 2021 Recertification Grassroots Referee course and click Course Details
6) When the page refreshes, click PROCEED TO REGISTRATION
7) Follow the registration instructions, pay your fees ($50 for recertification and $30 for the background check – if you are age 18 or over and do not have one in the US Soccer Learning Center)
8) Complete the course modules.
Once you have completed all the steps (and your background check, if required) you will be registered for 2021 and a badge will be mailed to you. You do not have to wait for your badge to start working games. Assignors will be able to confirm your registration as soon as all components are complete.
Need additional help or have specific questions, please contact our referee registrar, Deanna Duncan-Allen. Her email address is RefEducation@ColoradoReferees.com