Colorado Soccer Association Expands Innovative School to Soccer Referee Program
The C.R.E.S.T. Academy — a first-of-its-kind classroom-to-field pipeline — is bringing the next generation of referees into the game, with national-level support and a World Cup referee on the sideline.
The C.R.E.S.T. Academy — a first-of-its-kind classroom-to-field pipeline — is bringing the next generation of referees into the game, with national-level support and a World Cup referee on the sideline.
DENVER, Colorado — Colorado Soccer Association (CSA) today announced the next phase of the C.R.E.S.T. Academy (Colorado Referee Education and Supplement Training) — a first-of-its-kind program that trains and certifies middle and high school students as licensed U.S. Soccer referees through a structured nine-week curriculum.
Since partnering with Renaissance Secondary School in 2024, the pilot program has enrolled 47 students and certified 45 — a 96% completion rate — with several graduates returning for recertification. Every certified student walked onto a field as a licensed official within weeks of completing the course.
“We didn’t have this when we were coming up. Now every new referee will.”
A Program Built From the Field Up
The C.R.E.S.T. Academy is part of Colorado Soccer Association’s community outreach initiative, developed in close partnership with U.S. Soccer to integrate the Green Badge referee certification program and Referee Abuse Prevention initiatives — with the shared goal of keeping more youth involved in officiating.
The program was designed in partnership with Renaissance Secondary Academy teacher Jessica Perkin, CSA Director of Referee Operations Deanna Duncan-Allen, and Referee Coach and Program Facilitator Jeff Arthurholtz. Unique to the program is custom-built training technology which combines with U.S. Soccer’s innovative Learning Center to create a scalable pathway in the secondary school environment.
The centerpiece of each year is the First Game Weekend — a day where every certified student receives one-on-one coaching from experienced referees on the field, earns pay for their first official game, and celebrates alongside families and CSA leadership.
World-Class Talent Investing in the Next Generation
The program has attracted some of the most accomplished referee professionals in the country:
Esse Baharmast, CSA Director of Referees — FIFA Instructor who brought decades of elite referee development experience directly to the classroom, shaping the program’s vision from the ground up.
Deanna Duncan-Allen, Director of Referee Operations — program creator and driving force behind the initiative, providing the operational foundation that made it possible.
Brooke Mayo, FIFA Assistant Referee and U.S. Soccer Female Referee of the Year 2026 — heading to the World Cup this summer, Brooke took time from her busy schedule to meet with the first-year students and share her experiences.
Karen Abt Coulson, Former FIFA Referee — brought the perspective of someone who has walked the full path and came back to make sure students don’t have to walk it alone.
Jeff Arthurholtz, Referee Coach and Lead Facilitator — led development of the program structure, coordinated First Game Weekend assignments with local assignors, and continues to be a supportive resource for program graduates.
Jessica Perkin, Pilot Instructor — Renaissance Secondary School teacher whose partnership with CSA made this program possible inside a school setting.
Technology Built for the Classroom
Alongside the U.S. Soccer provided curriculum, CSA developed the C.R.E.S.T. Training App — a single HTML file that works on any device, completely offline, with no app store download required. It covers all 17 IFAB Laws of the Game with quizzes, a completion certificate, a 12-module reference library, real-time instructor dashboard, and an AI coaching assistant. The app launches May 1, 2026 as a free public reference tool for all CSA referees at ColoradoSoccer.org.
A Perfect Moment for Colorado Soccer
With the arrival of NWSL’s Denver Summit, the continued success of MLS Colorado Rapids, the rise of USL’s Colorado Switchbacks, and this year’s World Cup, the C.R.E.S.T. Academy arrives at a pivotal moment for the sport in Colorado. Educational programs like C.R.E.S.T. ensure the referees ready to grow with it are already being trained right here at home.
What Comes Next
CSA is looking for additional school partners to expand the C.R.E.S.T. Academy, scale the program’s digital tools to all 2,000+ active CSA referees, and establish C.R.E.S.T. as the state standard for referee development.
“The game needs referees. Colorado is building them. And it starts right here.”
About Colorado Soccer Association
Colorado Soccer Association is the state governing body for soccer in Colorado, serving over 2,000 active referees and thousands of players across the state. The C.R.E.S.T. Referee Development Program / Colorado Referee Program is part of CSA’s ongoing commitment to community outreach and youth engagement in the sport.
Media Contact: Krissia Vasquez | 720.670.4986 | kvasquez@coloradosoccer.org
Program Contact: Deanna Duncan-Allen | 303.888.6863 | dduncanallen@coloradoreferees.com
Age Group Change
Read more about the upcoming age group change being implemented for the 2026-27 seasonal year.
After thorough review and collaboration, US Youth Soccer, AYSO, and US Club Soccer have jointly decided to return to an August 1 to July 31 age group player formation cycle, starting with the 2026–27 season/registration year.
This change was made based on additional critical feedback, data, and expert input to better align players with their school-grade peers. Our associations feel that this age group player formation will be the most inclusive and help increase participation.
The August 1 to July 31 age group player formation cycle will be used for all USYS league and Cup competitions for the 2026-27 season/registration year including: National Championships, Presidents Cup, and National League.
US Youth Soccer CEO Tom Condone addressed the adjustment to the registration process: "At US Youth Soccer, our mission is to support the development of every player. After careful collaboration with our partners and listening to our membership, we believe this shift to an August 1 player formation cycle better aligns with school calendars, supports social and individual needs, and ultimately enhances the youth soccer experience for families across the country."
As a reminder, under U.S. Soccer’s new policy, each Federation member can determine age group registration rules for the leagues and competitions they operate or sanction. To support this transition, U.S. Soccer has introduced a tool to help parents and guardians easily understand the age groupings based on their child’s birthdate.
Please note: This change takes effect beginning with the 2026–27 season/registration year.
If you have any questions regarding this change, please contact Colorado Soccer.
