Details on the new U.S. Soccer Referee Pathway can be read here. If you were certified in 2017 or 2018 and your certification has lapsed, you can recertify by completing the below online only requirements. If you were a certified 2019 referee, your certification lapsed on January 1st, 2020 unless you completed the recertification process and are granted a Grassroots Referee License in your Learning Center profile.

If you attended and completed a Grassroots Entry Referee Course between July 2019 and December 2019, you do not have to recertify. You are already certified through December 31st, 2020.
Please review the Grassroots Referee Profile for general information and expectations of a Grassroots Referee.
2020 Referee badges were mailed to referees who completed all requirements by December 10th, 2019 and were granted a Grassroots Referee License in their Learning Center profile.

If you complete your online requirements after this date and are granted a Grassroots Referee License, continue to wear your 2019 Referee badge until you receive your 2020 badge in the mail. 2020 badges will be mailed at the end of each month, starting at the end of January. You can download and print your Grassroots Referee License directly from your profile in the Learning Center as proof you are certified for 2020.
 

U.S. Soccer eliminated the mandatory in-person course requirement to recertify as a Grassroots Referee. The recertification process is completed entirely online.
Early registration period: August 1st, 2019 - January 20th, 2020 - $90
Late registration period: January 21st, 2020 - April 30th, 2020 - $105
·         Create a profile in the U.S. Soccer Referee Learning Center
·         Register for the Grassroots Recertification Online Course​
o    ​Note: If you are 18 years of age or older, you will not be able to register until the Background Check has been authorized.
·         Once registered, click on the Assignments tab and complete the following:
o    ​Grassroots Online Course
o    2020 Intro to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments
o    2020 Grassroots Referee Certification Quiz
​Once all assignments are completed (they will say Satisfactory in the assignments tab) you will granted a Grassroots Referee license. This can be viewed and downloaded directly from your profile.

Full Recertification Instructions

1. Create a Profile in the U.S. Soccer Referee Learning Center (LC).
·         The unique account identifier is an email address. Parents may not use their lone email address to register multiple referees. Each referee needs their own email address. Parents may add a secondary email address to each account.
·         The Learning Center will attempt to migrate your old registration data (lifetime). Accept when prompted. If successful, you should see your entire lifetime registration history in your profile. Go to your new profile and confirm your lifetime license history appears correct.
·         If your lifetime registration history does not migrate into your new Learning Center profile, you must go to your profile in the LC and click to request a profile merge. The LC will not allow you to register for the recertification course if you profile does not contain a 2017, 2018, or 2019 referee license. This will be processed by U.S. Soccer administrators within 5-7 business days.
·         If you are experiencing technical issues with creating an account or completing the online assignments, the U.S. Soccer recommended steps are to clear your browser history, cache and cookies, and then close and restart your browser. If this doesn't solve the issue, try a different browser and/or device to create your account.
·         While new referees must be 13 years of age or older to register, any current referees that are younger than 13 are grandfathered in. If the referee is currently younger than 13 you must email both referee@ussoccer.org and awright@georgiasoccer.org the following information to have your account activated:
o    Full name, DOB, email addresses (any that could be linked to your registration history), and USSF ID.

2. Complete the U.S. Soccer NCSI Background Check (mandatory if 18 years of age or older)
·         Valid for two years per check
·         Mandatory for all referees 18 years or older
·         Available Inside the Learning Center
o    ​Click Courses - Available Courses - Background Screening under Supplemental Courses on the left​
·         ​The full cost of the background check goes to NCSI. Neither Georgia Soccer nor U.S. Soccer keep any of the costs for this mandatory requirement.

3. Register for the Grassroots Recertification Online Course in the U.S. Soccer Referee Learning Center (LC).
·         After creating an account, you must register for the Grassroots Recertification Online Course.
·         In the LC, click Courses, Available Courses and then Grassroots Recertifying Referees.
o    Use the location filter and select Georgia.
o    Register for 2020 Grassroots Recertification Course (Online)
·         ​If the Learning Center does not allow you to register for the recertification course it is likely due to your license history not merging in to your new Learning Center profile. If you do not see your 2019 license in your profile, it will prevent registration in the 2020 recertification course. Complete the profile merge request from inside your profile, and then email both referee@ussoccer.org and awright@georgiasoccer.org the following information to have your profile merged:
o    Full name, DOB, email addresses (any that could be linked to your registration history), and USSF ID.
·         ​Once your lifetime license history has merged, you will be able to register for the recertification course.

4. Safe Sport Training (mandatory if 18 years of age or older)
·         Click Courses - Available Courses - SafeSport
·         Safe Sport is a Federal Law passed by the United States Congress and is mandatory for anyone 18 years or older.

5. Download the IFAB Laws of the Game (LOTG).
·         The LOTG are also available as an app on both Android and iOS.​
GAReferees.Gameofficials.net is no longer in use for courses or registration.
Email Anne Wright (awright@georgiasoccer.org) for general questions about the Georgia Soccer Referee Program.
Email U.S. Soccer (referee@ussoccer.org and learningcentersupport@ussoccer.org) for general questions about the Learning Center, issues creating your account, background checks, etc.

For Local Assignments:
Please email John Hermann @ jhrrmnn@mindspring.com and Joey Todd @ jftodd79@bellsouth.net
The Metro Atlanta Referee Association manages all aspects of the Referee Program for DDYSC. For more information on our organization please go to https://metroatlantareferees.org
 
Assignments are given all year round for various leagues.