Referee Course Information
**IMPORTANT**
We are currently in the process of moving to the new CSA Entry Level program which requires connection to Refcentre internally. Entry Level courses will start to appear once approved as the month continues.
Please Click on the Tabs Below to access more information about the various Referee Courses and to Register
An introductory course for people 12 years and older (on or before the date of the course), who would like to referee U9 and younger only. As of 2020, all Mini Referee courses will include Assistant Referee training.
The cost per student for the course will be determined by the hosting organization.
The Mini course covers:
- Referee duties and responsibilities
- The Rules of Mini Soccer.
- Onfield practical training
- Basic Offside for Assistant Referees
- Assistant Referee Calls and Signals
Students are supplied with – 7 v 7 Rules of Mini Soccer, referee badge and whistle.
Mini courses usually run in the spring, in preparation for the outdoor season, but occasionally are run at other times of the year.
An introductory course for people 14 years or older (on or before the date of the course), who would like to referee U11 8v8, U13 and older 11v11, or act as an assistant referee (linesman) at any level.
The cost per student for the course will be determined by the hosting organization.
The new CSA Entry Level course covers:
- Referee and Assistant Referee duties and responsibilities
- The FIFA Laws of the Game (11v11 soccer)
- U11 8v8 Rules of the Game
- On-field practical training
- Game day advice
- Foul recognition
Students are supplied with –
- FIFA Law Book
- U11 8v8 Rule Book
- Referee badge and whistle
- Yellow and red cards, referee wallet
Note – some districts or clubs supply additional items, such as referee uniforms, assistant flags etc
After successfully completing the course, referees are classified as follows:
14 and 15 years old = Youth Referee
16 years and older = District Referee
Please note that the course fee includes the first year’s registration fee for the referees.
Entry Level courses usually run in the spring, in preparation for the outdoor season, but occasionally are run at other times of the year.
For existing 11v11 referees (not mini referees), there are two types of indoor soccer conversion courses available, depending on what style of indoor soccer is played in your part of the province.
- Arena (boarded) Conversion – is a one day course, designed to teach the Rules of Indoor Soccer, as well as provide practical on-field training.
- Futsal Conversion – is a one day course, designed to teach the Futsal Laws of the Game,
as well as provide practical on-field training.
Both courses usually run in early fall, in preparation for the indoor season.
To sign up for a Conversion Course, log in to your Refcentre account at – www.refcentre.com – and use the ‘Registration’ menu.
Note – ‘Mini’ referees should contact their local assignor regarding indoor soccer.
Each Outdoor season, returning referees must attend a minimum 2 hour refresher class as part of the yearly registration
The Outdoor/Indoor refresher course will cover:
- Overview of questionnaire
- Updated Law/Rule changes
- Training in specific areas for the season
- Group work activities
For more information on yearly registration, please click on the following link: https://albertasoccer.com/referee/registration/
Note – ‘Mini’ referees should contact their local assignor regarding a refresher course as there is currently no province wide refresher required.
Futsal Refresher
Returning Futsal officials in the province must also take Futsal Refresher course that runs generally in the fall (to applicable districts).
Referees with one or more years of experience, can sign up for an upgrade course.
Order of classification pathway throughout all provinces:
- District Referee
- Regional Referee
- Provincial Referee
For more information on upgrading as an official, please Click here for details