Therefore, all referees at the USL level have daytime jobs and referee part-time. One Knoxville vs Central Valley Fuego. | Photo courtesy Liza Rosales / Orange County SC. These CMI include red cards and goals, and are pivotal to determining whether someone like Darling gives referees a passing grade for that game (a minimum score of 69 points). 6 hira32 Seattle Sounders FC 3 mo. Ill never forget walking out. Market values . 0000001224 00000 n The assignments for Week 3 of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season. There was contact prior, player takes a couple of steps and then he falls down and goes back to the initial contact for UB. Thats the way it should be.. From there, he embarked on a career in whichhe oversaw hundreds ofMLS games as well as international tournaments, becoming one of the best at his craft as a two-time MLS Referee of the Year. You ended up on a field with a whistle or a flag and you have no idea what youre doing. Until 2011, referees were still part-time so Geiger was teaching high school math in New Jersey, ranging from algebra 1 to advanced placement calculus. CARY, N.C. In their 50thseason, the Indiana University mens soccer team was 90 minutes away from the perfect ending to the season a ninth national championship. Every game, they leave the stadium having annoyed at least one set of fans. Soc Takes spoke to Referees A, B and C (names redacted to protect their identities): No prior playing, coaching, or officiating experience is required to register as anassignor. I remember the anxiety, I remember the nerves, I remember everything, said Thompson. And what is disturbing is that fans believe referees are untrained, uninterested and unrepentant. Tab will move on to the next part of the site rather than go through menu items. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, USWNT standout Julie Ertz joins Angel City FC on a one-year contract, Retirement? At the beginning of her career, Massey-Ellis was the target of sexist criticism including comments that cost two Sky Sports TV commentators their jobs. The assignments for Week 5 of the 2023 USL League One season. I first met Darling at a Louisville City match, While the rest of us were reacting to LCFCs fantastic ball movement in their expansive James OConnor-inspired 3-4-3, Darling seemed to only react to stoppages in play, where he would jot down a few words. Read more Featured MLS Assignments Thats not OK., I have to provide self-assessment based on watching every single game after the game. The in-person session will be held on Sunday, August 11, 2019 time and location based on those registered. These referees attend clinics, conferences and performance reviews to stay at the top of their game. Were used to the booing and the name-calling., Ref A is similarly unperturbed by abuse from fans. Support Soc Takes on Patreon for access to exclusive content and supporter benefits. Yet referees continue to receive abuse every single game. But on the soccer field, shes spent much of her time trying to blend in, mainly working games in the National Womens Soccer League and numerous age-group tournaments. Every game, their performance is scrutinized by fans, players, coaches, referee assessors and even front office staff. Do these referees have repercussions for poor performances? trailer <<9996466CB06847A58B8CFF5F362CD35A>]/Prev 160517/XRefStm 1023>> startxref 0 %%EOF 1030 0 obj <>stream The biggest misconception I see is that fans think we just show up, ref and leave. A realtor during the day, he trained most days, studied game film to keep thinking about the game during downtime, and had been rewarded. Replies. No prior playing, coaching, or officiating experience is required to register as an assignor. But, yeah, thats just the way it was back then. (MLS). Well, each state has its own tweaks to requirements, but Missouris Grade 6 referee requirements are pretty standard for various states. He tells me earlier that he usually grabs pizza for the refereeing crew and discusses his assessment with them over pizza. Number one is game management," Prus said. The assignments for Week 5 of the 2023 USL League One season: 04/12/23. April 1, 2023 PRO media Inside Video Review, NWSL. All three love the game and played at the high school and/or college level. The assignments for Week 7 of the 2023 Major League Soccer season. Soc Takes spoke to Referees A, B and C (names redacted to protect their identities): Ref A in USL, assistant referee in the Western Conference How To Become A Soccer Referee 2 PRO2 The PRO2 is a subsector of the PRO, that deals with assigning referees and officials for USL Championship, NWSL, and USL League One (referee feeder league to MLS). , Darling tells me, running his hands across his mustache. For example, there are believed to be only 120 referees at the Grade 4 (national) level. The years of travel and sacrifice officiating at regional and national events had paid off. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) for PRO Jon Freemon Sports Law Attorney Alan Goldberger SEC & ACC Baseball Umpire Jeff Gosney NCAA D-I Softball Umpire Robbie Guest Host Communications Founder Jim Host NCAA National Coordinator of Softball Umpires Craig Hyde Referee; Collegiate Officiating Consortium/MAC Curt Johnson Retired NFHS Executive Director Thats what we focus on. Detailed. The assignments for Week 8 of the 2023 Major League Soccer season. Darling writes down each key moment and after the match is over, he discusses those key moments with the entire refereeing team. Thiscoursewill be a hybridcoursewith an online portion and an in-person session. What we generally learn are that referees have to meet physical, experience-related and knowledge-related requirements that are subject to annual re-visitation. Eureka High School. As Referee B referenced below tells us, If Im an AR and I miss an offside that leads to a goal, I would certainly not pass that assessment., If referees dont pass their assessments, they are often reviewed by independent assessors, work-shopped with, and if they are repeat offenders, relegated to refereeing at a lower level. The Hoosiers would come together and play great one minute. 64: Indiana Futsal director Justin Becht, Soc Takes Pod Ep. 1 in this weeks top 20 high school softball rankings, Clippers expect Kevin Durant to play more aggressively on offense in Game 2, Eric Kendricks finds himself in middle of a big hole in Chargers defense, Hunter Renfroes three-run blast powers Angels to rain-disrupted win over Red Sox. I get it, Ref C tells me via a Skype call. The US Soccer certification requirements for new and returning assignors include the completion of a 50-question test. This is in addition to my normal life and job. You see, someone like Brian Darling is sitting somewhere, judging and marking down each important decision made by the refereeing team. ago El Director de Video Arbitraje de PRO, Gregorio Barkey, echa un vistazo al uso del VAR durante esta semana en la MLS. 0000011337 00000 n Referee Matt Thompson's first assignment in the professional ranks was also the USL Championship debut for El Paso Locomotive FC at the start of the 2019 season. The assignments for the 2022 USL League One Final: 11/06/22. He was 15 years old, looking for a little extra spending money, and so in addition to playing began officiating games for younger age groups on weekends at his local club. He hesitates. 0000006963 00000 n to ensure player safety and responsible spectator behavior PURPOSE OF THE JOB THE REGIONAL REFEREE: Facilitates a fair and safe game for the players by enforcing/ applying the Laws of the Game Academy League Games shall have a Referee, AR1, AR2, and 4th official. They also have a developmental tier consisting of 17 refs they also assign games to. However, as Ref A puts it, Theres a line where some managers make it personal and say certain refs dont belong in the league. As a USSF and LSA requirement, all clubs must have a USSF RegisteredAssignorto assign all matches. Sometimes youve just got to be prepared for the opportunity to come, said Thompson, because after that game, that was when I started getting more assignments as a center official., Mississippi native Matt Thompson has been the center referee for almost 70 games in the USL Championship's regular season and playoffs over the past four seasons. The names and logos of MLS teams are registered and/or common law trademarks of MLS or are used with the permission of their owners. When to talk silently with a player, when to do a public warning, you know? I introduced myself and learned that he was a referee assessor. The biggest misconception I see is that fans think we just show up, ref and leave. 470 Following. Too many referees wouldnt see that. The assignments for Week 3 of the 2023 USL Championship season. 0000000676 00000 n In their mind, my decisions can get in the way of what theyre paying to see. Ensuring that a game doesn't escalate and communicating with players and coaches is a valuable trait. Transfers & rumours . When he receives information on an official or when the referee organization is choosing referees to work particular games, he insists the paperwork include nothing more than the officials surname. Hes determined to provide that, recruiting female officials at the grassroots levels, giving them experience and exposure with high-profile assignments such as the MLS combine, then helping mentor their development. The process comes with a background check and then involvesan in-person course that spans a weekend, including a field session for basic mechanics. 0000004060 00000 n Read more. Seems like theres a pretty straightforward case for a send off here and its not just for the second part of it--if you are suggesting it was just for the second part (and consequently VC). Yet despite his desire for inclusion, Walton insists this is not an affirmative-action program. In researching this article, I was sent forms and documents galore that irrefutably negate a common misconception the idea that USL referees have no incentive or repercussions for good or bad performances, respectively. Of course, we want athletes. He also shares his report with the USSF and each state referee association, and sometimes PRO (Professional Referee Organization). Good eye! 0000006784 00000 n 0000004175 00000 n 0000000016 00000 n 0000009972 00000 n He might as well have added you dumbass at the end of that sentence, because, I should know that thats a thing. However, for our purposes in this article, we will focus on Grade 5 and 6, as it pertains to the USL. Hes worried about people like you and me. Women can and do meet these standards, Nesbitt said. What we generally learn are that referees have to meet. Keeping referee assignments to National Assignors is going to cause way more issues than it's going to solve. USL League 2). Providence Park (10:30PM ET) REF: Alexandra Billeter. And theyre completely wrong.. The assignments for Week 3 of the 2023 National Women's Soccer League regular season: 04/14/23. Before Walton joined Professional Referee Organization in 2012, female officials got between 5% and 10% of the center-referee assignments in the USL and NASL. Filter by season: Compact. %PDF-1.4 % Parkway West High School. 720 Lakeside Plaza. But its similar to what the players will do. Prus' entire staff attends the GA Cup, watching the referees at every game. The assignments for Week 5 of the 2023 USL League One season. Assistant Referees Two (2) Assistant Referees shall assist the Referee in controlling the game. When Erling Haaland scored his first goal in Manchester City colors last July in an exhibition against Bayern Munich at historic Lambeau Field, Thompson was the man in the middle. While being a referee is a benefit for attendance, thiscourseis open to all individuals. Giorgio Chiellini too busy living the good life with LAFC to quit, U.S. soccer shuts down its youth developmental academy, Carlos Vela leads LAFC to hard-fought win over Galaxy in El Trfico, Savannah McCaskills late goal helps Angel City salvage draw vs. Louisville, Commentary: Galaxys new executives under pressure to fix dysfunctional front office, LAFCs Aaron Long and Kellyn Acosta called up for USMNT friendly with Mexico, Carlos Vela scores twice as LAFC blanks Vancouver to advance in CONCACAF Champions League, The actor, the hairstylist and the eye surgeon: Drugs and death in a Malibu beach house, Have guests in town? Decisions that are minor, such as misidentified corner kicks, result in a minor point deductions. If youre the head referee, youre leading it.. The assignments for Week 6 of the 2023 USL Championship season: 04/12/23 Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Charleston Battery Al Lang Stadium (7:30PM ET) REF: Jeremy Scheer AR1: Peter Balciunas AR2: Claudiu Badea 4TH: Alejo Calume 04/15/23 FC Tulsa vs Charleston Battery ONEOK Field (6PM ET) REF: Elton Garcia AR1: Matthew Rodman AR2: Christian Little The Assistant Referees are defined as the Senior Assistant (bench side) or AR1 and Junior | Photo courtesy Ivan Pierre Aguirre / El Paso Locomotive FC. 0000007083 00000 n Regal Soccer Stadium (7PM ET) REF: Joshua Encarnacion. Downing / Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Referees that excel at the district level graduate to the regional level. Its beginning to bear fruit. PRO and the other referee organizations can save those reports and key moments (in video format) in a huge database that is accessible to other referees. As a referee, you allow thousands to participate in the sport we all love. But, what exactly is the assessment? Only women's sizes. Hes unperturbed by the absurd (and inaccurate) assertion. I love the game. Last month the German Bundesliga added Bibiana Steinhaus, a well-respected official with a deep international resume, to its list of referees for 2017-18, while Sian Massey-Ellis began working as an assistant referee in the Premier League in 2010. Crew Chief Position Proficient in Referee and Umpire positions Leader of the crew, on and off the floor. USL Assignments - Professional Referee Organization Skip to content Friday, April 7, 2023 Professional Referee Organization Home About PRO Support Staff Officials Roster Referees Assistant Referees Video Assistant Referees Assistant Video Assistant Referees MLS Awards Roll of Honor USL Awards Roll of Honor Stats Referee Stats Inside Video Review: NWSL #1. The overwhelming reception has been positive and I think a lot of that comes from female officials showing well in the mens game.. !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? Thats the nature of sport. There is also a well-known dearth of referees in the U.S. game. This process takes 6-10 hours of preparation/evaluation for that 90-minute match. M - F. 9:30-530 most days. Darling has been around the game for a long time he earned his first USSF license back in 1979. Parkway South High School. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. AR1: Austin Holt. So, yes, I am excited to get back on the field. It. Theyll appeal for things when they know they have no right to that particular decision, but theyll still try to make you make a mistake. As those skills are developed, the states will identify and pushindividuals forward to bigger games and tournaments, including the state cup. Thats helpful. The Soccer Tavern: History of Position Numbers in Soccer, Video: The Soccer Tavern, Soc Takes announce partnership, Chestertons OT header earns ISC Sports Networks top Play of, Gallery: Broncos snap Cardinals 7-game unbeaten streak, Gallery: Eleven drain Battery in final home match of season, Gallery: Sowinski hat trick propels FC Tulsa past Indy Eleven, Gallery: Surging Ball State squad downs Northern Illinois, Gallery: Indy Eleven narrowly edge Loudoun United on Ayoze penalty, Gallery: Ball State routs Eastern Michigan 5-nil, three things they did well and three things they did poorly, each referee begins with an automatic score of 81, Minneapolis City SC chairman Dan Hoedeman opens clubs books, NPSL clubs have median survival rate of 2 years. But Walton insists what hes really trying to do is find the best referees, irrespective of gender. Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Referee overview . I didnt like officials very much when I played," Prusjoked. The assignments for Week 6 of the 2023 USL Championship season: Tampa Bay Rowdies vs Charleston BatteryAl Lang Stadium (7:30PM ET)REF: Jeremy ScheerAR1: Peter BalciunasAR2: Claudiu Badea4TH: Alejo Calume, FC Tulsa vs Charleston BatteryONEOK Field (6PM ET)REF: Elton GarciaAR1: Matthew RodmanAR2: Christian Little4TH: Jose Lara, Loudoun United vs Birmingham LegionSegra Field (6PM ET)REF: Luis ArroyoAR1: William AtenAR2: Max Smith4TH: Nick Karnovsky, Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs Rio Grande ValleyHighmark Stadium (7PM ET)REF: Sergii DemianchukAR1: Noah MatosAR2: Jacob Little4TH: Joshua Encarnacion, Miami FC vs Detroit CityRiccardo Silva Stadium (7PM ET)REF: Melvin RivasAR1: Rhett HammilAR2: Sean-Michael Kemp4TH: Diego Lucio, Louisville City vs San AntonioLynn Family Stadium (7:30PM ET)REF: Malik BadawiAR1: Art ArustamyanAR2: Nicholas Balcer4TH: Kevin Fikar, Memphis 901 vs Las Vegas LightsAutoZone Park (8PM ET)REF: Adam KilpatrickAR1: Joe SuchoskiAR2: Logan Reeves4TH: Wes Caouette, New Mexico United vs San Diego LoyalIsotopes Park (9PM ET)REF: Eric TattersallAR1: John KrillAR2: Eric Del Rosario4TH: Cristian Campo Hernandez, Oakland Roots vs Hartford AthleticPioneer Stadium (10PM ET)REF: Matthew CorriganAR1: Stephen McGonagleAR2: Peter Hanson4TH: Michael Zapata, Orange County vs Indy ElevenChampionship Soccer Stadium (10PM ET)REF: Ricardo FierroAR1: Salvador ReyesAR2: Darren Bandy4TH: Brandon Stevis, Sacramento Republic vs Colorado Springs SwitchbacksHeart Health Park (10PM ET)REF: Thomas SnyderAR1: Seth BartonAR2: Conrado Garcia4TH: Robert Vincze, Phoenix Rising vs Monterey BayPhoenix Rising Stadium (10:30PM ET)REF: Ekaterina KorolevaAR1: Karsten GillwaldAR2: Hunter Zachwieja4TH: Alan Martinez. The Major League Soccer and MLS name and shield are registered trademarks of Major League Soccer, L.L.C. The Referee's duties to start the game are outlined later in this Manual. Whether he showed two yellows and a red or just a red is unknowable based on the video, but I'm prettys sure the send off was for the totality of the actions. Therefore, all referees at the USL level have daytime jobs and referee part-time. Or am I missing some contact? I first met Darling at a Louisville City match during LCFCs playoffs in 2017. ago What is the Red Card Wedding? 2023 MLS. The site navigation utilizes arrow, enter, escape, and space bar key commands. I didnt tell anybody there it was my first game. 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); Football Rules simplified Laws of the Game, Crew announced for USL Championship Final in San Antonio, 1444, . #PRO. The referee awarded a penalty kick to New England Revolution for a handball offense and issued a yellow card to Corbo for stopping a promising attack. This group of officials make up the pool of officials working on high-level adult games in the state in 2023, namely NPSL, USL-2, USL-W, USL-A, and UWS. Additionally, these assessments are permanently attached to all referees; therefore, poor performances are not judged in an insular manner. Heretired from officiating ahead of the 2019 seasonand isnow director of senior match officials for the Professional Referee Organization. As Ref B tells us, I have to provide self-assessment based on watching every single game after the game. They do a great job there, especially with their pyro and their pregame stuff. Because while women can run major corporations, sit on the Supreme Court and even run for president, they still havent been able to find regular work as a center referee at the top level of soccer in the U.S. and Canada. Applications Junior National Referee Applications Pre-registration is required and the online components should be completed prior to attending thecourse. Well, each state has its own tweaks to requirements, but, requirements are pretty standard for various states. It involves one-on-one meetings with the referee and a performance coach as well as group meetings with the officiating crew and the referee coaches. Does that referee get away with his poor decision? Long before Mark Geiger was selected to referee two World Cups, he stumbled into the businessasa 13-year-old boy looking for some pocket change. Im not interested in gender, he said. St. Louis County . The assignments for Week 2 of the 2023 USL League One season. Tarouane Tellaini is a hypothetical USL player (arguably the greatest player of his generation) who slide tackles a player in the box. In December of 1987, Geiger took a refereeing course in New Jersey and became certified. Well, of course! Darling responded with a pause. The success of Freemon, Elfath and others are a sign of the progress being made in diversifying the senior officiating roster in the United States and Canada. He was even one of 103 recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in 2010, before becoming a full time ref and working the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and other things for the Los Angeles Times, where he has worked for 24 years. News . Born in Poland and even a second division professional soccer player, he came to America with a masters degree in coaching but didn't speak English,a hurdle in his desire to coach. Upon their arrival to the stadium, the Assistant Referees shall report to the Referee. PRO Manager of Video Review, Greg Barkey, takes a closer look at the week's Video Review use in NWSL. ET) REF: Matthew Thompson. USL Championship Assignments: Week 2 March 14, 2023 PRO media USL Championship The assignments for Week 2 of the 2023 USL Championship season. April 6 2023 Open Cup. From Thompsons perspective, the influence of important mentors on his path including the likes of current Major League Soccer referee Alex Chilowicz and Director of PRO2 Match Officials Alex Prus and the dedication and a willingness to show flexibility and availability have been central to his progression. Cost of the clinic is $30 plus the USSF registration fee of $15. The big platform for us is the Generation Adidas tournament," said Alex Prus,Director of PRO2 Match Officials at Professional Referee Organization. // ASSIGNMENTS: USL Week 17. 0000002681 00000 n One of the greatest compliments Christina Unkel received in her long career as a soccer official came the time a player addressed her as sir., Its weird thing, she said. Every season, PRO2 referees have the opportunity to graduate into PRO. I get it that a player can't put his hands on the referee, but the referee 100% invaded players personal space on an incident that was totally unnecessary. Pre-registration is required and the online components should be completed prior to attending thecourse. To register please email Michael Silver with the State Referee Commitee [email protected]. Some of that stems from a desire to strike a blow for gender equality. Football Rules simplified Laws of the Game, 1444, . Darling is a striking older gentleman. Portland Thorns vs Houston Dash. Update In response to this article, PRO reached out to Soc Takes. 0000011009 00000 n April 11, 2023 PRO media USL League One. MSU Soccer Park (7 p.m. USL Championship Fans' Choice Save of the Week - Week 5; By USLChampionship.com Staff 04/11/2023, 4:00pm EDT ; Some of the biggest goalkeeping names in the league shone in the past week, who gets your vote? And if that person in front of me, in front of my developmental people, is good enough, then theyll get the opportunity.. Its also heartening to those aiming to follow their footsteps. In the US, they start as a Grade9 referee and hope to start moving up the ladder starting to becoming a Grade 6, the highest in each state. "MLS supports officials, bringing them from all over the country to this tournament. It includes both classroomand field work. But they are generally accepting of it. Im glad you forgot that Im a girl. People get things wrong every so often, it's human nature. (Here's a full breakdown of the USgrade system. PRO is the organization that overseesreferees in MLS, whilePRO2 handles assignments for USL Championship, NWSL and USL League One, which feeds referees to MLS. If the abilitys there, give them the opportunity and give them the chance to shine. Well, some may say it never went up from there. Elvis Osmanovic to referee 2022 USL League One Final; Decisions that are minor, such as misidentified corner kicks, result in a minor point deductions. 0000002358 00000 n But before we get to those, lets look over some basics about how refereeing is set up in U.S. Soccer. Reaching Grade 5 signals readiness for national matches. However, as Ref A puts it, Theres a line where some managers make it personal and say certain refs dont belong in the league. The VAR analyzed the available angles, believed that the arm was within the player's silhouette and not away from the body, and recommended an on-field review. FIFA referee Alyssa Nichols is aiming for the World Cup Jackson State alumna is one of only two Black American women to earn her FIFA badge Referee Alyssa Nichols calls a foul during a game between France and the United States women's under-20 Blue at Premier Sports Campus on Dec. 13, 2019, in Lakeland Ranch, Florida. They start in rec or travel ball, start developing their skills and comfort level. First, were looking for commitment," Raymond said. There, they also meet with the refs for training and learning, as they're together throughout the tournament, and break down film. The 33 is mistaken identity, right? . So, lets take a scenario. Referees are no different than top athletes. 0000001023 00000 n Humans that have families. Multiple attempts to contact PRO for comment on this article were unsuccessful. You can find him discussing both of those, as well as regular updates (pupdates) on his wonderful doggo, Octavia on Twitter. We will be back open on Monday. This course will be a hybrid course with an online portion and an in-person session. | Photo courtesy Em-Dash Photography / Louisville City FC. | Photo courtesy Isaiah J. Referees 2023 . After some time (usually at least a year) spent at Grade 7, referees move up to Grade 6 where one can referee at a state-wide level. Just as inexperienced players are given platforms to showcase their abilities, so, too, are referees looking to make their way in the game. Nipun divides his time between his two great loves - neuroscience and soccer. The walkout of the game is still my banner pic on Facebook. Here's what a prospective referee would need to do to rise from wandering into a state refereeing course all the way to a World Cup game, just like Geiger. From this point on, points are subtracted for every incorrect decision. This is one of those situations where an act that otherwise need not be cautioned must be cautioned because of what it prompts. With so many international teams coming to GA Cup, the games are quite challenging.". The assignments for Week 4 of the 2023 USL League One season. The class content was tailored to these upper level games. Grade 6 and Grade 5 referees make up the bulk of referees at the USL level. Peter Walton is determined to change that. The assignments for Week 6 of the 2023 USL Championship season. Its the same game, just a little more different.. They also need to be really good with people and, needless to say, understanding the laws of the game. Hes approaching 70 center assignments in the league across the regular season and playoffs, and in 2021 was voted the Professional Referee Organizations USL Referee of the Year. Not saying he didn't show a straight red for VC, but I'd be surprised. It costs money but they understand that good officiating raises the level but also provides PRO with a great platform to see new prospects before we start assigning them to matches. Verbal abuse from fans doesnt bother me, but he also adds a disturbing addendum, A referee I work with and train with was at a game where refs were physically assaulted.. A Referee Evaluation Form administered by Exact Sports is given in the preseason. The fourth official for that game, Marco Vega, he had been in the league for a while, and he was actually a huge mentor [for me] at youth regionals and things like that. Anyone who watched the Indiana Hoosiers mens soccer team this season had their doubts. No prior playing, coaching, or officiating experience is required to register as anassignor. During one of LCFCs playoff games, I saw this older gentleman taking notes on a white sheet of paper placed on a soccer clipboard. Ref C in USL, center referee in the Eastern Conference. Beyond Grade 5 is a whole set of interesting factoids vis-a-vis the incredible achievements of these young men and women to reach MLS, FIFA and national team games.