By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
August 21, 2020-Becoming a soccer referee is a great choice for many people but particularly for teenagers and young adults who are already fit and grew up with the game. There are many wonderful things that happen when a person starts to ref including earning money, learning to manage people, learning more about the game, staying fit, expanding yourself by leaving your comfort zone as well as meeting the greatest people on soccer fields, including your new officiating colleagues. Applicants must be at least 14 years old.
The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is looking for new Grassroots Referees. The certification class consists of both online and classroom learning so refs are able to step on soccer fields after games reboot in Eastern New York. Classes are not taking place right now because of the virus but applicants must complete online training first anyway before the classroom sessions.
The Referee Student must:
• Set up a profile on the US Soccer Learning Center (https://learning.ussoccer.com/)
• Complete the Grassroots online training via Eastern New York's State specific link to the US Soccer Learning Center (print certificate)
• Students 18 and older must complete online Safesport Training. Link and code will be provided by Eastern New York (print certificate)
• Create a Game Officials Profile on the Game Officials website
When your certification is completed after passing a rules test, you will be your own boss and can give your availability to assignors so they will assign you games that fit your life.
For more information on how to become a soccer ref, please contact State Youth Referee Administrator (SYRA) Lee Suckle at
lee@suckle.net
With approximately 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with nine leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.