Assessments

If you are seeking to upgrade in USSF District II you must use the following procedure. Central Kentucky is in District II.

KENTUCKY STATE REFEREE ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES FOR REFEREE SEEKING ADVANCEMENT

Refereeing soccer is a very enjoyable hobby. Referees who would like to learn more tips and tricks as well as receive assignments at the next level of competition should consider upgrading their referee license. While the most minute details of this process have been described below, there are only five basic steps (Request the Upgrade, Qualification, Field Assessments, Physical Fitness Test, and a Written Exam) that are needed to complete the process. Although we are bound by narrow standards to maintain national consistency, the entire process can be completed in 45 – 60 days depending on what time of the year your request is made. Please do not be intimidated by the process, as anyone on the State Referee Committee would be more than happy to help walk you through everything. Let’s get started…

1) PAPERWORK

a) You will need to send a written request for upgrade to your District Referee Administrator and to the State Referee Administrator (SRA) (see below):

            Brian Darling (SRA – KY)
            1st Floor - NACM Building
            436 S. 7th Street
            Louisville, KY 40203-1981
            H: 502-425-5030
            W: 502-583-2687
            F: 502-584-4621

sra@kyreferee.com

b) The request can be sent by email, through the postal service, or facsimile but must include:

i) the words “I am requesting an upgrade from grade __ to grade __” and that you feel comfortable refereeing at the next level of competition.

ii) an accurate game history (spreadsheets are preferred) which includes:

(a) game date and time

(b) location of the game

(d) team names

(e) other referees assigned to the game

(f) assignor’s name

iii) Reference the chart below to ensure that you have the necessary experience to move to the next level:

Upgrade	Time in Grade	Minimum Age	Number of Games (only USSF Games – do not include High School, College, or other)
Grade 9 to 8	n / a	n / a	n / a
Grade 8 to 7	12 months as Grade 8	17	Referee: 75 AR: 25 (any level)
Grade 7 to 6	12 months as Grade 7	18	Referee: 100 (U-17 Affiliated Competitive League Games or higher) Assistant Referee: 25
Grade 6 to 5	12 months as Grade 6	19	Referee: 150 (50 Games on Adult Division 1) Assistant Referee: 50
Grade 5 to 4	2 years as Grade 5 prior to application	23	Referee: 175 (75 must be affiliated Div. 1 adult or higher; 5 must be professional games) Assistant Referee: 100 (5 must be professional games or "other approved" matches.)
Grade 4 to 3	same as Grade 4	23	same as grade 4 (see USSF Administrative Handbook for more details )

iv) After this has been submitted, allow thirty (30) days for your game history to be verified.

v) During this time frame, please email any games that you are assigned that could be used as assessable games to the State Director of Assessment (SDA – sda@kyreferee.com).

2) COST

a) Along with the above request, you must enclose a check or money order payable to the Kentucky Soccer Referee Association (KSRA) in the amount of $20.00 for administrative costs.

b) If you are moving from grade 7 to 6, you will also be responsible for your new USSF registration fee (normally ~$35).

c) You will also pay your assessor your game fee (more details below*)

3) FIELD ASSESSMENTS

a) Once all of the above steps have been successfully completed and you have qualified, a copy of your request will be sent by the SRA to the SDA (and his designee); arrangements for an approved assessor in your area with proper assignments will be made in conjunction with your District Referee Administrator (DRA).

b) Once an assessor has been appointed to a qualifying game that you have been assigned (game that you have found – along with the help of your DRA if necessary), you will receive a confirmation notice along with a copy of the assigned assessor’s name and the date, time and place of the game from the SDA or his designee.

c) Please reference the below chart for the games that you will need to pass assessments to upgrade:

Upgrade	Minimum Game Level (ALL GAMES 90 MIN)	Number / Type of Assessments (only USSF Games – do not include High School, College, or other)	Level of USSF Assessor needed
Grade 9 to 8	no game assessment needed	N / A	Grade 7 or higher
Grade 8 to 7	U-17 or higher	Pass one (1) field assessments (games) as a referee Pass one (1) field assessments (games) as an assistant referee	Grade 7 or higher
Grade 7 to 6	Adult 2nd division or higher	Pass two (2) field assessments (games) as a referee Pass one (1) field assessments (games) as an assistant referee	Grade 5 or higher
Grade 6 to 5	Adult 1st division or higher	Pass two (2) field assessments (games) as referee Pass one (1) field assessments (games) as an assistant referee	Grade 5 or higher
Grade 5 to 4	Professional 3rd division or higher	Pass three (3) field assessments (games) as referee Pass two (2) field assessments (games) as an assistant referee (2 of the assessments as referee and 1 as assistant referee must be on a professional game.) (One assessment to be done by U.S. Soccer approved National Assessor.)	Grade 3 or higher
Grade 4 to 3	Professional 1st division or higher	based on previous year’s assignments (see USSF Administrative Handbook and NDA for more details )	Grade 3 or higher

d) Only one assessment can be done per day.

e) If you fail two assessments, you will need to make-up an extra assessment at that level and position to compensate for the failure.

f) While everyone is encouraged to solicit developmental feedback from any/all assessors; Referees are NOT to solicit assessors for upgrade assessments, as they will be assigned by the SDA or his designee.

g) *When being formally assessed (for upgrade or annual grade maintenance), you will be responsible for paying the assessor your game fee. Developmental assessments are free unless otherwise agreed upon before the game.

h) If you would like to be formally assessed for upgrade or annual grade maintenance out-of-state, permission from the SDA is required BEFORE the assessment in order for it to be counted.

i) Qualifications for upgrading are reviewed by the DRA and SRA. No assessments dated prior to such request can be considered for upgrade.

j) DO NOT LEAVE ANY ASSESSMENT FEEDBACK SESSION WITHOUT KNOWING WHETHER YOU HAVE PASSED OR NOT. ASK.

4) NOT QUALIFIED

a) If you are not qualified for some reason, you will be sent a reply with reasons and steps that you can take to correct the deficiencies;

5) PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST

a) A physical fitness test is offered annually in conjunction with the advanced referee clinic (details posted on www.kyreferee.com). However, after you have completed your assessments if you are interested in completing your upgrade mid-year, special arrangements will need to be made to test your physical fitness. If this is the case, you will need to:

i) Contact the State Director of Instruction (SDI – sdi@kyreferee.com) to schedule a physical fitness test.

ii) The SDI will appoint a qualified instructor in your area to meet you at a local high school track.

iii) Please refer to the USSF Administrative Handbook for more details about the test.

6) WRITTEN EXAM

a) The written exam is offered annually in conjunction with the advanced referee clinic (details posted on www.kyreferee.com). However, after you have completed your assessments and physical fitness test, you will need to take and pass a written exam. The exams are based on your future referee grade level.

b) If you are interested in completing your upgrade mid-year, special arrangements will need to be made to test your analytical referee knowledge. If this is the case, you will need to:

i) Contact the State Director of Instruction (SDI – sdi@kyreferee.com) to schedule a written exam.

ii) The SDI will appoint a qualified instructor in your area to meet you at a local public place (library, church, etc.).

iii) More details regarding what the minimum passing grades are can be found within the USSF Administrative Handbook.

7) FINAL APPROVAL

a) The results of all three steps (Game Assessments, Physical Fitness Test, and Written Exam) are sent to the SRA for his review and approval.

8) NOTIFICATION

a) The DRA and referee are notified of the results (success or failure of upgrade) by the SRA on behalf of the State Referee Committee.

If you are seeking a maintenance assessment in USSF District II you must use the following guidelines. Central Kentucky is in District II. All grade 7's, 6's and 5's are required to get an annual maintenance assessment.

1. Go to the Referee Administrative Handbook, to find out the level of match needed for your maintenance assessment.

2. Contact the assignor and get a game at the appropriate level.

3. Contact District Director of Assessments (DDA) or State Director of Assessments (SDA) if DDA is not available in your area. In District II the contact is:
Andre Johannes
State Director of Assessments
1148 Chetford Drive
Lexington, KY 40509
H: 859-264-1172
W: 502-564-3280
And give him the date, location and time of the match. This game needs to be at least two weeks away.

4. The DDA or SAD will arrange for an assessor to assess the game.

5. The referee is responsible to pay the game fee to the assessor and make appropriate compensation to the assessor if the assessor is from a different area.

1. Go to the Referee Administrative Handbook, to find out the level of match needed for your maintenance assessment.

2. Contact the assignor and get a game at the appropriate level.

4. The DDA or SAD will arrange for an assessor to assess the game.

5. The referee is responsible to pay the game fee to the assessor and make appropriate compensation to the assessor if the assessor is from a different area.