Assignor Contact Information:
HSC Club Assignor: Jed Grice
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (724) 333-2668
Highlander Soccer Club Referee Information:
The Highlander Soccer Club will reimburse all referees the cost of certification, re-certification and clearances, if the referee agrees to officiate a minimum of 6 of the 8 weeks the following season following certification. Receipts or invoices for all course certification, re-certification or clearances must be submitted prior to a reimbursement being issued.
Refereeing children is a very rewarding experience. Coaches are pivotal to having children get the youth soccer experience. If youth soccer organizations don't have enough referees, then scheduling multiple games at the same time is difficult. Certified referees are required for all Travel games.
Referee Resources:
International Football Association Board (IFAB)
Referees are essential to the game. They, along with the coach teach children soccer skills and help develop a healthy, positive attitude, teamwork and good sportsmanship. Refereeing is a rewarding experience because you have the opportunity to build a child's self-esteem, help them learn new skills and just have a lot of fun.
Contact anyone from the Highlander Soccer Club if you are ready to become a referee, Email [email protected].
How do I become a referee & registering for a Clinic
PA West Soccer Members,
The State Referee Committee is very pleased to announce the new classes to become a soccer referee are now available! The fee for the course is $65, and the benefit of certifying now is that it is good through the end 2023.
Please spread the word to anyone interested in becoming a referee. Referees can be certified at 13 years of age! Adults are also needed as referees and welcome to get certified. This is a great part-time, weekend job that pays very well regardless of age!!
The information is listed on the PA West Soccer website (www.pawest-soccer.org). In the top navigation bar find “Become A Referee” tab for background information required (https://www.pawest-soccer.org/become-a-referee/) and this tab has a link to information about registration (https://www.pawest-soccer.org/about/referee-registration/).
The link below takes candidates directly to the page where they will need to create an account and begin their journey as a referee. This system will also allow them to upload their required background check information directly into the website.
Go to: https://pawestsoccer.omgtsys.com/MemberRegister.aspx
NEW MEMBER REGISTRATION
1. On the home screen, click on New Member Registration.
2. Complete the Create Member Account page in its entirety.
3. Scroll down the page and fill in a password. NOTE: Your Member (Primary) email will be your User ID. Read the Terms and Conditions. Select Submit Personal Information.
4. Agree to the Member Background Check Notification.
The following will guide you through the 3 – step process required to register for a clinic.
1. Step 1 of 3: Create Registration.
2. Answer the Legal Question and select the appropriate type(s) of registration.
3. Scroll down and select the Registration Type for each. NOTE: If you are upgrading, the appropriate Upgrade box must be checked at this point.
4. Scroll down and select Submit Request.
6. Step 2 of 3: Reserve the Clinic. Find the correct clinic you are registering for. If you wish to search a specific location, you may select that option from the Clinic Location drop down menu. Select the Reserve Clinic button and then Continue to Next Step.
7. Step 3 of 3: Checkout to pay Associated Fees. This step will display your registration and clinic fees due. When the total is confirmed, press the Complete Requests and Pay
Fees NOTE: All items highlighted green must be paid.
8. The final screens to appear in this registration process pertain to the payment options. At the bottom in the Billing Information box, you will be asked to select the type of payment option for paying your registration fee. After choosing the Payment Type, select Click Here to Pay.
9. On the Payment screen – fill in the payment information to proceed with the final charge of your registration process. Your email address should appear above, so that once
payment has been submitted, you will be emailed a receipt for your records. When they complete the online training and background check process, they will register for on-field training session to complete their certification. We are currently working on scheduling additional on-field sessions.
Once a candidate has completed their training and provided the necessary clearance documents, their 2023 badge will be mailed directly to them from the PA West Soccer office.
If you have any questions, please let us know at the email below. Our goal is to make registering and certifying as easy and uncomplicated as possible. With referee numbers extremely low, we look forward to working with you to help increase your referee roster!
Thank you in advance for your help and in this matter, we really appreciate it!
In service to the game,
PA West Soccer State Referee Committee
[email protected]
Referees must take a recertification exam every year. This fall, you will receive information via email informing you to log into the Game Officials site in order to complete your referee recertification. Recertification is an annual process by which you will register for the upcoming year, pay a recertification fee (usually around $50), and complete a recertification test (online) in order to receive your USSF badge and book for the next calendar year.
What Background Clearances do I need?
Before registering for an entry-level referee course, you must obtain your background clearances. The PA Child Protective Services Law (Act 153) changed effective January 1, 2015. The change no longer permits organizations like Western PA Referees to conduct background checks through a third party provider. We understand that minors (14-17) who want to become referees that this may seem counterintuitive; however, the Law specifically requires these clearances. Our associations are lobbying with the State and the Governor for future changes in the Act.
All background checks must be completed using the provider designated by the Commonwealth per the requirements of the law. More details and web links are provided at the end of this document for obtaining these clearances.
Individuals who are paid to oversee children/have direct contact with children must provide all of the following clearances (if over the age of 18):
- PA State Police Criminal Record Check (PATCH)
- PA Child Abuse History Clearance
- FBI Criminal Background Check
- Safe Sport Certificate
Please Note: The exception to the law provides minor children who are referees (14-17 year old) may have their parent/guardian attest via notarized affidavit that the child has not committed any of the disqualifying crimes. However, if you are turning 18 years of age during the year, you will need to submit your FBI Clearance.
How do I obtain my Background Clearances?
PA State Police Criminal Record Check (PATCH)
The PATCH background check costs approximately $8 and requires a credit card for processing. This background check may be completed online at https://epatch.state.pa.us/.
- Select “Submit a New Record Check” and accept the Terms and Conditions
- Select Reason for a Request as “Employment” and complete the steps in the process.
The results for this check are generally returned immediately upon application through the internet. Save a copy of this clearance on your computer and print a copy to be mailed.
PA Child Abuse History Clearance through the PA Department of Human Services
The Child Abuse background check costs approximately $8 and requires a credit card for processing. This background check may be completed online at https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home. If you do not have an individual account, Select “Create Individual Account” then “Next” and create a Keystone ID to create your profile.
The results for this check are generally returned within a few minutes or a few days. If you receive it online, save a copy of this clearance on your computer and print a copy to be mailed. If you receive your clearance via the mail, make a copy to be mailed. Keep your original.
FBI Criminal Background Check
If you are 14-17 years old and not turning 18 this year, you should instead have your parent or guardian complete the Minor Child Qualification Affidavit. This affidavit must be notarized and attests that you have not committed any of the disqualifying crimes per Act 153. If you are 18 or older or will turn 18 this year, you must to obtain a FBI Criminal History Report. Once you reach 18 years of age, you will need to get the FBI Criminal History Report.
The FBI background check costs approximately $22.60 and requires a credit card for processing. This background check may be begun online at http://www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov/resources/clearances/fbifinger/index.htm. This link will take you to the page managed by KidSafe for the state of PA to help individuals attain an FBI clearance. The Department of Human Services link is your preferable option if you just referee USSF. If you referee high school/PIAA as well, please use the Department of Education version (you will need to affiliate with a school). Otherwise, the PIAA will not accept it.
This background check will require you to go to a fingerprinting location in PA.Locate a fingerprint location from the web site, and take the confirmation page with you. The fingerprint scan will generally take 10-15 minutes. The results of this check are generally returned within 4 to 10 weeks after your fingerprints have been taken. When you receive your clearance via the mail, make a copy to be mailed. Keep your original.
Your background certifications under Act 153 are valid for sixty (60) months or five (5) years. Once you have all three clearances (or the two clearances and your notarized minor affidavit), mail those copies WPA SRC New Referee c/o Peggy Neason, 82 Lookout Ave, Monongahela, PA 15063. We cannot accept emails of clearance documents.
All Referees over the age of 18 must be SafeSport trained at SafeSport.com. The Safe Soccer Framework is a comprehensive program of policies and processes, screening, education and training, reporting, monitoring and enforcement designed to help participants detect and report abuse, respond to it and prevent future occurrences. This online video training program takes no more than 90 minutes to complete but can be reviewed in segments if time does not permit completing the course in its entirely at one time.
Directions: (Handout Instructions) Click on the following link: https://safesporttrained.org/ US Soccer from the dropdown; Enter the following Access Code: YC3E-6P5G-YYIL-CS2M; Create your account by completing the required fields; Check your email for a confirmation, login and take the course; Once completed the coach will print a Sex Abuse Prevention Training (SAPT) certificate for his/her records and upload a scan into the SAPT slot next to their clearances in their admin record in the online registration system.
If I have other questions, who can I ask?
You can always email the State Referee Committee at [email protected]. We are here to help you. And, as always, check out the rest of our website for articles and other information.