Minnesota State Referee Committee

2013 MNSRC Certification Program

The MNSRC site is a tiered approach to training. You cannot advance to the next task until you have completed the one required before it. For example, it will not be possible to take your test until you have paid your 2013 registration fees. You will not be able to sign up for a class until registration fees are paid, your test is completed and passed, and any online training required for your grade is complete. Please do not request exceptions; the site is set up to prevent departures from this protocol. You must finish your certification tasks in order if you wish to be registered and certified for 2013.

If you have questions during the certification process, you may contact your Club Representative. You can designate a Club Representative from the Manage Account, Account Information page. Club representatives have access only to your email address, USSF grade, and your progress through the certification process; they may not change any information in your account, nor do they get any phone number, home address, or age-related information. Choosing a club representative is optional; it allows you to give your local soccer referee administrator limited access to your account, but is not required to complete the registration process.

Please select your grade to jump to your requirements for the coming year:

New referees | Returning Grade 9 Referees | Recertifying Grade 8 Referees

Grade 8 Upgrade to Grade 7 | Grade 7 Referees | Grade 7 Upgrade to Grade 6

Grade 6, 5, & Emeritus Referees | Grade 4 & 3 Referees

New Referees

New referees must start the registration process by paying their 2013 registration fees. These fees include the $40 USSF registration fee and the $20 Minnesota State Administration fee. Once these are paid, the new referee may move on to the next task.

New referees must choose one of two tracks to pursue for their 2013 certification. The Grade 9 track will result in you receiving the blue Grade 9 Recreational Referee badge. You would be certified to work recreational-level matches as a center referee up to U14, and may work as an AR on any match up to U14. The Grade 8 track results in you receiving the black Grade 8 Referee badge. Grade 8 referees are certified to work any youth match. They may be assigned to higher-level matches depending on performance and progress.

The Grade 9 clinic is designed for brand new referees. The online time requirements are similar, but the classroom element is shorter, four and a half (4.5) hours of classroom hours. The Grade 8 course is eight (8) hours of classroom. The Grade 8 covers the Laws of the Game and other aspects of officiating in far greater depth, hence the greater time commitment, but also results in the referee being better qualified and having more game options available to him or her.

If you choose a track and then change your mind, you must contact the State Director of Instruction in order to change tracks. If you are unsure of which track you wish to choose, we recommend you consult with your club representative to make sure the track you choose is for the course being offered in your area.

Once your track is chosen, you will be presented with the online training. The Grade 9 online training is approximately three hours in length with quizzes built into the material. The Grade 8 online training is approximately seven hours in length with quizzes built into the material. This online material must be completed prior to being able to proceed to classroom signup. Once you have completed the online training, your Referee menu will provide you with an option to sign up for your course. Courses will be added through the winter and spring, and odds are your club representative will let you know when his or her courses have been posted.

New Referee Certification Requirements:

Set up a new account on www.minnesotasrc.com.
Pay the required registration fees.
Select the Grade 9 or Grade 8 track.
Complete the online training for your track.
Sign up for and attend your classroom session (Grade 9: 4.5 hours classroom . Grade 8: 8 hours classroom.)
If 18 years of age or older, complete the MYSA background check.
If working MYSA matches this year, complete their concussion training requirements.

Grade 9 Referees

Grade 9 referees start the registration process by paying their 2013 registration fees. These fees include the $40 USSF registration fee and the $20 Minnesota State Administration fee. Once these are paid, the Grade 9 referee may move on to the next task.

Grade 9 referees must choose one of two tracks to pursue for their 2013 certification. They may re-certify as Grade 9 referees, but to do they will have to repeat the Grade 9 course in its entirety. Grade 8 referees are certified to work any youth match. They may be assigned to higher-level matches depending on performance and progress.

The Grade 9 classroom element is shorter: four and a half (4.5) hours of classroom. Requirements for the Grade 8 course can be viewed under the New Referees section. The Grade 8 covers the Laws of the Game and other aspects of officiating in far greater depth (as it is normally presented to referees with no prior experience), hence the greater time commitment, but also results in the referee being better qualified.

Grade 9 Recertification Requirements:

Sign into your account on www.minnesotasrc.com.
Pay the required registration fees.
Select the Grade 9 or Grade 8 track.
Complete the online training for your track.
Sign up for and attend your classroom session (Grade 9: 4.5 hours classroom. Grade 8: 8 hours classroom.)
If 18 years of age or older, complete the MYSA background check.
If working MYSA matches this year, complete their concussion training requirements.

Recertifying Grade 8 Referees

Grade 8 referees start the registration process by paying their 2013 registration fees. These fees include the $40 USSF registration fee and the $20 Minnesota State Administration fee. Once these are paid, the Grade 8 referee may move on to the next task.

Grade 8 referees must take and pass their USSF recertification test prior to advancing to the online material. The online recertification test is 100 questions; passing score is 75. You have 90 minutes to complete the test. A score of less than 85 results in a passing score but places the test in "review" status. If you score 75-84, you will need to watch a brief video review of every question you miss in order to understand why you missed the question. Once you have reviewed every question you have missed, you will receive passing credit for the test. If you score 85 or better on the test, you avoid the review.

Upon completing the USSF test, you will gain access to the Online Material. Returning Grade 8 referees must start by completing 2 hours of required online topics.

Upon completion of those topics, you will be able to see all of the elective topics. You may use these elective topics to complete the total five (5) hours of CE requirements (your 2 hours of required topics count towards this total) for your grade. Alternatively, you can attend one of the three-hour classroom sessions (held around the Twin Cities, Duluth, Mankato, and Rochester throughout the spring) or two-hour Advanced Mentoring sessions (to be held in St. Paul through the spring) to complete the total five hours. Please note, you must simply complete five hours.Whether you choose to do this exlcusively online or combining online and classroom sessions is up to you.

Upon completion of the required topics, you will have to complete the MNSRC recertification test. This is a very simple 20-question test reviewing the most important points from the required topics. You must score 100%, but many of the questions likely can be answered by using simple common sense. Passing this test is the SRC's means of certifying that you have heard and understood the requirements for the coming year.

Upon completion of your CE requirements and passing both tests, your 2013 badge and Law Book will be mailed to you by the SRC. Turnaround from completion of work to receiving your badge could be as long as 6-8 weeks, though should hopefully be far less. However, if you need your badge by the end of April, we strongly recommend you complete your recertification requirements by March 15 at the latest. We will try to get badges out quickly once April hits, but we cannot guarantee a quick turnaround time.

The deadline for completion of all requirements for 2013 certification is June 30, 2013.

Grade 8 Recertification Requirements:

Sign into your account on www.minnesotasrc.com.
Pay the required registration fees.
Complete your 2013 USSF recertification test with a minimum score of 75%.
Complete the 2 hours of required online topics.
Pass the 2013 MNSRC recertification test with a score of 100%.
Complete a minmum of 3 additional hours of CE.
If 18 years of age or older, complete the MYSA background check.
If working MYSA matches this year, complete their concussion training requirements.

Grade 8 Upgrading to Grade 7

If eligible for upgrade to Grade 7, you must submit your game log to the State Referee Administrator (please use the "Contact Us" page to reach her) and state your intention to pursue upgrade. The SRA will then tag your file for upgrade, at which point in addition to paying your 2013 registration fees of $40 USSF and $20 for State Administration, you will need to pay a $50 Upgrade fee. Once you have paid your referee registration fees, you will be able to move on to the next task.

Upgrading Grade 8 referees must take and pass their recertification test prior to advancing to the online material. The online recertification test is 100 questions; passing score is 85. You have 90 minutes to complete the test. A score of less than 85 results in a passing score to recertify for Grade 8, but will fail for upgrading. You may retake the test, however.

Upon completing the USSF test, you will gain access to the Online Material. Upgrading Grade 8 referees must start by completing 2.5 hours of required online topics.

Upon completion of those topics, you will be able to see all of the elective topics. You may use these elective topics to complete up to five (5) hours of online towards your total requirement of ten (10) CE hours. Your 2.5 hours of required online topics count towards this total. You will have to attend a minimum of five (5) hours of classroom CE utilizing the three-hour classroom sessions (held around the Twin Cities, Duluth, Mankato, and Rochester throughout the spring) and/or two-hour Advanced Mentoring sessions (to be held in St. Paul through the spring) to complete the total five hours. Please note, your total CE requirement is 10 hours, and no more than five of this may be online work.

Upon completion of your CE requirements and passing both tests, your 2013 badge and Law Book will be mailed to you by the SRC. Turnaround from completion of work to receiving your badge could be 6-8 weeks, though should hopefully be far less. However, if you need your badge by the end of April, we strongly recommend you complete your recertification requirements by March 15 at the latest. We will try to get badges out quickly once April hits, but we cannot guarantee a quick turnaround time.

You will have to attend and pass a Physical Fitness Test. The SRC will host a minimum of six tests in late May. If you cannot attend these sessions, you will have to pay a $30 fee online to schedule an independently scheduled fitness test.

You will be scheduled for an Upgrade Assessment over the spring/summer of 2013, and you must pass this to complete the upgrade.

The deadline for completion of all requirements for 2013 certification is June 30, 2013.

Upgrade to Grade 7 Certification Requirements:

Sign into your account on www.minnesotasrc.com. Contact the SRA to announce your intent to pursue upgrade.
Pay the required registration fees, including the Upgrade fee.
Complete your 2013 recertification test with a minimum score of 85%.
Complete the online training requirement (minimum 2.5 hours, up to 5 hours).
Sign up for and attend classroom sessions (minimum of 5 hours, total CE including both online and classroom must equal 10 hours).
Complete the Physical Test.
Pass an Upgrade Assessment.
If 18 years of age or older, complete the MYSA background check.
If working MYSA matches this year, complete their concussion training requirements.

Grade 7 Referees

Grade 7 referees start the registration process by paying their 2013 registration fees. These fees include the $45 USSF registration fee and the $20 Minnesota State Administration fee. Once these are paid, the Grade 7 referee may move on to the next task.

Grade 7 referees must take and pass their recertification test prior to advancing to the classroom signup menu. The online recertification test is 100 questions; passing score is 85. You have 90 minutes to complete the test. A score of less than 95 results in a passing score but places the test in "review" status. If you score 85-94, you will need to watch a brief video review of every question you miss in order to understand why you missed the question. Once you have reviewed every question you have missed, you will receive passing credit for the test. If you score 95 or better on the test, you avoid the review.

Upon completing the USSF test, you will gain access to the Online Material. Returning Grade 7 referees must start by completing 2 hours of required online topics.

Upon completion of those topics, you will be able to see all of the elective topics. Additional online topic work is optional for returning Grade 7 officials.

You will have to attend a minimum of three (3) hours of classroom CE utilizing the three-hour classroom sessions (held around the Twin Cities, Duluth, Mankato, and Rochester throughout the spring) and/or two-hour Advanced Mentoring sessions (to be held in St. Paul through the spring) to complete the total five hours.

Upon completion of your CE requirements and passing both tests, your 2013 badge and Law Book will be mailed to you by the SRC. Turnaround from completion of work to receiving your badge could be 6-8 weeks, though should hopefully be far less. However, if you need your badge by the end of April, we strongly recommend you complete your recertification requirements by March 15 at the latest. We will try to get badges out quickly once April hits, but we cannot guarantee a quick turnaround time.

The deadline for completion of all requirements for 2013 certification is June 30, 2013.

Grade 7 Recertification Requirements:

Sign into your account on www.minnesotasrc.com.
Pay the required registration fees.
Complete your 2013 recertification test.
Complete the 2 required hours of online training.
Sign up for and attend a minimum of 3 hours of classroom work.
Complete the Physical Test.
If 18 years of age or older, complete the MYSA background check.
If working MYSA matches this year, complete their concussion training requirements.

Grade 7 Upgrading to Grade 6

If eligible for upgrade to Grade 6, you must submit your game log to the State Referee Administrator (please use the "Contact Us" page to reach her) and state your intention to pursue upgrade. The SRA will then tag your file for upgrade, at which point in addition to paying your 2013 registration fees, you will need to pay a $100 Upgrade fee. Once you have paid your referee registration fees, you will be able to move on to the next task.

Upgrading Grade 7 referees must take and pass their recertification test prior to advancing to the online material. The online state test is 100 questions; passing score is 75. You have 90 minutes to complete the test. A score of less than 75 results in a "Fail" grade. You may retake the test, however.

Upon completing the USSF test, you will gain access to the Online Material. Upgrading Grade 7 referees must start by completing 2.5 hours of required online topics.

Upon completion of those topics, you will be able to see all of the elective topics. You may use these elective topics to complete up to ten (10) hours of online towards your total requirement of nineteen (19) CE hours. Your 2.5 hours of required online topics count towards this total. You will have to attend a minimum of nine (9) hours of classroom CE utilizing the three-hour classroom sessions (held around the Twin Cities, Duluth, Mankato, and Rochester throughout the spring), the two-hour Advanced Mentoring sessions (to be held in St. Paul through the spring), or US Soccer Regional Training Seminars held around the United States to complete the total nineteen hours. Please note, your total CE requirement is 19 hours, and no more than ten of this may be online work.

Upon completion of your CE requirements and passing both tests, your 2013 badge and Law Book will be mailed to you by the SRC. Turnaround from completion of work to receiving your badge could be 6-8 weeks, though should hopefully be far less. However, if you need your badge by the end of April, we strongly recommend you complete your recertification requirements by March 15 at the latest. We will try to get badges out quickly once April hits, but we cannot guarantee a quick turnaround time.

You will be first scheduled for a Referee Mentor assignment where you will be evaluated by a USSF Assessor and advised whether you are prepared to upgrade to State Referee. From this you will proceed to be assessed in two Referee Upgrade Assessments and one Assistant Referee Upgrade Assessment over the spring/summer of 2013, and you must pass these to complete the upgrade.

The deadline for completion of all requirements for 2013 certification is June 30, 2013.

Upgrade to Grade 6 Certification Requirements:

Sign into your account on www.minnesotasrc.com. Contact the SRA to announce your intent to pursue upgrade.
Pay the required registration fees, including the Upgrade fee.
Complete your 2013 state test with a minimum score of 75%.
Complete the online training requirement (2.5 hours required, maximum of 10 hours).
Sign up for and attend your classroom sessions (minimum of 9 hours, total CE including both online and classroom must equal 19 hours).
Complete the Physical Test.
Pass a Mentor Evaluation, two Referee Upgrade Assessments and one Assistant Referee Upgrade Assessment.
If 18 years of age or older, complete the MYSA background check.
If working MYSA matches this year, complete their concussion training requirements.

Grade 6 & Grade 5 State Referees & Emeritus Referees

State referees start the registration process by paying their 2013 registration fees. These fees include the $75 USSF registration fee and the $20 Minnesota State Administration fee. Once these are paid, the state referee may move on to the next task.

State referees must take and pass their state test prior to advancing to the online material. The online recertification test is 100 questions; passing score is 75 for Grade 6/16, 85 for Grade 5/15. You have 90 minutes to complete the test.

Upon completing the USSF test, you will gain access to the Online Material. Returning State and Emeritus referees must start by completing 2 hours of required online topics.

Upon completion of those topics, you will be able to see all of the elective topics. Additional online topic work is optional for returning State and Emeritus officials.

Upon completion of your CE requirements and passing both tests, your 2013 badge and Law Book will be mailed to you by the SRC. Turnaround from completion of work to receiving your badge could be 6-8 weeks, though should hopefully be far less. However, if you need your badge by the end of April, we strongly recommend you complete your recertification requirements by March 15 at the latest. We will try to get badges out quickly once April hits, but we cannot guarantee a quick turnaround time.

The deadline for completion of all requirements for 2013 certification is June 30, 2013.

Grade 5/6/Emeritus Recertification Requirements:

Sign into your account on www.minnesotasrc.com.
Pay the required registration fees.
Complete your 2013 recertification test.
Complete the 2 required hours of online training.
Sign up for and attend a minimum of 3 hours of classroom work.
Complete the Physical Test.
If 18 years of age or older, complete the MYSA background check.
If working MYSA matches this year, complete their concussion training requirements.

Grade 4 and Grade 3 National Referees

Certification requirements for National Referees are set by the national office in Chicago. You will need to contact the State Referee Administrator to coordinate your requirements for the coming year, if you have not done so already.