Referee Options

There are two ways to become a referee:
            -In-town Intramural Program Referee
            -Travel Program Referee

In-Town Intramural Program Referee

Anyone registered to play in a NRYS program U12 and above who would like to learn to ref and earn a paycheck can sign up for training. Classroom training occurs late winter and will review the laws of the game and instructions on game management.  To help build confidence in the new referees on-field instruction and mentoring will be provided during the spring season.  Referees will be assigned in-town intramural games exclusively.  This is a perfect opportunity to gain experience for the next step in referee more competitive games.  Contact [email protected] for more information.  Below are 4 links for more information for in town referees:  

NRYS Advice to Referees

NRYS Laws of the Game Grade 1

NRYS Laws of the Game Grade 2

NRYS Laws of the Game Grade 3   

Travel Program Referee

Mass State Referee Committee provides instruction to teach our middle and high school aged players (14 years of age or older) to become certified USSF referees.

All of the state referee courses are listed on the Massachusetts State Referee Committee website. The updated list of course times and locations can be found HERE.  

To register for one of these courses, complete the on-line registration process at www.massref.net.

Grade 8 Course

This course prepares you for officiating competitive travel games. After successfully completing this course, you will be certified to referee any travel game including Essex County games (North Reading Youth Soccer's league).

Students are required to complete an online self-study in advance of this course, pass an online written test  and attend eight hours of classroom instruction
to become certified.

Grade 8 Qualifications:

To become a grade 8 referee, participants must be at least 14 years of age on the day of the course. No previous referee experience is needed.

Should you have any questions about these courses, feel free to email Fred Corey, our USSF Area Referee Administrator and a member of the Massachusetts State Referee Committee. His email is [email protected].

If you have ever considered giving back to the game of soccer, becoming an adult referee is an excellent way to do it!

As with all sports, ECYSA and by extension NRYS has seen a major drop in the number of adult referees for our travel games in the years following the Covid-19 pandemic.  On any given weekend, numerous games are left without a qualified referee to make the game fun, safe, and fair.

To help encourage more referees, NRYS will reimburse all required fees to become a badged/credentialed referee.

Not only is this an excellent way to give back to the game, referees are paid between $35-70 per game (depending on game grade level). While picking up just a single game per weekend will help, there is also a bonus of $250 if you work 24 or more assignments per season.

Please see https://www.ecysa.org/ECYSA/how-to-become-a-referee for details on how to sign up for referee training.

For reimbursements, and if you have any questions, please reach out to us at [email protected].