Referee Resources - Clinics

You must complete a 16-hour clinic held by a USSF Instructor before you can become a Grade 8 referee.  To find a clinic near you, check out Jim Gordon's Soccer Referee Links page.  This page has a listing of just about every local and state referee organization in the US.  If there isn't a listing for your local association, try for a page for a state association.  There will probably be a contact you can call or e-mail who can put you in touch with someone close to you.  If you're in the New Orleans, LA, area, e-mail me and I'll let you know about local clinics.

The scheduling of clinics will vary from locale to locale.  My Grade 8 clinic was held over three weekends--four hours on Sunday, three the next night on Monday, off the next weekend (Labor Day), the same Sunday-Monday schedule again, then we took the exam on the following Sunday.  It was nice to have the off weekend in-between the classes because it was an active soccer weekend.  I watched as much MLS, World Cup, A-League, and FA Premiership as I could find on the tube.  My understanding of the discussions was enhanced greatly by outside study.

The Grade 8 Clinic is your first best place to ask questions and reconcile things you've read with the things you've seen.  Bring pen and paper to take notes.   Keep in mind that the clinic is preparing you for two things:  First, for the 100-question exam at the end of the sessions.  You've got to make a 75 or better on that test to pass.  Second, this may be all the training you get before you go out onto the pitch as a Center Referee (CR), so you better pay attention!

While you're attending your clinic and studying for the certification test, you'll probably want to take a look at some Books that will help you to better understand the game.