NOTE - JUNE 1, 2020: This licensing course will close midnight June 24th and if you have not completed your coursework at that time, you will not be certified for the 2020 badge year.
For any current grade 7, grade 8 or grade 9 referee, the 2020 grassroots re-certification course with additional requirements is now available - all online.
U.S. Soccer has transitioned to a new Learning Center/Registration Database for grassroots referees. All your license information that resided in the old database has been migrated to the U.S. Soccer Learning Center. In addition, the STSR will no longer be using our web site member sign-in for registration and re-certification of grassroots referees.
You must create a Profile in order to access your information, enroll for grassroots related courses and register starting now with U.S. Soccer for 2020.
To create your Profile, complete the following steps:
Sign up instructions are also provided at Learning Center Sign Up.
NOTE: If you are unsuccessful, e.g., you do not see all your current licenses listed in your Profile, then send an e-Mail to referee@ussoccer.org.
GRASSROOTS RE-CERTIFICATION
This grassroots re-certification course is hosted on the U.S. Soccer Learning Center.
Once you have officially signed up with U.S. Soccer, you can "LOG IN" again, click on "COURSES" in the upper left and under "AVAILABLE COURSES" click on Re-certification. Then set the "HOST" filter to South Texas Referee Committee and the "LOCATION" filter to All States to obtain the necessary results or you can find the re-certification course by clicking here. Please note the additional requirements in the course details.
BACKGROUND SCREENING
IMPORTANT: US Soccer now requires ALL referees 18+ years of age to complete an NCSI Background Check in order to be able to register for 2020. Background Checks must be performed by the National Center for Safety Initiatives, LLC (NCSI). The cost is $30. You pay online with a credit card. You will not be able to register for any course in the Learning Center (including re-certification modules) until you have completed and passed the NCSI Background Check.
To initiate the background screening process, follow these steps:
As a reminder, the law changes for 2019-2020 are extensive so you are strongly encouraged to please read the 2019-2020 law changes, watch the recorded IFAB 2019-2020 law change presentation webinar and download the IFAB app to your phone or mobile device.
GRASSROOTS INSTRUCTORS: Follow the above process to create your profile and perform your background check (if you have not already done so for your referee re-certification) and register for the 2020 Grassroots Instructor Licensing Course (South Texas) here.
GRASSROOTS ASSIGNORS: Follow the above process to create your profile and perform your background check (if you have not already done so for your referee re-certification) and register for the 2020 Grassroots Assignor Licensing Course (South Texas) here.
Licensing for 2025 licensing courses will stay within the U.S. Soccer Learning Center. To renew your certification for 2025, you will need to register and successfully complete your respective 2025 licensing courses utilizing the U.S. Soccer Learning Center.
As 2025 licensing courses open for registration during this badge year, information/course links will be posted below in this article and an email will be sent from the State Administrator providing the same information.
Referees - though your registration for 2024 is in effect until December 31, 2024, we strongly encourage you to review the changes to the laws of the game for 2025 that went into effect on July 1, 2024. You can find that information in another news post by clicking here.
Items of note:
1) Background Check - if you turn 18 over the period that is still covered by your 2024 registration, you will need to pay for and obtain a background screen – U.S. Soccer will send you notice of this requirement and if not completed in the required time, your registration will be suspended until this is approved. After logging in, go to Profile or Dashboard (scroll over your name in upper right corner) and see any notifications. If you need a background Check, there will be a link for the process.
2) SafeSport training - if you turn 18 over the period that is still covered by your 2024 registration, you will need to complete the SafeSport training – U.S. Soccer will send you notice of this requirement and if not completed in the required time, your registration will be suspended until this is successfully completed. After logging in, go to Profile or Dashboard (scroll over your name in upper right corner) and see any notifications. If you need SafeSport training, there will be a link to the module.
3) SafeSport training refresher- if your SafeSport training expires during the period that is covered by your 2024 registration, you will need to complete the SafeSport Refresher Course – U.S. Soccer will send you notice of this requirement and if not completed in the required time, your registration will be suspended until this is successfully completed. After logging in, go to Profile or Dashboard (scroll over your name in upper right corner) and see any notifications. If you need SafeSport training, there will be a link to the module.
For more information on background check and SafeSport training, click here.
For questions in regards to the U.S. Soccer NCSI background check requirements and process, you can click here for the FAQ page.
COURSES NOW AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. SOCCER LEARNING CENTER
If you have any questions or concerns, please email the State Administrator
Unlike other elements of your certification, your SafeSport certification must be renewed each year on the anniversary date of your original course completion and your background check must be renewed every two years on the anniversary date of its approval so if your SafeSport training or background check expires during the period that covers your current registration, you will need to complete the SafeSport Refresher Course and/or renew your background check.
U.S. Soccer will send you notices of this requirement and if not completed in the required time, your registration will be suspended until this is successfully completed. When receiving this notification prior to the anniversary date, you can locate this course, follow these steps. After logging in to the U.S. Soccer Learning Center, go to COURSES > AVAILABLE COURSES > SUPPLEMENTALCOURSES > SafeSport (in the left-hand column) which will link you to the correct training course.
The U.S. Soccer Learning Center has also created an updated that once you log in, if you see this pink bar with information, click on the red "VISIT PROFILE" button and it will show you needed requirements prior to your respective anniversary date.
If you do not complete the training and/pr have your background check approved prior to your anniversary date, you will need to log into your profile in the U.S. Soccer Learning Center. Once logged in to your account, scroll over your name on the upper left and the following dropdown will appear. You will need to click on "PROFILE".
On your profile page, you will see this image along side your profile information. By clicking on the “TAKE SAFESPORT” link and/or the "TAKE BACKGROUND CHECK" link, you will be linked to the correct training course or the NCSI background check site.
FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING OR OBTAIN THE BACKGROUND CHECK IN THE REQUIRED TIMELINE WILL TEMPORARILY SUSPEND YOUR LICENSE AND ALL ASSIGNORS WILL BE NOTIFIED THAT YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCEPT ASSIGNMENTS.
For questions in regards to the U.S. Soccer background check requirements and process, you can click here for the FAQ page.
A number of changes to the Laws of the Game for 2023/2024 were approved; the exact wording is in the document available for download below.
Laws of the Game 2024/25 effective as from 1 July
It was agreed that, to give players, coaches and match officials more time to become familiar with the changes to the Laws of the Game, the date on which they become effective will move from 1 June to 1 July. Competitions that start before that date may implement the changes earlier or delay their implementation until no later than the start of the next competition.
Download the Laws of the Game 2024/2025 in English & other languages from IFAB here.
Download the Laws of the Game 2024/2025 Changes and clarifications in English from IFAB here.
View the Laws of the Game 2024/2025 Changes and clarifications presentation in English here.
