Training Sessions
Youth Referees Only:
All youth referees (minor referees working games) are encouraged to attend as many of the sessions below as possible/practical. These sessions are geared towards our youth and build their self-efficacy to work through the challenges of being a youth referee in an adult world. Even if the youth referee can only attend a short time, we encourage signing up. All youth sessions have 1-3 main topics that are presented in lecture style followed by 4-5 (sometimes more) video clips to be reviewed, analyzed, and discussed.
August 11th: Take Charge of Your Game & Dealing with Coaches, Fans, and Parents
Is a hard foul in the 2nd minute different than a hard foul in the 70th? What do you do when a player crosses the line? Does the referee and/or the referee crew have the authority to eject a fan? What to do and what not to do, and when is enough enough. Referee within your personality. Do not allow yourself or the crew to be disrespected.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
August 14th: Are You Ready to Center- Knowing the Rules Differences
Is it time to “step-up?” Factors to consider when stepping in the role as a center referee. There are many different rules with younger youth games you must know them. To carry a whistle, you must develop self-efficacy (different from self-esteem). Your best can be “good enough.” Let’s work on what your “good enough” may be. Small-sided games have “build-out lines” and some have a “no heading rules.” You need to know them and more importantly where to find them and refer to them for each game.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
August 26th: Positioning & Mechanics Make the Difference
Are you using the correct mechanics? Does everyone know what you called? Do players know immediately if they are attacking or defending? What are the top 3-4 things that coaches want to see in youth referees? The results may surprise you. Close to play, but out of the way. Are you getting hit by the ball often in a match? Are you also still running the field as a player or are you running as a referee? There is a difference. There are also “passing lanes” on the field that referees must avoid and these will change as coaches make tactical decisions and substitutions during the match.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
September 2nd: Take Time to Get it Right- Wait & See
The “wait and see” approach gives onside players an opportunity to continue the attack. Never be in a hurry to make a wrong decision. See a foul… whistle for the foul? Oh wait… there is an “advantage.” Maybe?
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
September 7th: Building Resiliency- Getting in the Proper Mindset
Anticipate the play. Don’t anticipate the call. Stay focused on what you can control and what you can manage. Without referees, it is just practice. Not a game. Let’s build your “tool-kit” to contain more and better decision making skills.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
Parents of Youth Referees Only:
This session is geared towards parents of our youth referees in supporting their child in the emotional aspects of officiating games.
July 31st: Supporting Your Youth Referee
Questions to ask and signs to look for after your youth has officiated a game(s). And supporting and understanding the mental and emotional aspects of officiating. Assisting your son or daughter with setting up their Arbiter and keeping their availability up-to-date.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
All Referees:
These sessions are open to all referees and crosses the spectrum of lower-level youth rec games to the travel leagues, scholastic league and the adult leagues. Topics presented are games situations that can apply to any game(s).
August 7th: Re-Certification Requirements for 2026
Re-certification for those referees with a USSF 2025 certification (black badge) opens for 2026 on July 1st. Re-certify early and get it done. This is an open session to answer any re-cert questions and/or concerns that a referee may have.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
August 21st: Understanding Player Intensity Helps Game Control
Can you see your game from outside your eyes? Is the temperature of the game increasing? Game control starts with the official’s acceptance of the game(s). These days there is so much information online, but that information shouldn’t directly affect your decisions in the game. Your decisions must be based on what happened in the game at hand. As officials, we must understand the assumptions and expectations of the players and coaches about what the game “may” be like. It is your job to anticipate the intensity level of any game you accept. Join us to participate in a discussion on the various level of game intensity.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
August 25th: Takeaways from Every Game You Work
Work a game, learn, adjust. Every game you work has “takeaways.” There are tried methods that have been in use by many over the years on “how to learn from your mistakes” like note taking immediately afterwards while the game is fresh and conferring with a mentor or referee coach the day after. These and several techniques can greatly assist you in becoming the best you can be. How can you find a mentor within CVSRA/US Soccer?
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
August 31st: Mass Confrontation- Dealing with Fans/Parents
Player emotions can run high. What do you do when a fight breaks out… or worst yet multiple fights and the benches storm the field? There are methods for preventing this from occurring. And… does the referee and/or the referee crew have the authority to eject a fan?
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
September 3rd: Refereeing Outside the Lines - Common Errors That Many Referees Make
Is your Arbiter set up correctly to maximize your assignments? Do you find yourself declining games? Have you ever received an email that you have been “unassigned” from a match and you are not sure why? Are you getting the number of games you desire? Do you find Arbiter hard to use and you get frustrated and/or upset? Are you wanting to unlock the secret to earning at least $400 a month? This may be the Zoom session for you.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
September 22nd: Game Critical Calls - Asking for Assistance and Team Work
Clubs, teams, and schools are paying for 3 officials – thus all 3 must be actively involved in making calls. We have to make every effort to get the call correct. And as the AR (assistant referee), you need to know the difference between assisting and insisting and when to employ each of these terms.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
December 10th: Re-Certification Requirements for 2026
All referees with a USSF 2025 certification (black badge) must re-certify for 2026 to be eligible to work starting next in January. This is an open session to answer any re-cert questions and/or concerns that a referee may have.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
Adult League (3rd Monday of each month):
You must be 18 years or older to officiate this league. Officiating adult players is vastly different than working the youth or scholastic leagues. These differences are reviewed, and much feedback is gone over from the players/captains of these leagues.
August 18th: Adult League Pre-Season Meeting
This training session will focus on the pre-game and post-game responsibilities. The adult league has very specific pre-game and post-game items that must be accomplished in a timely manner.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
September 15th: Adult League & Upper Level Youth Games- Communication Keys for Referees
Effective communication is not just an advantage for officials. It’s a necessity. Topics include, but are not limited to:
Listening is the first step
How to use natural stoppages to communicate with players
Enlisting the captain’s or other team leaders for help.
Additionally, there will be a review of the top incidents from the first month of the fall adult league season.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
October 20th: Adult League & Upper Level Youth Games- Body Language & Tone in Communication
There are 3 main units of communication, and only 7% are “words.” Body language (55%) and tone of voice (38%) are the rest. How are you communicating? Do you present a calm and a natural relaxed image when officiating? While words are only 7%, the wrong words can destroy your message no matter how well intended. Additionally, there will be a review of the top incidents from the second month of the fall adult league season.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
Scholastic Referees:
Our scholastic games are games occur on school grounds and have a separate certification. These games are an extension of the classroom, and as such have different protocols than the USSF games.
August 6th: Fall Pre-Season Meeting
The Fall Scholastic Season starts with our annual pre-season meeting to review the various school leagues that we service and to go over the rule’s differences between USSF and Scholastic Rules.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
August 10th: Dual System of Control
Scholastic games allow for a Dual (2-person) system to be utilized and all middle school and most Division 3 private schools are covered with this system.
Pre-registration is required. To register, follow the link.
Pre-Tournament Training (Staff Only):
These Zooms are for the CVSRA Staff only as it reviews the specific tournament rules and procedures and records the session so that it can be downloaded and posted to the web site for all tournament referees to review prior to their tournament games.
October 9th: River City Cup/WAGS
November 6th: Capital Fall Classic