If you are interested in being a high school and/or middle school soccer referee, you need to attend a class-room style training session. Contact Fred Corey ,the instructor, to let him know that you want to attend.
The next training will be held in April 2025. by online video conference. There is a fee of $97 for EMSOA dues for the 2025 / 2026 school year for those who join EMSOA, OR a fee of $60 for those who join another Mass. soccer officials association or take the class for information only. Cameras are required to be on during the sessions. This 8-hours of instruction covers the rules of high school soccer from National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). After the instruction, there will be a 100 question online test which you can do any time during the two weeks after the instructions.
Before the training session, fill out a membership application form and return it to emsoa@emsoa.org or mail it to EMSOA, 100 Powdermill Rd #240, Acton, MA 01720-5932. The clinic fee of $95.00 (or $60.00) can be paid by mailing a check or money order or online using a credit/debit card or PayPal or bank e-transfer. Online payment is made by clicking the gray box below. Full payment or a deposit must arrive before the date of the training class. If you pay online with credit/debit card or PayPal, there is a convenience charge of $3.95 added to the payment. If you pay by electronic transfer of funds from you checking account, there is a convenience charge of $1.00.
Requirements: Be 18 years old as of the start of the Fall soccer season, have an interest in serving the student athletes and be able to pass a background check. Prior experience in playing, coaching or refereeing soccer at any level is useful but not necessary.
Background Check: The MIAA requires a Background Check for all high school sports officials. Click here for more information. Requests to the MIAA for background checks for the upcoming fall season BEGINS on July 1. DO NOT register before before July 1, 2024.
Games: All games (boys and girls) are played in Sept and Oct. Most games are played at or near a local high schools at 4:00 pm in the afternoon, Monday through Friday. Referees must be able to get to the field not later than 15 minutes before the start of a game. A few games are played in the evening, Monday through Friday, and a very few games are played on Saturday. No games are played on Sunday. Certified referees may request to do from 1 to 6 games per week. In the Fall of 2023, the game fees were $95 per varsity game and $69 per sub-varsity game. Games fees for the Fall 2024 season have not been announced yet.
Training: EMSOA conducts training for new soccer referees under the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) rules. The next regular Entry Level Training courses are listed below. Candidates must communicate with the contact person before the first session to let them know that you are coming. The contact person can tell you about any last minute changes.
Those who hold a current, advanced USSF referee grade only need to attend a training session about the difference between NFHS and USSF rule and about rules which are specific to Massachusetts. In addition, the experienced USSF referee will be required to take the entry level test to demonstrate that he/she knows the rules.
Uniform Policy: Vendors for uniforms can be found on the Links page.
Uniform:
OTHER ASSOCIATIONS: Although EMSOA is the largest NFHS referee association in Massachusetts (500+ members), there are several other Massachusetts NFHS referee associations (with a combined membership of 1000+ members) and many more across the country. You may do your training at any one of the Massachusetts associations and then do games in the area of any other Massachusetts association. The rules are the same and the commitment to excellence is the same. Only the area covered is different.
