Instruction
Educate yourself to become a better referee
Check back with this page often as we add all kinds of content from some of the top referees in the country.
If you're looking to become a referee visit our New Referee page.
Offside Academy
Every grassroot soccer referee, you now have A MENTOR!
Produced by an unconventional USSF Regional/Collegiate National & Certified USSF Mentor!
Purchase Offside Academy (Enter code "MONTANA" for discount.)
Effective Use of the Comm.
Eventually, you may officiate with a referee that personally owns a Communication System or Comm's for short. This guide on the Effective Use of the Communication System can help you prepare for using them. (Note: US Soccer has released a position paper banning the use of Comm's by any Grassroots referee unless the local competition allows for them. In 2021, MYSA approved of their use for all matches. If you attend an event outside of Montana you should inquire about their use.)
2021-2022 Changes to the Laws.mp42021-2022 LOTG Updates
Please watch this short video presented by the Minnesota Referee Committee on the LOTG changes that will be in effect as of July 1, 2021 for all competitions in Montana.
Click on the "Pop-Out" button in the upper right corner to play.
PRO AR Offside Test
Grab a piece of paper and open the video in full screen. In real time, without pausing or rewinding, watch these 25 clips and if you would call offside, write an X, if you think it's onside, an O. The results are at the end and you can see how you did.
2021 Terry Vaughn Referee Academy Videos
Visit the YouTube Playlist to view videos or you can watch here.
Video 1: Balancing Life & Soccer with Chris & Tori Penso
Video 2: Handling Offenses with Chris Penso and Ted Unkel
Video 3: Pregame Strategies with Sandra Serafini
Video 4: Handling Mistakes with Sandra Serafini
Video 5: Practical Refereeing with David Fischer
Video 1: Challenges
FIFA Considerations
Join Jason Hutchinson from the Idaho SRC for some FIFA Considerations training videos. Each video has 3 short clips and analysis using the FIFA 2020/2021 LOTG.
FIFA Considerations for Video Alalysis Decision Making Document
Video 2: Handball
Video 3: Offside
Video 4: Penalty Area Incidents
Video 5: Tactical Fouls
Video 6: Match Control
U.S. Soccer Referee Department Position Papers
The U.S. Soccer Referee department periodically releases position papers to clarify confusion on the Laws of the Game.
Date: November 1, 2023 Subject: Law 4, The Players' Equipment (Jewlery)
Date: November 1, 2023 Subject: Law 4, The Players’ Equipment, (Medical Alert Jewelry)
Date: July, 2022 Subject: Clarification of the guidelines to distinguish between 'deliberate play' and deflection' (for offside.)
Date: May 28, 2021 Subject: Denying a goal or obvious goal scoring opportunity.
Date: September 30, 2020 Subject: Using offensive, insulting, or abusive language or gestures.
Date: August 1, 2020 Subject: "I Got the Ball"
Date: June 1, 2020 Subject: Fourth Officials, Standing or Sitting?
US Soccer Referee Department Position Papers and Directives Archive
Date: 1998-2012 Archive of Position Papers Sorted by Date
Date: 1998-2012 Archive of Position Papers Sorted by Law Number then Date
All the 2009-Directives except for the Directive on Handling (which is out of date):
Game Disrepute and Mass Confrontation