San Diego County Soccer Referees' Association

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Maintenance

The San Diego County Soccer Referees' Association (SDCSRA) operates a USSF referee development program under Cal South, as specified by the National Referee Committee.

Click on a section to learn more!

The San Diego County Soccer Referees' Association (SDCSRA) operates a USSF referee development program under Cal South, as specified by the National Referee Committee.

  • Entry Level Referee Program (ELRP) is designed for new referees with no experience. We provide the new official an opportunity to officiate a game with an experience referee and receive positive feedback from a mentor. This program also requires the new official to watch at least one game with the mentor and ask questions.
  • In-Service Instructional Classes - SDCSRA provides Inservice Instructional Classes at all monthly general meetings, except June and July, one hour of in-service training by certified USSF Instructors that counts toward your instruction requirements for yearly referee re-certification. In the months of June and July, SDCSRA instructional classes focus on league specific training.
  • Youth Referee Mentoring Program (YRMP) - YRMP or Yourh Referee Mentoring Program is part of the Cal-South Youth Mentor Program. The YRMP program is for youth soccer referees who are under age 21 and who want to advance to higher levels of soccer officiating, mainly the professional level of soccer. Past members of this program have advanced to become USSF National referees and work in the NASL, MLS, WUSA, WPS, USL, and MISL.
  • CORE ***COMING SOON*** - CORE is part of the CalSouth program. The CORE program is for soccer referees who want to advance to higher levels of soccer officiating, mainly the professional level of soccer. The group meets once a month for training on the field and in the classroom. There are special sessions held in other locations as set by USSF and CalSouth. Sessions usually last three hours, one-hour physical, and two hours mental. Physical training consists of small-sided games, long runs, sprinting, and other activities. Mental training consists of discussions on refereeing soccer at the highest level. With the use of actual game situations and video, the group discusses calls and the outcome of referee decisions. All sessions counts toward your instruction requirements for yearly referee re-certification. The current group of referees involved in ARDP includes referees who currently work in the MLS, WUSA, USL, MISL and the NISOA. Officials in the group have game experience at the international level as well as many top amateur and youth tournaments.


Assessments are a great way to find out how you are progressing as a referee and what you should be working on to get to the next level. More information and specific requirements for each level can be found on the CALSOUTH website.

Request a CALSOUTH Assessment

  • Mentor & Developmental Guidance Assessment
    (1x Required for Elite Grassroots - Calsouth fee applies)
    This is usually a local mentor & assessor and can happen at any stage of development from Grassroots through National levels. The assessor will attempt to provide regular long term guidance for developing your career as a referee. They are informal and are not uploaded to your profile. They are a highly recommended development process.
  • Regional Assessment
    (2x Required for Regional recert & 3x required for upgrade - Calsouth fee applies)
    These assessments are an annual requirement for maintaining or upgrading from Grassroots to Regional levels. They are performed by a Regional Assessor or higher and the results are uploaded to your profile and kept on your record. Check the CALSOUTH website for details of the number as well as type of assessments required as they differ for both upgrading and maintaining.
  • National Assessment
    (3x Required for National recert & or upgrade - Calsouth fee applies)
    These assessments are an annual requirement for maintaining or upgrading from Regional to National levels. They are performed by a National Assessor or higher and the results are uploaded to your profile and kept on your record. Check the CALSOUTH website for details of the number as well as type of assessments required as they differ for both upgrading and maintaining.


Fitness tests are a great way to find out your general level of fitness and to see how you stand up to your colleagues. Currently it consists of two parts 1) Sprints & 2) Intervals. Each referee level has its own criteria and times for completing these fitness requirements. More information and specific requirements for each level can be found on the CALSOUTH website.

  • Elite Grassroots
    • 6 x 40 meter repeated Sprints under 7 seconds
    • 40 x Intervals of 20 seconds per 75m run and 28 seconds per 25m walk
  • Regional Male
    • 6 x 40 meter repeated Sprints under 6.4 seconds
    • 40 x Intervals of 17 seconds per 75m run and 20 seconds per 25m walk
  • Regional Female
    • 6 x 40 meter repeated Sprints under 6.6 seconds
    • 40 x Intervals of 17 seconds per 75m run and 24 seconds per 25m walk
  • National Male
    • 6 x 40 meter repeated Sprints under 6 seconds
    • 40 x Intervals of 15 seconds per 75m run and 18 seconds per 25m walk
  • National Female
    • 6 x 40 meter repeated Sprints under 6.4 seconds
    • 40 x Intervals of 17 seconds per 75m run and 20 seconds per 25m walk

A diagram of the track and intervals is attached for your viewing. FIFA Interval Fitness Test.


Maintaining or upgrading your referee status is your responsibility each year. You must complete all the requirements set by CALSOUTH & USSF before being able to referee for SDCSRA in the next calendar year/season. To complete these requirements follow the links below. Each different level or grade of referee will have it's own different requirements. Below is a list of some of these requirements. Check the CalSouth website for criteria for your specific grade or level of refereeing. If you feel you should be on the 2024 Approved List already? Contact CalSouth Registration -- refereeregistration@calsouth.com

These links will take you to the CALSOUTH website for maintaining your certification as a referee each year.

Some of the requirements for development upgrades & maintenance include the following so be sure to check which requirements pertain to your situation and grade level.

  • Educational hours in classroom settings each year (hours vary by level/grade).
  • Passing grade in a USSF/CALSOUTH sponsored test each year is also required (test varies by grade level).
  • CORE (formerly RPD) or high level training sessions are also required for certain grade levels (hours vary by level/grade).
  • Fitness test is also required for certain grade levels (test varies by level/grade).




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