IREF was founded in 2016 with a mission to educate young referees beginning at the recreational soccer level, providing a more flexible, low-stakes environment for learning. Referees at this level are able to grow their skills and gain confidence before advancing into club soccer matches.

This course addresses common fears and mindsets of players, spectators/parents, coaches, and referees, and gives participants the tools to manage these elements on the field. Participants will also learn about the significance of optics in the context of refereeing, how to avoid becoming a “casual” referee, and to prepare for game day.

​Knowledge of the laws of the game. Our course focuses mainly on player equipment, functions of a referee, functions of an assistant referee, offside rules, and fouls and misconducts. We also address recreational rules that may or may not apply, based upon the club hosting the match.

Laws of the Game

Dive deeper into the skills addressed in our first course and learn how to apply the “Secret Sauce” of becoming a “Mental Ninja“! This is where the rubber meets the road; the course will focus on practical application of previously learned skills, as well as teach participants about protocols leading up to the match, such as the significance of first impressions, practicing appropriate tolerance, referee communication and positioning, pre-match meetings with other referees, coach meetings and player check-in protocols, and spectator introduction.

Mental Ninja

Time to make the call. In this course, participants will be presented with real game footage and use the skills and knowledge they’ve acquired to make referee calls based on what they observe.

You Make The Call

Assessment

Wrap it up. Participants will confirm the information they’ve learned in the previous courses and complete their IREF training.