U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Grades

From U.S. Soccer's Referee Administrative Handbook (2010-11 Edition):

To provide uniform standards for soccer referees in the United States, the U.S. Soccer Referee Committee has adopted the following referee grades. These grades supersede all grades that may have been adopted by state associations and leagues so that uniform and comparative grading exists throughout the United States.

12 - U.S. Soccer Federation Assistant Referee

• A. Minimum Age: None (State Associations may set minimum age for their games)
• B. Badge: U.S. Soccer Assistant Referee, with current year
• C. Authorized Assignment Level: Assistant Referee on all youth and adult games
• Note to Assignors: Minimum age of 17 suggested for assignment to adult level games

9 - U.S. Soccer Federation Recreational Referee

• A. Minimum Age: None
• B. Badge: U.S. Soccer Recreational Referee, with current year
• C. Authorized Assignment Level: Referee on recreational youth games U-14 and younger only and assistant referee on any game U-14 or below

8 - U.S. Soccer Federation Referee

• A. Minimum Age: None
• B. Badge: U.S. Soccer Referee, with current year
• C. Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games, assistant referee in comparable games

7 - U.S. Soccer Federation Referee

• A. Minimum Age: 17
• B. Badge: U.S. Soccer Referee, with current year
• C. Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games and mixed leagues, assistant referee in all adult games below the top division

6 - U.S. Soccer Federation State Referee

• A. Minimum Age: 18
• B. Badge: U.S. Soccer State Referee, with current year
• C. Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games and adult amateur games through second division and assistant referee in the top adult division and Amateur Cup games

5 - U.S. Soccer Federation State Referee

• A. Minimum Age: 19
• B. Badge: U.S. Soccer State Referee, with current year
• C. Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games and adult games including first division and assistant referee in professional league and international cup games

4 - U.S. Soccer Federation National Referee

• A. Minimum Age: 23
• B. Badge: U.S. Soccer National Referee, with current year
• C. Recommended Assignment Level: All games except formal FIFA international matches; assistant referee for international matches
• D. U. S. Citizen or Permanent Resident

3 - U.S. Soccer Federation Professional Referee

• A. Minimum Age: 23
• B. Badges: U.S. Soccer Professional Referee, with current year and National Referee, with current year
• C. Recommended Assignment Level: All games except formal FIFA international matches
• D. U. S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
• E. By invitation of U.S. Soccer

2 - U.S. Soccer Federation International Assistant Referee

• A. Minimum Age: 23
• B. Badge: FIFA Assistant Referee, with current year, on international matches*
• C. Recommended Assignment Level: All games
• D. U. S. Citizen
• E. By nomination of U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, and approved by FIFA

1 - U.S. Soccer Federation International Referee

• A. Minimum Age: 25
• B. Badge: FIFA, with current year
• C. Recommended Assignment Level: All games
• D. U.S. Citizen
• E. By nomination of U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, and approved by FIFA

The U.S. Soccer Federation grade and title of an official will be determined solely by the standards and examinations issued by the U.S. Soccer Referee Committee and the U.S. Soccer Federation Board of Directors. Annual re-examination is required. A referee must officiate at the next - higher level to accumulate experience to be certified competent at that level.

Assignors must exercise care to increase the difficulty level of the game assignments in a gradual and orderly manner for the good of the official and of the players. *International Assistant Referees must wear U.S. Soccer National Referee badge when assigned as referee in domestic matches.