Referee Upgrade Program

The sport of soccer follows a pathway for registering and promoting referees from the local to international levels of competition. Referees who would like to pursue the next level of course will participate in the SSA Referee Upgrade Program.

Regional Referee Upgrade Program

The Regional Referee Upgrade Program is for district referees who are seeking promotion to the regional list of referees in Saskatchewan.

The candidate referee is required to complete a two-day education session, pass a fitness test, pass assessments, and a Laws of the Game exam.

Prerequisites to Enter the Program

Must have a minimum of one year experience as a district referee.

Prior to application, must have received a recommendation to enter the program from your Member Organization/Referee Association, or an SSA Referee Development Committee Member.

Referee in a minimum of 20 qualifying games (competitive U15 games and above).

Work as an assistant referee in a minimum of 5 qualifying games (competitive U17 games and above).

You will be asked to complete and submit a log of your games.

Program Fee

The cost of the program is $75.00. Payment must be submitted at the same time with the registration form. The program fee includes:

Regional referee course - two days of in-class training

Access to fitness testing

One pre-course assessment, if needed

Assessments throughout the year

Requirements for Successful Upgrade to a Regional Referee

Take part in the regional referee course.

Pass multiple choice exam with a mark of 80% or better. The exam is based solely on the Laws of the Game.

Pass the SSA administered fitness test.

Receive a minimum of 2 assessments as a referee over the period of 20 qualifying games and at least 1 as an assistant referee. Assessments are reviewed by the Referee Development Committee at the conclusion of the year. A decision will be made regarding the referee's status.

Referees have 2 years to complete all requirements. The program fee will need to be paid each year.

Upgrade decisions will be made.

Provincial Referee Upgrade Program

The Provincial Referee Upgrade Program is for regional referee who are seeking promotion to the provincial list of referees in Saskatchewan. Canada Soccer is responsible for this program and runs a course, once a year, for all participants in the country. For more details on the Provincial Upgrade Program, visit the Appendix D in the SSA Referee Pathway to Success.

The candidate referee is required to pass a fitness test, complete a two-day, out-of-province education session, pass assessments, and a Laws of the Game exam.

Prerequisites to Enter the Program

Must have a minimum of one year experience as a regional referee

Must express an interest to SSA's Coordinator of Referee Development

Program Fee

The cost of the program is $75.00, Payment must be submitted at the same time with the registration form. The program fee includes:

Access to fitness testing

Assessments throughout the year

Prerequisites to Attend the 2 day Canada Soccer In-Service Upgrading Course

Must have run and passed the provincial referee fitness standard by an established date set by SSA

Must have written and passed the provincial referee upgrading exam with a mark of 80% or higher

Requirements for Successful Upgrade to a Provincial Referee

Pass fitness test at the provincial referee standard prior to attending the in-service education session.

Pass multiple choice exam with a mark of 80% or better. The exam will be written prior to the in-service training session, and is based solely on the Laws of the Game.

Referee in a minimum of 20 qualifying games (competitive U17 games and above).

Work as an assistant referee in a minimum of 5 qualifying games (competitive U17 games and above). Receive a minimum of 3 assessments as a referee over the period of 20 qualifying games.

Assessments are reviewed by a review committee at the conclusion of the year. A decision will be made regarding the referee's status. Note that simply meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee upgrade to provincial referee. Referees have two (1) season to complete requirements. Referees who fail to complete the requirements will be required to re-start the program if they wish to continue with their upgrade.