From: dpwo_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Dave Wolgast)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Re: Becoming a FIFA Referee
Date: 15 Apr 92 23:24:18 GMT
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York

In <70321@ut-emx.uucp> soccer@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (jason marshall) writes:


>Hey guys!

>Can you tell me the steps in becoming an international FIFA referee?
>I heard they get payed like around $60,000 a year. But, besides that, I am
>interested in refereeing as a spare time thing. But, I would like to know
>how you get to the top as far as internationally.

>Jason
>"The world's unknown soccer star"

It's really no problem 8^)

I can tell you how it works in the United States.

You begin your referee career as a referee grade 2 (8), which allows you
to referee youth matches.  After 75 matches (U-19 and above) and
a couple of good field assessments, you move up to referee grade 1 (7)
which allows you to referee any youth match and be a linesman in 
amateur adult matches.  After 100 matches at U19 and above, an exam, and
a couple more good assessments, and you are on your way to State referee
2 (6) (That's me...5 next year if all goes well).  Another 50 amateur
matches to State referee 1 (5).

From there on, it gets complicated...You need 150 amateur matches as
a referee, 100 amateur matches as linesman, and you need to spend
at least five years in grade and have been a referee for more than
8 years.  At that point, you are eligible to attend testing sessions
to become a National Referee...These guys do pro matches, international
friendlies, and can be linesmen for full internationals.  I think there
are currently about 100 in the US (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

At this point, you are a national, and you stay that way, as long as
you qualify by retesting each year.  Jack McCabe, Vinnie Mauro, and
the bunch in Chicago pick the seven best national referees and the 10
best linesmen in the country and nominate them to the FIFA list.  FIFA
can accept up to 7 off of each list.  Referees get to wear a nice big
white shield, and linesmen get to wear the same in orange.

As far as salary, I didn't know they recieved one, although they
do a lot of matches.  I know that a couple of years back, Julio Salas
quit his job (and got divorced) while a FIFA referee.

For the record, American FIFA's for 1992:

Referees:	Arturo Angeles, CA
		Ed Cummings, TX
		Jack D'Aquila, E-NY
		Helder Dias, MA
		Raul Dominguez, FL
		Brian Hall, CA
		Majid Jay, CA

Linesmen:	Robert Heilmann, FL
		Joszef Michna, FL
		George Noujaim, CA
		Stephen Olson, MI
		Arthur Reed, E-NY
		George Savic, CA

Notes:  Brian Hall and Helder Dias were selected this year to replace
Vinnie Mauro, who is now National Director of Referees, and Angelo
Bratsis, who is now National Director of Assessment.  Hall is 30
years old, the youngest FIFA referee in US history.  My opinion is
that at present, probably the top referee in the country right now
is Raul Dominguez.

I hope I haven't bored anyone to death...I'm supposed to be writing
a paper.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
A note to Wayne Leslie, whose address I've lost:
Are you going to be at Eastern Regionals this year?  I'll be
there again...After that, I hear it'll be returning to Niagara
Falls!
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave
		
--
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Dave Wolgast                       Internet:  dpwo_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu
University of Rochester            The Classic Lunch, Tuesdays on WRUR 88.5 FM
Rochester, NY			   Class of 1992!!!!!!