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Introduction to Ref-in-Pool

There is a shortage of referees in East King County (and actually all of Puget Sound). This shortage is felt during the fall season. Soccer is a growing sport in our area but the referee ranks are not growing. Almost all referees are soccer players or parents of youth soccer player. Every Premier, Select and U13+ Recreational team needs to provide a Ref-in-Pool. We use referees from EKCSRA for these games and this is how we support EKCSRA.

Requirements to Become a Referee for the Ref-in-Pool Program

Grade 8 Certification

• Online study (about 3 hours)
• 8 hours of instruction by USSF
• Pass 50 question multiple choice test
• Pay USSF $70 for certification

• Most first year referees for EKCSRA only officiate as Assistant Referees
• Ref-in-Pool referee get paid $25 to $70 per game

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Why Adult Ref-in-Pool

Maturing referees takes time

• In their first year, referees only officiate games at or below U14, usually as assistant referees
• During the second year, most will add a year or two to the age group they officiate. They may start being a center ref for younger ages.
• The center refs for U18 games have many years of experience as a referee.

Benefits of Being a Ref-in-Pool

Why should you become your team's Ref-in-Pool? Referees for home games ("Priority") - The number of games officiated by the RIP for a team equals it's "Priority". The teams with higher PRIORITY receive their referees FIRST. That means, if your team has done its part to help the Ref situation, your team should be rewarded with a full crew (Center and 2 Assistant Refs). Contribute to your child's team - Premier and Select teams are supported by volunteers (usually the parents). The RIP program is a way for you to support your child's team. A bonus in doing so is you support the whole soccer community. Monetary incentive - If your team is an EFC team, it has paid $400 toward the Ref-in-Pool for the year and the team will be refunded the $400 if it meets the RIP requirement. Learn about and support the sport we all love Make some extra money - $25 to $70 per game

How Ref-in-Pool Works

EKCSRA (East King County Soccer Referee Association) provides referees to all Select, Premier, and U14+ Rec EYSA home games. Therefore, all Select, Premier and U13+ Rec teams are required to provide at least one referee (called a "Referee-In-Pool") to EKCSRA. The Referee-In-Pool for a team is required to referee (either as an Assistant Referee or as a Center Referee) 10+ games from the EKCSRA pool of games. These games can be anywhere EKCSRA provides referees (but can't be your child's, sister's, brother's ... game). The more games the Referee-In-Pool(s) referees for EKCSRA, the higher the priority their team gets for referees at their home games. This will translate into better CRs and getting 2 ARs at games. Theory

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