On March 24th & 25th, over 140 USSF Referees, Assessors, and Instructors from 15 different states, ranging from Delaware to Washington, came together at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory for the annual Regional Training Seminar (RTS).  At the RTS, they receive the level of instruction necessary to work games at the professional level. Prior to the indoor clinic, nearly 100 of the Referees took part in the FIFA and National fitness tests at Howard Community College, narrowly dodging some unusually severe March thunderstorms.

Special thanks go out to the USSF instructors for the clinic, Dave McKee and Nate Clement and to Joszef Michna, who coordinated the fitness testing. At the conclusion of the second day’s sessions, the National Referees in attendance were awarded their badges. They deserve a major CONGRATULATIONS! Here they are:

There will be a USSF fitness test conducted on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8:00am. The testing will be held at Centennial High School, 4300 Centennial Lane, Ellicott City. This is the test needed by referees who are planning to upgrade during 2012 to Grade 7 or 6 or to maintain their Grades 7, 6, or 5. This is NOT the Professional Referee fitness test, which is being held at a different time. Any referee who has been invited to attend the RTS and passes that fitness test is not required to run any additional test in order to maintain their grade.

We will start running at 8:00am sharp and will run only once! Referees are advised to get to the track no later than 7:45 in order to register and warm up. Anyone arriving after the testing has started will not be allowed to participate.

PLEASE NOTE (updated 3/10/12):
LAST TWO RECERTIFICATION CLINICS ARE 3/17/12 AND 3/31/12.

All Maryland Grade 7 & 8 referees are now required to successfully complete their Recertification Exam online and bring the completion certificate to a Recertification Clinic in order to receive a 2012 badge. This change is being instituted for three main reasons:

1.)  You will not have to spend 90+ minutes during the clinic taking and grading the exams.
2.)  You will have the opportunity to see exactly which questions you missed and, if after your review you still have questions, you can come to the clinic prepared to ask.
3.)  We will be able to shorten the overall length of the clinics because we will not have to spend time on the exam.

When you register for a specific Recertification Clinic, you will be given a link and password in order to access the exam for that clinic. Upon successfully completing the exam, you will be prompted to download your completion certificate. At that point, you will also be supplied with a link in order for you to register with USSF online. You should be prepared to bring both documents with you to the clinic.

Click here to see all Recertification Clinics.

Thank you.
Terry Miller, SDI