{"id":5751,"date":"2023-08-12T00:00:32","date_gmt":"2023-08-12T00:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/?page_id=5751"},"modified":"2025-12-29T23:48:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T23:48:35","slug":"upgrade","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/upgrade\/","title":{"rendered":"Advancement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Referee advancement is about growth \u2014 in skill, knowledge, and leadership. Whether you\u2019re just starting as a Grassroots referee or aiming for the highest levels of the game, this page will guide you through the steps, requirements, and opportunities available in the Maryland Soccer Referee Program.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"535\" src=\"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/REFEREE-PATHWAY.avif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6082\" style=\"width:350px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/REFEREE-PATHWAY.avif 969w, https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/REFEREE-PATHWAY-300x166.avif 300w, https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/REFEREE-PATHWAY-768x424.avif 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every referee\u2019s journey is unique, but the pathway is clear. From Grassroots to Regional, and for some, to National and FIFA levels \u2014 each step builds on experience, performance, and continued education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Knowing the requirements is only the first step \u2014 understanding the process helps you plan your next move. Here\u2019s how to start and complete your upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The whistle is in your hands \u2014 take the next step. Maryland referees have gone on to officiate at national championships, professional matches, and even the World Cup. Your path starts here.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/REGIONAL-REFEREE-LICENSE-CERTIFICATION-1024x574.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6077\" srcset=\"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/REGIONAL-REFEREE-LICENSE-CERTIFICATION-1024x574.png 1024w, https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/REGIONAL-REFEREE-LICENSE-CERTIFICATION-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/REGIONAL-REFEREE-LICENSE-CERTIFICATION-768x431.png 768w, https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/REGIONAL-REFEREE-LICENSE-CERTIFICATION.png 1511w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Age:<\/strong> 18+<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Game Experience:<\/strong> 25 games as a referee <strong>and<\/strong> 15 as an assistant referee at the Adult Amateur level<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>License History:<\/strong> Held a Grassroots License within the past 3 registration years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Compliance:<\/strong> SafeSport trained, Safe and Healthy Playing Environments, background check<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Training:<\/strong> Complete Regional Referee Course and in-person field session<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Test:<\/strong> Pass the National Laws of the Game test (online)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fitness:<\/strong> Pass sprint\/interval test (FIFA Women\u2019s Referee Test \u2013 Category 1 for men, Category 3 for women)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Practical Evaluation:<\/strong> 3 passing evaluations \u2014 2 at Adult Amateur level, 1 at highest youth level (U18\/U19), all from different referee coaches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NATIONAL-REFEREE-CERTIFICATION-1-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NATIONAL-REFEREE-CERTIFICATION-1-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NATIONAL-REFEREE-CERTIFICATION-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NATIONAL-REFEREE-CERTIFICATION-1-768x431.jpg 768w, https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/NATIONAL-REFEREE-CERTIFICATION-1.jpg 1497w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Enrollment:<\/strong> Must be selected by the U.S. Soccer National Referee Selection Committee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Training:<\/strong> Attend and successfully complete National Camp.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Certification History:<\/strong> Held a <strong>Regional License<\/strong> for the past two registration years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Practical Evaluations:<\/strong> 3 passing National Evaluations (as Referee or AR) from 3 different National Referee Coaches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Game Experience:<\/strong> 65 adult amateur matches\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>40 as Referee and 25 as Assistant Referee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Safety &amp; Compliance:<\/strong> SafeSport trained, Safe &amp; Healthy Playing Environments, and a national background check.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Laws of the Game Test:<\/strong> Pass the online national test.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fitness Test:<\/strong> Pass the <strong>FIFA fitness test<\/strong> (Referee or AR, gender-specific, Category 1).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons ticss-fd64a59f is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100 ticss-0e5fa6f8\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-text-align-center wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/request-an-assessment\/\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:100px;border-top-right-radius:100px;border-bottom-left-radius:100px;border-bottom-right-radius:100px;background-color:#e80027\">Request an Assessment<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Referee advancement is about growth \u2014 in skill, knowledge, and leadership. Whether you\u2019re just starting as a Grassroots referee or aiming for the highest levels of the game, this page will guide you through the steps, requirements, and opportunities available in the Maryland Soccer Referee Program. Every referee\u2019s journey is unique, but the pathway is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5751","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5751"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6527,"href":"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5751\/revisions\/6527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/marylandreferees.com\/msr3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}