The Training Room
As the premier provider of Virginia’s soccer officials, SRS-VA is committed to the ongoing development of our members. Our training opportunities are free of charge to all of our members. This is a service that we provide not only to strengthen our referees but to better serve our customers – the clubs, leagues, tournaments and schools in our area. A few of our comprehensive development programs are:
Shadowing - Our newest members gain experience and confidence with side-by-side support in games as they transition classroom knowledge to the field.
Mentoring - Recurring assessment and feedback from highly experienced officials who go watch games helping our referees create good and head off bad habits.
Advanced Referee Clinic - For our referees whose passion and skills put their sights on moving on to the Regional and National Referee Programs, SRS-VA offers specialized training.
Evaluations - Our trial in the scholastic program of the SRS-VA evaluation system has received praise from coaches and officials across Virginia. The well-rounded, practical feedback is used to shape our training topics for our officials.
Clinics - Before our spring, fall, and scholastic seasons SRS-VA assures officials are briefed on law and rule changes, areas of emphasis, and general topics to help officials perform at the highest levels.
Training Sessions:
All Referees:
These sessions are open to all referees and crosses the spectrum of lower-level youth rec games to the travel leagues, scholastic league and the adult leagues. Topics presented are games situations that can apply to any game(s).
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Clubs, Teams and Schools are paying for 3 officials – thus all 3 must be actively involved in making calls. We have to make every effort to get the call correct. Optics matter; never be in a rush to make an error. And as the AR (assistant referee), you need to know the difference between assisting and insisting and when to employ each of these terms.
Pre-register here.
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A Simple law that is not easy to interpret or apply. For most, the handball law is like a street. It is crooked. Hard to maneuver, and all over the place. The goal of this presentation is to make the interpretation and application, straight and easy to get from point A to point B.
Pre-register here.
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Can you see the game from outside your eyes? Is the temperature of the game increasing and how can you help lower it? Game control starts with the official’s acceptance of the game (s). As officials we must understand the assumptions and expectations of the players and coaches about what the game “may” be like. It is your job to anticipate the intensity level of any game you accept. We will also discuss and review the procedures for mass confrontation. Is a hard foul in the 2nd minute different than a hard foul in the 70th? What do you do when a fight breaks out – or worst yet multiple fights and the benches storm the field? And . . . does the referee and/or the referee crew have the authority to eject a fan?
Pre-register here.
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Referee Administrators, Assignors, Coaches, Instructors, Mentors are constantly being asked is this referee ready to advance? Are they learning and growing through their experiences on games and at each level? Referees learn at different paces, in different contexts, from managing player conflicts to resolving issues with coaches and reading the game. How are you evaluated? For those seeking advancement, what is a reasonable time frame to move up? You are not going to be working Pro games or College games within your first couple of years. Do you have the “boxes” checked but are not moving up? Evaluations and assessments are complex – there is no “cookie-cutter” model that fits all referees. And when a game(s) goes “bad” it is the assignor that gets the call, sometimes late at night, and many times receives the “blame.”
Pre-register here.
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Is your ArbiterSports account set-up correctly to maximize your assignments? Do you find yourself declining games? Have you ever received an email that you have been “unassigned: from a match and you are not sure why? Are you getting the number of games you desire? Do you find ArbiterSports hard to use and you get frustrated and/or upset? Are you wanting to unlock the secret to earning at least $400 a month? This may be the Zoom session for you.
Pre-register here.
Youth Referees:
All youth refs (minor referees working games) are encouraged to attend as many of these sessions as possible/practical. These sessions are geared towards our youth and build their self-efficacy to work through the challenges of being a youth referee in an adult world. Even if the youth referee can only attend a short time – come late – leave early – if needed. All youth sessions have 1-3 main topics that are presented in lecture style, followed by 4-5 (sometime more) video clips to be reviewed, analyzed and discussed. A Youth Referee is defined as 27 years old or younger.
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Professionalism and Mechanics make a Difference; What Coaches Want & Expect (It may be very different from what you think). Are your socks pulled up, shirts tucked in, using a proper referee/sports watch? Are you using the correct mechanics? Does everyone know what you called? Did everyone hear your whistle? Do players know immediately if they are attacking or defending? What are the top 3-4 things that Coaches want to see in Youth Referees? The results may surprise you. Additionally, what to do and what not to do, and when is enough – enough. Referee within your Personality. Do not allow yourself or the crew to be disrespected.
Pre-register here.
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The “wait and see” approach gives onside players an opportunity to continue the attack. Never be in a hurry to make a wrong decision. See a foul – whistle for the foul? Oh wait . . . there is an “advantage.” Maybe? Anticipate the play – don’t anticipate the call. How to stay focused on what you can control and what you can manage. More than our normal 4-5 video clips – lets watch, discuss and learn.
Pre-register here.
Parents of Youth Referees:
This session is geared towards parents of our youth referees in supporting their child in the emotional and passionate aspects of officiating games.
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Questions to ask and signs to look for after your youth has officiated a game(s). And supporting and understanding the Mental and Emotional Aspects of Officiating. Assisting your son or daughter with setting up their Arbiter and keeping their availability up-to-date. Your child has chosen to become a referee – not an easy task. This session will discuss the power of positive discomfort and how you can help your son or daughter embrace the challenges for growth and resilience rather than avoiding them.
Pre-register here.
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The Spring Scholastic Season starts with our annual pre-season meeting in conjunction with a fully catered banquet. Hosts for this event is Benedictine College Prep High School. This is an in-person event and will be listed in your ArbiterSports account to accept/decline.
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All Varsity Level Coaches and Varsity Level Referees meet annually for a Symposium. Hosts for this year’s event is Midlothian High School. This is an in-person event and will be listed in your ArbiterSports account to accept/decline.
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Those scholastic referees that cannot attend the Banquet must attend the make-up. This will be held at a public library meeting room – south of the river – the exact library has not yet been confirmed. This is an in-person event and will be listed in your ArbiterSports account to accept/decline
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Scholastic games allow for a Dual (2-person) system to be utilized and all middle school and most Division 3 private schools are covered with this system.
Pre-register here.
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For our scholastic referees that are in college (under-grad, graduate school, or post-graduate) we waive the in-person pre-season meeting and host a pre-season meeting via Zoom.
Pre-register here.
Scholastic Referees:
Our scholastic games are games that occur on school grounds and have a separate certification. These games are an extension of the classroom, and as such have different protocols than the USSF games.
Since a separate certification is required for all Scholastic Referees, the below is provided for informational purposes only. Details, including links and registration requirements are sent to the scholastic roster of referees. If you are interested in being added to the scholastic roster, please send an email to Mark Towel, VHSL Commissioner at: mark.towell@srs-va.com
Adult League (CVSA) Referees:
You must be 18 years or older to officiate this league. Officiating adult players is vastly different than working the youth or scholastic leagues. These differences are reviewed, and much
feedback is gone over from the players/captains of these leagues.
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The training session will focus on the pre-game and post-game responsibilities. The adult league has very specific pre-game and post-game items that must be accomplished in a timely manner.
Pre-register here.
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Effective communication is not just an advantage for officials – it’s a necessity. Topics include but are not limited to: Listening is the first step; how to use natural stoppages to communicate with players; enlisting the captain’s or other team leaders for help. Additionally, there will be a review of the top incidents from the first month of the spring adult league season.
Pre-register here.
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There are 3 main units of communication, and only 7% are “words.” Body Language (55%) and Tone of Voice (38%) are the rest. How are you communicating? Do you present a calm and a natural relaxed image when officiating? While words are only 7% - the wrong words can destroy your message, no matter how well intended. Additionally, there will be a review of the top incidents from the second month of the spring adult league season.
Pre-register here.