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). Pre-Registration for these sessions will close one hour prior to the start time of the Zoom session.
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Discussion will include delaying the re-start (5 second for throw-ins and goal kicks & 10 second for substitutions) and dealing with setting defensive “walls.” Pacing off 10 yards, and distance for attacking players in regards to the set wall will also be discussed. Also, how to judge what is legal shielding, which prevents an opponent from playing the ball.
Pre-register here
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We will discuss topics like how to set a firm, non-negotiable limit where further compromise or bad behavior is no longer accepted, setting boundaries from the first whistle, and knowing when “enough is enough.” Knowing the laws of the game well gives you some latitude (bending the rules) on some laws and familiarity with the “considerations” gives you the ability to “talk the talk.” To talk and use the language of the game will be heavily discussed.
Pre-register here
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“Second Ball!” You hear it yelled from the touchline from coaches many times during the game. Players yell it to each other – reminding their teammates to win the second ball. What is second ball? How should the officiating crew be prepared for second ball? What are the responsibilities for officiating 2nd ball?
Pre-register here
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Both result in cards (yellow or red) and both are critical decisions that the referee team must get right. Denial of an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) has a strict criterion that must be met and the result is a red card – except in one situation. Where as Stopping a Promising Attack (SPA) lacks one of the criteria for DOGSO and results in a yellow card.
Pre-register here
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Conflict is built into officiating. What do you have in your “tool kit” to assert authority without escalating tension? The emotional level of the players can rise and your decisions matter as you are tasked with enforcing the rules. How do you manage the many different personalities on the field and manage conflict without “pouring gasoline on a fire?”
Pre-register here
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We’ll cover behavior modification techniques when dealing with dissent. We have used this approach for many years with scholastic games. Over time student behavior problems have changed – and scholastic soccer is an extension of the classroom – thus we must also change how we address and deal with our current student/athletes. Use of this technique is mandatory in all scholastic games.
Pre-register here
Youth Referees:
All youth referees (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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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. We’ll focus on how to stay focused on what you can control and what you can manage. We’ll watch more than our normal 4-5 video clips – let’s watch, discuss, and learn.
Pre-register here
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This is an in-person event and will be posted in Arbiter under “events” when the venue has been confirmed. This event is to give the Youth and their parents, who are also invited, a preview to the heavy spring season and how best to get assigned games. We will also review and stress the importance of safety for all players and for all referees for not only the huge tournament weekends, but through the regular season games.
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Mechanics make a difference! What coaches want and expect may be very different from what you think. Are you using the correct mechanics? Does everyone know what you called? 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. Close to play – but out of the way. Are you getting hit by the ball often in a match? Are you still running the field as a player or are you running as a referee? There is a difference. There are also “passing lanes” on the field that referees must avoid and these will change as coaches make tactical decisions and substitutions during the match.
Pre-register here
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Managing the players on the field and the bench area is your primary responsibility as a referee, but there are times when, in today’s society, you must deal with over-bearing coaches and fans and/or parents that cross the line of acceptable behavior. What tools do you have to deal with this, and as Green Badge Referee, what options do you have at your disposal? All disruptive or abusive behavior are a reflection of the parent or fan, not your abilities as a referee and must be reported – so how do you do that?
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 will also be discussed. Your child has chosen to become a referee, and that’s 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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We will hold a Scholastic Open House. For anyone that has never worked Scholastic Games. We will review the unique certification requirements and the schools (public and private) that we cover. Pre-register here
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All 1st and 2nd year Scholastic Referees are required to attend a pre-season training meeting prior to the full pre-season meeting and banquet. This event will be added to your ArbiterSports account to accept. No waivers will be accepted. This is an in-person event, and will be held at Benedictine College Prep School.
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This is our annual Scholastic Pre-Season Meeting and Banquet. Attending a pre-season meeting is mandatory and we (SRS-VA) do that with a fully catered banquet. This is our primary pre-season meeting and everyone should make an honest effort to attend. This event will be added to your ArbiterSports account for you to accept or decline. This is an in-person event, and will be held at Benedictine College Prep School. Waivers may only be granted by Mark Towell, VHSL Commissioner at Mark.Towell@srs-va.com
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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. This is the pre-season meeting for SRS-VA members only that are college students and attend school out-of-area. We have many members that attend a college or university out of the immediate Richmond Metro area, yet work (or wish to work) Scholastic games for us after they take their final exam for the Spring Semester and have returned home. Most finish college exams 3-4 weeks prior to the end of the Scholastic Spring season. If you wish to attend this event, pre-register here
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This is the training for a 2-person system of control. Many of the Scholastic games use only two referees. This is training that is not provided in the USSF courses. All of our middle schools and division 3 private schools use this system. It is also used for the public or private high schools in a pinch, as club linesman are not allowed for Scholastic Games. If you wish to attend this event, pre-register here
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This is our annual Coaches/Referees Symposium. All area Varsity Coaches and Referees that work or wish to work Varsity level matches are asked to attend the same training session. This is to ensure we are all on the “same page” going forward with the season. This event will be added to your ArbiterSports account for you to accept or decline. This is not a mandatory meeting – but a very highly encouraged one to attend. This is an in-person event and the host this year is Mechanicsville High School.
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Those scholastic referees that cannot attend the Banquet must attend the make-up. This will be an in-person event held at a public library meeting room – south of the river – the exact library has not yet been confirmed. Only those with a waiver from Mark Towell, VHSL Commissioner, may attend.
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This session is about behavior modification techniques when dealing with dissent. We have used this approach for many years with scholastic games. Over time student behavior problems have changed – and scholastic soccer is an extension of the classroom – thus we must also change how we address and deal with our current student/athletes. Use of this technique is mandatory in all scholastic games. 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
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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, and 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
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.
Community Cultural Guides Programs
Sign up below!
We are launching a new professional development initiative—a community-wide approach to onboarding new members, and supporting continuing members and incorporating a shared stewardship where the entire membership contributes to everyone’s collective growth.
For Our Veterans (2+ years): You aren’t being assigned a second job or an overload of paperwork. Your role is simply to keep doing what you do best: be welcoming, answer quick questions in passing, and share your everyday wisdom when a new face is assigned to your crew. All members, by default, are already Referee and Peer Advisors throughout our regular season games and tournaments.
For Our Newer Referees (<2 years): You no longer have to rely on a single assigned mentor. You now have a whole organization of experienced referee and peer advisors ready to back you up, point in the right direction, and help you navigate your new role.
Join us via Zoom for an introduction to our new Community Cultural Guides Program. We are looking to roll out our initial outline for this program and to get feedback from our experienced referees.