MapleBrook Soccer Association

Registration with US Soccer for 2012 certification is open on the MNSRC website: www.minnesotasrc.com

MapleBrook is hosting four (4) certification clinics & one (1) on the field traning (OFT) session at MGSH this year.  FREE PIZZA for lunch/dinner when you attend!

Dates:
Grade 8 Recert:
Thursday, March 15 (evening)
Saturday, April 21

Grade 9:
Saturday, April 21

Grade 8 Entry:
Saturday, April 21

OFT
Designed for New Grade 9, New Grade 8 and Novice Grade 8 (less than 2 years experience) referees, upon completion of your 2012 certification.
Sunday, April 22      8-9:30am      Maple Grove Dome (MGSH)

So we can prepare accordingly, please register for the OFT Session via the below link.

See the Rain Status page on the Fields link for information on current field conditions.

MBSA uses GameOfficials.net as its primary assignment and communication tool.  All assignments are posted/emailed through GameOfficials.net for all league and tournament games.  Referees can enter availability online, get email notifications and accept or decline games through this website.  Directions to fields and open games are also available.

MBSA needs referees for summer season league play (May - July), our annual Invitational Tournament (June 1-3, 2012) and fall season league play (Sept – Oct). 

Once you have completed your USSF certification (see "Become a Referee (General Info)" for how to do this), if you are interested in any of these opportunities, please complete the following:

1. Set up an account on GameOfficials.net  (It is very important you follow these Instructions!!)
2. Complete concussion training.  See below for how to.
3. If 18 or older during the playing season, complete MYSA background check.  See below for how to.
4. If under 18, complete Parent/Guardian Youth Referee release below.  (Only needs to be done once.)
5. Complete and return a W9 to the MBSA Accountant.  See "Contact Us" page for USPS address.  See "Board" page for email address.

If you do not complete ALL of the above, you will not be assigned games with MBSA.  This is the case for everyone, EVEN IF YOU HAVE REFFED WITH MBSA BEFORE.

You must be certified with US Soccer (USSF) through the Minnesota State Referee Committee (MNSRC) to officiate MBSA games.

MNSRC conducts clinics throughout the state to fulfill the USSF requirement.  Referee candidates need to register, complete online training at home and complete training clinics. 
2012 Clinics will begin with one clinic in St. Paul at the end of December 2011, aimed particularly at college aged referees home on break.  Clinics will start en mass January 28, 2012 and will be scheduled throughout the state as the hosts request them.  MapleBrook will be applying to host a clinic and, when approved, that date will be posted on this page.  For information about the certification process and upcoming clinics, please visit the Minnesota State Referee Committee  (MNSRC) website.

Do I need to recertify every year?
Yes, there are no exceptions.  All grades have recertification requirements that must be met annually.

Is there a cost to becoming a referee?
Cerification fees for 2012 are $60 (Grades 9, 8).  
A new referee can expect to spend $100 - $150 for the certification classes, referee uniform, shoes and other needed supplies. 

The fee structure for Grade 7 depends on if you are recertifying or upgrading.  Upgrading Grade 7 referees pay $60 + $50 upgrade fee.  Recertifying Grade 7 referees pay $65. 

Adult referees must also pay MYSA $15 to execute a background check on their behalf.

What are the Referee "Grades" and which clinic do I register for?

Grade 9: Recreational Referee
-Certified to Referee (Center) U9 and U10 games and Assistant Referee up to U14
-4 hours of online training
-4 hours of classroom instruction required
-Register for this if you are a new Referee, particularly if you are under age 14, or if you were a Grade 9 in 2011 and do not wish to upgrade in 2012.
NOTE:  MBSA recommends new officials 14 & under certify their first year as a Grade 9 referee.

Grade 8: Referee (New or Upgrading)
-Certified to Referee all youth games
-7 hours of online training
-8 hours of classroom instruction required (may be one day or split over two days, depending on the clinic you register for)
-Register for this clinic if you are a new Referee or if you were a Grade 9 Referee in 2011

Grade 8: Referee (Recertifying)
-Certified to Referee all youth games
-3 hours of online training
-2 hours of classroom instruction required
-Register for this clinic if you were a Grade 8 Referee in 2011

I'd like to upgrade from my current grade.  What are the requirements?
First of all, Good Luck with your endeavor!

To see the USSF requirements, follow the link to the USSF Referee Administrative Handbook.  This document will tell you what USSF requires to be considered for an upgrade (number of games, age, years experience, etc).

Next, see the MNSRC requirements here.  This details what MNSRC asks you to do during the upgrade process.

IMPORTANT: If you are a young or new referee that may want to upgrade in the future, you should keep track of all games you work (game number, date, time, location, teams, position you worked & the rest of the crew).

In the 2011 legislative session, a bill was passed and signed into law regarding concussions and youth athletes. Minnesota has joined a growing number of states that have passed laws on providing concussion information, training and procedures to be followed for youth athletes to return to play.  This law is effective as of September 1, 2011 (effective beginning Fall 2011 season).  To comply with this law, the MYSA Board of Directors adopted a Concussion Policy at its July 2011 meeting and the MBSA BOD adopted this same policy at its July 2011 meeting. 

In a very brief summary, the pertinent parts of the policy(s) for referees are:
1.  You need to complete an online training course every 3 years. 
2.  You "shall" remove a player from a game if they exhibit signs of concussion.

Complete the course at the following link:  http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/online_training.html

1.  Plan on 30 - 45 minutes to complete the training. 
2.  When done, please click on concussion registration below, fill out the form and attached your certificate document.
3.  SAVE A COPY for yourself because it is good for 3 years and you'll likely be asked to provide proof you've completed it for MNSRC and/or other assignors.

ADULTS: How to complete your background check:

MYSA requires that background checks be conducted on its adult participants once per soccer year (Sept. 1 - Aug. 31).  If you are 18 years old for any part of the soccer year, this background check is required.  If an adult referee is also an MYSA club team manager, coach, administrator, etc. and therefore needs to complete the MYSA background check through your club, you need not do it a second time.  However, you do need to contact Candace Daley to let her know that you have completed the process and through which club so she can look up your name through that club, confirm the information and add you to the list of referees that have completed the background check.  

If you have questions, you may contact Candace Daley directly at 952-252-1687 or candacedaley@mnyouthsoccer.org.

1.   Go to www.mcdowellagency.com and click on the “Client Log-in” tab found at the top right

2.       Enter user id:  MYSREF and password:  MYSREF and click on “Login.”

3.       Click on the “Request” tab found at the top of the webpage.

4.       Type full name into the “Electronic Signature” box and mark the box next to “My name entered above signifies my Electronic Signature” and click on “Continue” to proceed.

5.       The following information is required to complete the background check:  last name, first name, current address, city, state, zip code, date of birth, social security number and gender; then click on “Continue” to proceed.

6.       Under “Criminal Court Searches” – click on “Add/Edit Jurisdictions.”

7.       a)  Under “Search Type” click on drop down box and click on “Felony and Misdemeanor,” under “State” click on drop down box and click on “MN,” under “County/Jurisdiction” click on county of residence (in alphabetical order).  b)  Under “Search Type” click on drop down box and click on “Felony and Misdemeanor,” under “State” click on drop down box and click on “MN,” under “County/Jurisdiction” click on “Statewide” (located at the bottom of the selection list).  c)  Click on “Add Searches to Order.”

8.       Social Trace, National Sex Offender Database and USA Criminal Index are prefilled.  Click on “Agree and Submit Order.”

9.       Print receipt and log off.

10.   Send a check for $15.00 made out to MYSA and mail to MYSA, 11577 Encore Circle, Minnetonka, MN  55343, Attn:  Candace Daley.

Minor referees must have a parent or guardian give permission for you to referee for MBSA by completing the Parent/Guardian Yourth Referee Release below.

MapleBrook’s Referee Mentoring Program is in its early stages.  The goal of the program is to build a solid base of knowledge and skills in the art of officiating soccer, as well as give opportunity and exposure to our referees.

If you are an experienced referee, we encourage you to become a trained mentor!  We all have something to offer and by becoming a Referee Mentor, you will help make the program better by passing on your knowledge and experiences to your fellow referees.  If you would like to get involved with helping young referees develop their skills, please indicate this on your application form or contact our Referee Assignor.

If you are a new referee who would like mentoring or have questions you would like to ask a more experienced referee, please indicate this on your application form or contact our Referee Assignor.  Please know that even if you do not indicate a desire to have a mentor, one may be assigned to you.  This not an indicator of your skill set, but a tool for you to use to grow your experience and ensure you enjoy your time as a referee.

Payment Timelines
You will be paid by a check from the club.  
Summer season checks will be processed twice a month, on approximately the 15th & 30th of each month. 
MapleBrook Invitational checks will be processed with the mid-June payments.
Fall season checks will be processed at the end of the season.

Tax Forms

MBSA will only issue 1099 forms to refs that make over $600.  If you have additional questions regarding this, please contact the club accountant. 

• Minnesota State Referee Committee
  Information about officiating and upcoming clinics
• MYSA Referee Page
  Current referee information and rules including 2011 MYSA Rule Summary for Referees
• MYSA Referee Mentor Program
• MYSA Referee Academy
   

• MYSA Weather Policy
• MYSA Field Directory
   

• USSF Referee Resource Center
  • Advice to Referees on Laws of the Game
  • Information for New Referees
• USSF Referees FAQ 
  

The above links are provided as a courtesy to our referees.  MBSA is not responsible for the information provided within these links.  If a link does not appear to be working, please inform the referee assignor.