ANOTHER POINT.

90% OF OFFICIALS ARE GRADE 08. THE REASON BEING IS THAT THE COST AND TIME OF OBTAINING HIGHER GRADES IS SOMETHING THAT MANY OFFICIALS DO NOT CARE TO ATTEMPT AND ARE HAPPY WITH THE 08 BADGE. BELOW IS AN OUTLINE OF THE GRADES.


9 - United States Soccer Federation Recreational Referee
A. Minimum Age: None
B. Badge: USSF Recreational Referee, with current year
C. Authorized Assignment Level: Referee on recreational youth games U-14 and younger
only and assistant referee on any game U-14 or below

8 - United States Soccer Federation Referee
A. Minimum Age: None
B. Badge: USSF Referee, with current year
C. Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games, assistant referee in comparable
games

7 - United States Soccer Federation Referee
A. Minimum Age: 17
B. Badge: USSF Referee, with current year
C. Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games and mixed leagues, assistant referee in
all adult games below the top division

6 - United States Soccer Federation State Referee
A. Minimum Age: 18
B. Badge: USSF State Referee, with current year
C. Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games and adult amateur games through
second division and assistant referee in the top adult division and Amateur Cup games

5 - United States Soccer Federation State Referee
A. Minimum Age: 19
B. Badge: USSF State Referee, with current year
C. Recommended Assignment Level: All youth games and adult games including first division
and assistant referee in professional league and international cup games

4 - United States Soccer Federation National Referee
A. Minimum Age: 23
B. Badge: USSF National Referee, with current year
C. Recommended Assignment Level: All games except formal FIFA international matches;
assistant referee for international matches
D. U. S. Citizen or Permanent Resident

3 - United States Soccer Federation National Referee
A. Minimum Age: 23
B. Badges: USSF National Referee, with current year
C. Recommended Assignment Level: All games except formal FIFA international matches
D. U. S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
E. By invitation of US Soccer and FIFA eligible

2 - United States Soccer Federation International Assistant Referee
A. Minimum Age: 23
B. Badge: FIFA Assistant Referee, with current year, on international matches*
C. Recommended Assignment Level: All games
D. U. S. Citizen
E. By nomination of U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, and approved by FIFA

1 - United States Soccer Federation International Referee
A. Minimum Age: 25
B. Badge: FIFA, with current year
C. Recommended Assignment Level: All games
D. U.S. Citizen
E. By nomination of U.S. Soccer Board of Directors, and approved by FIFA
The United States Soccer Federation grade and title of an official will be determined solely by the
standards and examinations issued by the U.S. Soccer Referee Committee and the United States
Soccer Federation Board of Directors. Annual re-examination is required.
A referee must officiate at the next - higher level to accumulate experience to be certified
competent at that level. Assignors must exercise care to increase the difficulty level of the game
assignments in a gradual and orderly manner for the good of the official and of the players.
*International Assistant Referees must wear USSF National Referee badge when assigned as referee
in matches.