Two entry level soccer referee classes will be offered in the next few weeks in the Northeast Tennessee area.  These classes result in United States Soccer Federation (USSF) certification which is valid through 2013 and required for USSF sanctioned recreational and club youth matches in the area.   The certification is NOT valid for TSSA (High School) officials, although it is recommended that high school officials have received equivalent training.The classes consist of 16hrs of classroom training on the Laws of the Game and are concluded with a certification examination which must be passed with at least a 75% grade.  The cost is $80, including books, badge, and all registration and training fees.   Referee gear must be purchased separately (online sources for gear will be given during the class).  It is recommended that candidates be at least 12 yrs old.During the Sunday sessions, there will be a separate recertification class for existing referees being taught in a parallel room.  Recertification can be done by referees whose last badge was dated 2010, 2011, or 2012.The classes will be taught by Tony Messina, Carl Voigt, and Scott Walsh according to the schedule below.

Greeneville YMCA Bldg, 404 Y Street, Greeneville, TN
                Friday,      Jan 25, 2013   5pm – 9pm
             Saturday,    Jan 26, 2013    9am – 5pm 
               Sunday,     Jan 27, 2013   12noon – 5pm 

Warrior’s Path State Park, Kingsport, TN   (Duck Island Buidling)
            Friday,       Feb 15, 2013      5pm – 9pm
            Saturday,  Feb 16, 2013      9am – 5pm
            Sunday,     Feb 17, 2013      12noon – 5pm 

Signup for these classes should be done on-line at http://www.soccerofficialstn.org according to the instructions below:

1.      click ‘Register for Class’ at the top of the web page
2.      Answer ‘No’ to whether you have been registered before (if previously registered, answer yes and follow yellow brick road)
3.      Click ‘Approved Classes’ at the top of the next web page
4.      Click ‘Entry Level (Grade 8, 3-day)’
5.      select ‘5942-EL8’ for the class in Greeneville or ‘5914-EL8’ for the class in Kingsport
6.      Click ‘Login here’ at the bottom of the next page
7.      This will take you to a login page for GameOfficials.noet where you will need to create a USSF Registration Account
8.      Click ‘Find Yours or Create One Here’ and follow the yellow brick road
9.      Payment can be done via credit card or you can elect to pay at the class, if you pay at the class you will need to bring a check made out to ‘S.R.I.T.C.’ 

Please print and bring along a copy of your final registration confirmation page.

 If you have questions or problems, contact Tony Messina (tmess@chartertn.net) 423-677-6650 (cell) or 423-246-2446 (home).

Please feel free to forward this notice to any other interested candidates. Thanks for your interest in Tennessee Soccer.  

Tony Messina   Carl Voigt    Scott Walsh
 Soccer Referee Instructors of TriCities (SRITC)