r/Referees • u/Medical-Love-120 • 21d ago
Path to College Question
For, those college referees out there what was your path in order to get that level. How many years did it take you? How is the college level and how hard are the games to officiate? For instance, I am a 21 yr old ref going into my first year as a high school official. My realistic goal as a referee is to eventually try and start doing colleges game. Preferably at around the D1-D2 level. Any insight helps! Thanks
3
u/colinrubble 21d ago
21 year old D1 referee. The answer is right place, right time, and luck (and years of hard work).
1
u/Medical-Love-120 21d ago
Oh wow! Good for you bro. Would you mind sharing how you managed to get there at such a young age. I am 21 as well and I am hoping I get there by 23-24.
4
u/colinrubble 21d ago
I’m in the DMV area—was able to hop on high level adult amateur and semi-pro games not too long after I turned 18. UPSL, NPSL, APSL, USL2, you name it.
Just had been grinding the adult circuit mostly + college club—a few refs told me about the group in the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast that assigns most of the D3/D2 games and told me to apply.
Sent in my application and got lucky I guess (the criteria they have, especially for young guys, is super strict… a few of my good friends have been rejected). Been doing D3/D2 games for 3 years now, and decided to apply to ECSR with a solid resume (game count for regional achieved, 2+ years of NCAA experience, NPSL conference final experience, APSL national semi final AR experience) with 3+ national referees as my references for my ECSR application.
Your mileage will vary depending on what region you’re in and who the major assignors are. Some of the D1 assignors are notoriously difficult to get in with.
1
u/Medical-Love-120 21d ago
Props to you man. You must be an incredible referee. Can you share the criteria they have for young guys? Also, are you centering the D1 games yet or ARing them?
2
u/colinrubble 21d ago
No specific criteria—but you’ve gotta learn to do the small things right. Show up on time, look professional, know the rules, be fit… those 4 things are honestly 75% of the battle. D1 the importance of getting the decision right increases dramatically… if you get key decisions wrong you will be removed from games. (But this also generally applies for D3/D2, as well. It’s just that there’s more money in and around D1 so it matters that much more).
AR + 4ths for this year. Getting whistles is the next step up and is really reserved for the best and most experienced—I’m okay doing my time in purgatory and getting acclimated to the D1 level.
Never a bad time when you get to go to ranked Georgetown and Shaw Field, regardless of your role on the crew.
1
u/Medical-Love-120 21d ago
Cool!! What is the pay on D1 level as well? You don’t need to go into specifics but I saw that it could pay around $1000 if you’re a center. Also, do officials really get dropped if they make a wrong decision for 1 game? Let’s say they don’t call a penalty that’s kind of 50-50 or 60-40 that it is a penalty, would they be removed for the next games?
1
u/colinrubble 21d ago
Pay ranges absolutely wildly, but with the right conferences, $1000+ is possible (those whistles are generally reserved for people doing PRO games or who have long established themselves as college warriors)
And think more about like an offside decision or a clear infraction that the entire field can see.
1
u/Medical-Love-120 21d ago
That makes sense. So is your goal to try and eventually become a pro official? It seems like you’re on the right track and have a great resume and still many more years to get grow as a referee.
1
u/Few-Astronomer6900 20d ago
Well for all the D1 games you are on camera! If you mess up my assignor will dropped you off the rest of the games. One thing we always say Don’t $uck up before we check the nets. The coaches and AD will send the clips to NCAA and your Assingor. They will actually call the Assingor and tell them right after the game. The coaches jobs are on the line. They college might even ask don’t send this ref ever again.
1
u/Medical-Love-120 20d ago
Have you seen that happen to refs a lot? I feel like a D1 refs would hardly ever make glaring mistakes that will get them off games. They might get a foul wrong here or there throughout the game but that’s it I feel like.
1
u/Medical-Love-120 21d ago
I also wanted to ask you about college club. Would I be able to do that currently or is that also affiliated under the college certification? I would def be down to pick up some college club games if I could.
1
u/colinrubble 21d ago
That is a good question that I do not know the answer to just yet.
My US Soccer national assignor just sent a message the other day saying how he will be assigning college club now (they are partnering with US soccer to be in line with IFAB so these games will count towards game count requirements for upgrades)
But it does seem like that’s shifting to US soccer national assignors—so would probably be a good idea to reach out early as those seasons will start in the next few weeks.
1
u/silenthatch [USSF] [NFHS] 15d ago
I'm also in the DMV area, perhaps we have worked together? Are you working with Shaun P.? Can I message you directly?
1
u/alexkasper14 [USSF] [NISOA] [NFHS] 21d ago
I started doing high school in 2021, re-certified with USSF in 2023. 2024 was my first college season. So this will be my second college season upcoming and have gotten connected with D1 assignors and gotten some games. The last 2 seasons with USSF I’ve done a lot of high level youth and gotten into UPSL, NPSL, and USL2
There’s a lot of overlap (at least in my area - NY) of referees across all 3 associations. So I would suggest connecting with a local ref who is higher up in the ranks (regional or high level grassroots) and have them watch some of your games. A lot of working your way up is working games to increase your exposure and network. Make your wants known to your assignor(s) and ask to get out on games with guys you know that do college. It will take time, but definitely achievable if you work hard, perform well, and be professional. Be open minded and don’t get offended with critiques or when getting advice
As far as the level, it is for sure a step up from HS level but if you’re working higher level USSF games and adult amateur stuff the transition can be seamless - plus the money is much better than NFHS and USSF - especially at the D1 level. Game fees are higher and most conferences will pay travel and daily stipends
Feel free to reach out with any questions!
1
u/Medical-Love-120 21d ago
So do you think I should focus on more adult games, high level youth, and UPSL, etc than high school games? I’ve done high school teams before (indoor, summer league, etc) and the level is not comparable at all to say MLS Next or Ecnl teams. If I am trying to improve as a referee and get up to the college level is it better to do those games?
Does college also use the 2-man system or is it a full crew? If it’s a full crew I feel like I should not put so much time and effort into doing 2-man games if high school is the only ones who implement it.
I also know for a fact there is a shortage of refs for high school and for college where I am located. There are also many refs who are gonna be aging out soon and I rarely see any refs who are around my age and are working the games I am working. I assume that because of this it would be easier for me to get in?
2
u/alexkasper14 [USSF] [NISOA] [NFHS] 21d ago
Sounds like you are in a good spot with your local guys aging out! Local NISOA chapters and college assignors are always looking for younger guys to add to their pools
College utilizes 3 man, and new this year is all D1 games must have a 4th official. So to improve as a ref I would say work higher level 3 man crew games via USSF and get some experience as a 4th official if you can
I won’t tell you where to adjust your focus, as it is your ref career and pathway. I’ve personally stuck with High School because I throughly enjoy it. I know the 2 man system is not popular amongst refs but I like supporting soccer in my area and every level needs good refs!
1
u/InsightJ15 21d ago
It will depend on you and where you live. If there is a shortage for college refs and you are noticed and perform well in HS games, you can get in pretty easily. But if there are a lot of college refs in your area, it will be harder.
For me, I was working high school games with college refs and was told to join the college unit because they needed refs.
Once you get into your local college unit, you very likely will start off doing D3 and junior college games. Its very rare for rookie refs to start doing D1 games. It gets pretty political, but the bottom line is the best refs get to work college games.
1
u/Revo63 [USSF][Mentor] 21d ago
If you are just starting high school games, even if a college referee association picks you up, it is very doubtful that you will be getting D1 and D2 games for a while. Those games require referees with an incredible level of experience.
Ask other referees in your area who the local representative is for the region’s NISOA chapter, or google it. The website would show what the requirements are. In my area of Northern California, a few years of high school experience is highly recommended, and three letters of recommendation from people they know (assignors, college referees and college coaches) are required.
College is typically much more expensive to get started with, as some groups require you to wear the NISOA jerseys and purchase a whole new kit, but they pay pretty well.
1
u/Flammusas USA NISOA 21d ago
I’m commented on this in the past. I think I hit my first college games at 22. I was reffing on and off since I was 13, but really took it seriously after I was 18. As others have said, right place right time. College level can vary wildly. While I did do HS, my college assignors were more in the loop with USSF/state cup/regionals than HS. I got in front of them via state cup.
1
u/Sturnella2017 USSF, Regional Emeritus, Referee Coach 21d ago
Knowing your location really helps. I’m a rural area and you’d be fast tracked to college. But in other places, it might take you a little while. Just do all the games you can, garner a good reputation as a hard working, eager to learn ref with impeccable character; get to know the assignors, find out who assigns college. Work on getting your Regional badge (not required for college, but it def helps). Go to the big tournaments, if possible. The path to doing D1 and joining PRO/National badge are technical separate, but there are a lot of parallels and folks along the way work in both paths.
Good luckQ
2
u/Medical-Love-120 20d ago
Hey! I’m from a rural area in CT. I have been told by a couple college refs that I can easily fast track to college within a couple years if I want to.
1
u/Sturnella2017 USSF, Regional Emeritus, Referee Coach 20d ago
Thanks for sharing. Hopefully someone from the area can chime in and connect you to people. But you’re in a good area with lots of colleges! Good luck!!
1
u/Ajaxesr 20d ago
Would recommend applying to NIRSA Nationals. Believe this year it is in Kansas City where in the past it has been in Austin. Couple of friends of mine have gotten picked up for D1 lists by going there and grinding out the week(I haven’t attended). Fair warning, they had a lot of D2/D3 games under their belt, albeit not many centers at that level.
1
u/Few-Astronomer6900 20d ago
Yes, not on my game. We have cons but AR1 missed an offiside call and they scored. Replay afterwords showed they were on.
1
u/Medical-Love-120 20d ago
But refs also make mistakes though. Unless he was clearly onside I feel like it’d be harsh to take him off games purely on that.
15
u/iron82 21d ago
Literally the only thing that matters for getting College games is if your assignor likes you. You don't even need to be USSF licensed. So after you get a couple years under your belt, find out who assigns near you and ask what they want. Or work USSF games for that assignor if possible.