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WisRef 2025 “NEW” Referee Course Instructions

NEW Referee courses are being offered by the Wisconsin Soccer Referee Development Program (WisRef) for a 2025 USSF Referee license expiring 12/31/2025. The successful Referee candidate will have the opportunity to officiate games for the fall of 2024 and all of the 2025 calendar year soccer seasons.

This course is for new, first time Referees that have not been previously registered as a Referee OR a previously registered Referee who has had a lapse in registration (2022 or prior lapse). Minimum age per US Soccer policy is 13 years old at the time of registering for the course.

This is a 12 Hour Course8 hours online US Soccer Learning Center course work (on your own)4 hours WisRef In-Person on-field Session (with Instructors)  
To Register as a 2025 US Soccer Referee   

Check the NEW Referee course details in the US Soccer Learning Center for the dates/locations where the In-Person on-field Sessions will be held.

WisRef utilizes 2 platforms. Registration and learning are within the US Soccer Learning Center. Game assignments, after completing all requirements, will be in the WisRef Assigning platform. Steps, to be completed fully and in order:

1. Create a Referee profile in the US Soccer Learning Center: https://learning.ussoccer.com/. This profile or account is for the Referee, not the parent. Full name & mailing address is required; the name, address & primary email should be exactly the same as will be input into the WisRef Assigning platform. Please note that school email addresses are sometimes problematic, so should be avoided.

https://ussoccerfederation.force.com/lcsupport/s/article/Sign-Up-for-an-Account

If you are 18 or older, you will be prompted to pay for and complete a 2-year background check and complete the SafeSport module. If you turn 18 during the course process or during a registration period, you will be required to complete the background check and SafeSport in order to continue refereeing during the seasons.

2. After you create your account, pay the $70 US Soccer 2025 registration fee and WisRef course fee. Register in the following 2025 NEW Referee Course:

https://learning.ussoccer.com/referee/courses/available/10000006/list

(Some may need to “right click” on the link above, and “open in new tab”.)

3. Complete all the required assignments in the US Soccer Learning Center. Remember to log out if you take a break from the training and continually save your progress. Chromebooks are not always compatible, may not load, save, or display properly, henceforth, Chromebooks are not recommended.

4. After completing steps 1 through 3, notify [email protected] to choose a date/time to attend a WisRef In-Person on-field Session. You will be able to pick a session date and time from the list in her email reply. Session dates/times are also listed in the course details in the Learning Center when you register.

* The In-Person on-field Session time of 4 hours is 100% accurate. Referee candidates are required to be actively present and participate for the entire session. These sessions meet US Soccer requirements and failure to be present for the entire session will result in full attendance not being granted and your certification will not be processed.

*Signing up for the In-Person on-field Session will be available after you complete the required Learning Center assignments – steps 1 through 3 above. You cannot reserve a spot for the In-Person on-field Session until you complete these steps. If an In-Person on-field session is near capacity, there are no guarantees that slots will be available by the time you finish steps 1 through 3. We strongly encourage Referee candidates to compete their assignments in the Learning Center well in advance of the In-Person on-field Session they wish to attend. We reserve the right to cancel any scheduled In-Person on-field Session for low attendance numbers. Referee Candidates will then be able to choose another date/time to attend. You may need to travel a bit for an In-Person on-field Session.

* The deadline for choosing the In-Person on-field Session is 48 hours before the start of the Session. WisRef requires course rosters to be set by this deadline. Please be diligent if you desire a session for a particular date and time.

5. Attend the selected In-Person on-field Session. The on-field Session will start in the classroom and may move outdoors (weather permitting) or will be held at an indoor field or gym for training so please dress accordingly. The In-Person on-field Sessions are interactive, and require active participation from all candidates.

6. Once you pass all the requirements, you will be certified by the WI State Referee Administrator as a 2025 USSF Referee. Your 2025 Referee badge will be mailed to you and you will be enabled in Ref Insight, the WisRef Assigningplatform, for game assignments. You will only receive one 2025 badge, which will be used for the fall 2024 season and all of 2025, so please keep it in a safe place.