Referees are an essential piece to the success of our programs and club!

Message from the Head Referee

Welcome to the Gloucester Hornets Referee Pages. Here you will find information about how to become a referee, along with our referee procedures manual and some links to useful reference material.

Current Referees – Please take the time to read this information carefully and visit often for updates before and during the soccer season.

Players or Coaches – I hope that you can use these pages to learn how referees interpret your actions on the field of play.

Parents of a New Referee - Please read the referee procedures manual so that you know what we expect during the season.

Becoming a Referee

The Ontario Soccer Association’s Referee Development Program has as its mission, “To prepare and certify referees for the club, district, regional and provincial levels of the game”.  Each season, the OSA offers training at all levels for referees, including those referees who are entering the program for the first time to those seeking promotion to the next level.

Referee development within the Gloucester Soccer Association is a cooperative effort between Gloucester Dragons and the Hornets. Information about entry level courses in Gloucester is posted each year on the Gloucester Dragons website www.dragonsoccer.ca. Courses for Mini Referees and Entry Level Referees are usually held in April and May of each year just prior to the opening of the soccer season.

Mini Referees

To become a Mini Referee, an individual must be at least 12 years old and no more than 13 years old on or before March 31st of each year. OSA Mini Referees are qualified to referee 7 v 7 Tiny Tot and Mini Soccer games, but are not certified to referee or act as the assistant referee on any 11 vs 11 games at any level. In Gloucester Mini Referees are employed up to the U-10 age group.

Entry Level Referees

The Canadian Soccer Association requires that all game officials have reached the full age of 14 years before April 1 of the current year. Persons wishing to enter the referee program are required to pre-register for the course and complete a pre-course workbook, in-class workbook, and pass an examination at the conclusion of the course. Those who pass the examination will be certified as CSA District Referees (if over the age of 16) or Youth Referees (if under the age of 16).

New entry level referees must complete a minimum of five games with Gloucester Dragons or another recreational league before being eligble to referee for Gloucester Hornets.

District Referees

District Referees must have reached the full age of 16 years before April 1 of the current year, and are eligible to referee competitive and recreational soccer games up to Level 3 of the OSA pyramid of play.

Regional Referees

Regional Referees must have reached the full age of 18 years before April 1 and must have a minimum of two (2) years experience as a District Referee. They must successfully complete the OSA Regional Referee Upgrade program.

Referee Resources

Useful information for referees can be found at the following sites:

Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association http://www.eodsaref.com

Ontario Soccer Association http://www.ontariosoccer.net

FIFA Laws of the Game http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/lawsofthegame.html

AskTheReferee http://www.asktheref.com

ERSL Referee Assignment System (RefCentre) http://www.refcentre.com