English | Español
ussoccer.com ussoccer.com
Home
Referee Programs Referee Dev. U.S. Men    |    U.S. Women    |    Youth    |    Academy    
Articles
Sights & Sounds
Schedule & Tickets
Teams & Events
Coaching Education
Referee Programs
Laws of the Game
Federation Services
Governance
Sponsors
Media
History
About U.S. Soccer
U.S. Soccer Fan
Store
 Search    
  Referee Development  
 
 
u.s.soccer
 
referee department

U.S. Soccer Federation’s Referee Membership has grown tremendously in the past decade and at the conclusion of 2004 the total number of referees – including instructors and assessors – registered through the USSF surpassed 140,000. This figure is one of the largest among the 204 nations belonging to FIFA. U.S. Soccer Referees call games at every level of the sport in the United States, including youth, amateur and professional games, as well as sanctioned international competitions. 

American referees are playing an increasing role in CONCACAF and continue to get more and better appointments to work international matches. In2004, U.S. Soccer referees worked 185 international matches in the United States alone, as well as officiating in numerous international tournaments outside of the U.S.

Some of the events at which the United States was represented included the Algarve Cup, the Four Nations Tournament, the Toulon Tournament, the 2004 Olympic Games and numerous CONCACAF qualifiers and international friendlies outside of the United States. Director of International and Professional Development, Esse Baharmast, supervises the development of referees for international assignments.

The hard work of U.S. Soccer’s Referee Program was rewarded early in 2005 when long-time official Kevin Stott was honored by FIFA as one of 46 international referees selected to compete for one of the 30 referee positions at the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006.

U.S Soccer originally began comprehensively training and developing a large number of referees in the early 1970s. The referee program has grown to become of the largest in the world, and is conducted by qualified state referee instructors in a consistent manner throughout the nation. The training program includes a requirement for referees to attend advanced national training programs annually and is under the direction of Alfred Kleinaitis, Manager of Referee Training and Development.

At the end of each year, FIFA announces the list of international referees and referee assistants that are eligible to officiate FIFA sanctioned matches in the coming year. The current American contingent, which represents a total of approximately 130,000 registered officials in the United States, includes ten referees, 12 referee assistants and two Futsal referees. Following is a look at the current U.S. Representatives on the FIFA list
 
 

Referees (10)

Int’l Since

Birthdate

Jennifer Bennet (Calif.)

2003

05/04/1970

Margaret Domka (Wis.)

2009

08/13/1979

Mark Geiger (N.J.)

2008

08/25/1974

Jair Marrufo (Texas)

2007

06/19/1977

Arkadiusz Prus (S.C.)

2004

02/06/1964

Ricardo Salazar (Calif.)

2005

09/06/1972

Kari Seitz (Calif.)

1999

11/02/1970

Sandra Serafini (N.C.)

2006

11/03/1968

Baldomero Toledo (Calif.)

2007

02/06/1970

Terry Vaughn (lowa)

2004

04/01/1973

 

Referee Assistants (12)

Int’l Since

Birthdate

Marlene Duffy (Calif.)

2008

08/04/1979

George Gansner (Mo.)

2002

10/13/1971

Sean Hurd (Fla.)

2009

11/09/1971

Charles J. Morgante (Pa.)

2007

05/24/1974

Veronica Perez (Calif.)

2008

10/31/1979

Kermit QuisenBerry (Fla.)

2004

09/27/1968

Corey Rockwell (Ariz.)

2007

02/26/1974

Chris Strickland (Calif.)

2002

11/29/1966

Thomas Supple (Mass.)

2004

02/17/1965

Fabio Tovar (Calif.)

2006

01/03/1967

Anthony Vasoli (Ill.)

2008

10/20/1970

Adam Wienckowski (Md.)

2007

08/02/1975

Sharon Wheeler (N.Y.)

2000

09/03/1963

 

Fustal Assistants (2)

Int’l Since

Birthdate

Shane Butler (Mo.)

2005

01/05/1975

Jason Krnac (Ohio)

2005

12/03/1973

 
Referee Inspectors
U.S. Soccer will appoint certain National Assessors as Referee Inspectors. This designation is at the discretion of U.S. Soccer and is reviewable at any time. Referee Inspectors will be empowered to assess all games but specifically at the Pro-Level and international level. In addition, all National Referees and National Candidates must have at least one of their annual assessments as a referee conducted by a Referee Inspector. Below is the current list of Referee Inspectors as of 5/1/2008*

Referee Inspectors (23)

Arturo Angeles Sandra Hunt Herb Silva
Rudy Bettmann Alfred Kleinaitis Steve Siomos
Thomas Bobadilla Farhad Mansourian Paul Tamberino
Angelo Bratsis David McKee Freddie Usher
Gino Dipppolito Joe Michna Don Wilbur
Rick Eddy Steve Olson Jon Wilson
Brian Hall Ali Saheli Heinz Wolmerath
Holly Hollingsworth Nasser Sarfarez  

Annual Assessment Requirements for National Referee Candidates and National Referees
Annual assessment requirements for National Referee Candidates and recertifying National Referees requires that each receive one passing assessment, as the referee, from an assessor specified/approved by U.S. Soccer (Referee Inspector).

In addition, all National Referees and National Referee Candidates must have one referee and one assistant referee assessment done on a “Professional League Match game or other game approved by U.S. Soccer.” Below is the list of approved games:

LIST OF U.S. SOCCER APPROVED GAMES

  • Amateur State Cup Championship Match
  • Armed Forces Tournament (Men & Women)
  • California Premier Soccer League – California North (For National Referee maintenance assessment purposes only)
  • Donnelly Cup
  • Interstate Amateur Cup Games (Men & Women)
  • International Team Games involving 2 National Teams U-17and higher (Men & Women)
  • National Cup Finals (Amateur/Men & Women)
  • National Cup Finals (Open/Men & Women)
  • National Cup Finals (Over 30)
  • National Cup Finals (U-20)
  • National Cup Finals (U-23/Men & Women)
  • National Cup Finals (U-19)
  • Open State Cup Championship Match (Men & Women)
  • U.S. Soccer Development Academy Games
  • National Cup Games within state, between Amateur teams
  • US Soccer Open Cup
  • Professional League (MLS, A-League, USL D3Pro pre-season and post-season matches). Only when such games are marked “Approved” for upgrade or maintenance assessment for National Referees and National Referee Candidates on the pro assignment schedule page
  • Regional Open/Amateur/O-30, U-20, U-23 Cup Finals
  • Regional State Select Matches
  • Regional Tournament of Champions (Finals only)
  • US Youth Soccer U-19 National Championship Games
  • State Cup Finals (U-20, U-23)
  • USL PDL Games (Regular Season and Playoffs)
  • W-League Regular Season and Playoffs
  • Youth U-19 Regional Championships (Men & Women)
  • Selected games between US pro teams (Div 1, 2 and 3) and foreign (club or national) teams. Only when such games are marked “Approved” for upgrade or maintenance assessment for National Referees and National Referee Candidates on the pro assignment schedule page
    Selected games between two foreign (club or national) teams. Only when such games are marked
  • “Approved” for upgrade or maintenance assessment for National Referees and National Referee Candidates on the pro assignment schedule page.
Top

12/17/2008  
U.S. Women 1
China PR Women 0
12/13/2008  
U.S. Women 1
China PR Women 0
12/07/2008  
U.S. U-20 Women 2
Korea DPR U-20 Women 1
U.S. Men vs. Sweden
Live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision
01/24/2009  5:30 PM  PT
U.S. Men vs. Mexico
TBA
02/11/2009  TBA


  
 
U.S. Men vs. Sweden
01/24/2009  5:30 PM  PT
The Home Depot Center; Carson, Calif.
U.S. Men vs. Mexico
02/11/2009  TBA
Columbus Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio


  
 
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
 
 
Did you know?
ABOUT U.S. SOCCER
The first USFA (now U.S. Soccer) Secretary General Thomas Cahill also doubled as the U.S. MNT program's inaugural head coach on a six-game tour of Sweden and Norway in 1916.
Contact Us | Recommended Browsers