Referee
Overview
Each spring and fall season, over 125 referees officiate the over 575 league games assigned by West Des Moines Soccer Club and played at our two complexes – Raccoon River (U7-U18) and Hidden Valley (U11 and older). In addition, we sponsor two recreational tournaments per year and the Premier Tournament, one of the Midwest’s finest and most competitive competitions. Our pool of referees includes both youthes ages 12 and up and adults.
Although the referees are paid a nominal amount, they generally officiate out of the love for the game. Youth soccer is in constant need of qualified referees, and many leagues exist which require varying levels of skill and competency. The West Des Moines Soccer Club assigns USSF certified referees to U7 and above games. At U11 and above three referees including one center and two lines officials are assigned to each game.
Throughout the United States, there is a shortage of referees mainly due to the growing popularity of the sport. We encourage all players, spectators, and coaches to attend a certification class to enhance their knowledge of the game. We believe it gives players a distinct advantage during play as they know the rules and can apply them in actual game settings.
All assignments for games are done through
an online computer system known as Arbiter.
Referees and club coaches have 24-hour-a-day access to this
system to check schedules and any changes thereto. Click HERE
for a demonstration on how to use Arbiter.
We encourage referees associated with other clubs, especially during tournaments, to seek out our club assignor or Director of Referees and ask for games. When we have tournaments always draw from the local community. Assistance from visiting teams with qualified referees is always welcome.
Click on the links
below to go to the section you need to reference.
Referee Links:
Field directions:
- Greater Des Moines Junior Soccer League Website
- IPSL Field directions
- WDM Soccer Club Fields
Raccoon River Field Map
- Directions to Hidden Valley Soccer Complex
The Hidden Valley Soccer Complex is located in the southern section of the City of West Des Moines adjacent to Walnut Woods State Park. The best access to the complex is from Iowa Highway 5, exit at S. 35th Street. Follow the signs to Walnut Woods State Park and the complex is immediately east of the state park.
Caution: The road and highway system in the area of the soccer complex has been re-engineered recently and none of the Internet mapping services will map the route correctly.
Hidden Valley Field Maps
Other Information
Director
of Referees' Contact Info
Jeff Brennan
JKbrennan4813aol.com
Certification
Program for New Referees
If you are interested in taking a certification class to become a referee, the classes are scheduled through the Iowa Referee Committee Website under training. The West Des Moines Soccer Club sponsors two clinics per year. The cost varies from year to year so you will need to check with the IRC to obtain the current rate. Upon attendance at the class checks are to be made payable to the IRC. The test is 100 questions closed book and is given at the end of the certification class. The test is graded at the conclusion of the class with a passing score of 75%.
Upon successful completion of the certification class the WDMSC then trains the new referees with a session of onfield training and mentors for the first year monitor the new referees progress. A class in Arbiter is given each year as well as a rules update.
The IRC web page is also full of updated information on rules changes and current trends in officiating. A review of this information along with the referee manual put out by our club is essential in keeping abreast of the changing rules and becoming proficient at the game.
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Starting in 2008 the USSF has required that all certified referees attend a re-certification class of four hours, or take an online test to re-certify. The class has a test and should be taken prior to the start of any season. Registration is also important and should be completed prior to March of every year. Again, these activities are scheduled and to be completed at the IRC web page.
Referee Game Procedures
Game
Cancellations/Postponements
Coaches have been instructed that in order to cancel a game more than 24 hours before the game they should contact 1) the Director of Referees, 2) the Club Administrator, or 3) the Referee. Within 24 hours of the game cancellation calls are to be made directly to the Assigned Referee. Cancellations due to weather are generally discouraged because we play in all weather except lightning. Cancellations due to field conditions will be emailed to the team conract through Arbiter. If you are uncertain, check the weather hotline.
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Player Cards/Rosters
All players must have a valid player card with photo and signature to play. However, we suggest some leeway to teams U10 and below for the first two weeks of the season and allow them to play without pictures/signatures on their cards (they still must have cards). Remind coaches to get cards completed. For U7 and & above games, you must check both player cards and rosters.
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Red
Cards, Fan/Coach Misconduct/Abuse
If you issue any red cards, eject coaches or parents or experience misconduct or abuse from any fans or coaches, you must email or call Director of Referees that day with the following information:
-Game number, date, time and location
-Player number(s) involved home or visiting team, whether red or yellow card was issued and type of infraction
-If fan/coach misconduct, a short description of the situation
You are required to prepare and file a USSF incident report within 48 hours to the governing and sanctioning body for the game. The Director of Referees will assist you in the preparation. Remember, if you are receiving what you consider abuse from fans or coaches, it is within the your right to call the game. Any touching of a referee by a player, coach or fan in a threatening manner is considered an assault and battery, and must be reported immediately after the game is completed. The USSF is very concerned about such unwanted and inappropriate actions and as a club, this will not be tolerated.
Payment
of Referees
For all Greater Des Moines Junior Soccer League games, coaches/coordinators will again make all payments to referees on the field following each game. Referee money will be provided in the coordinator packets. The current pay (subject to change and modification for tournament play) is as follows:
(Center/ARs)
U7/8 $10
U9/10 $12
U11/12 $20 ($15)
U13/14 $28 ($18)
U15/16 $35 ($20)
U17/18 $40 ($20)
If for any reason you do not receive payment for a game you refereed at the field, please contact the Director of Referees with the game number, time of game and field number. The Director will investigate the reasons for the missed payment and, if appropriate, get you paid through the club.
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No-Shows
If team no-shows for a scheduled game and you are not notified before you arrive at the field, you will be paid for that game. Email at the Director of Referees with the date, game number and amount due. Any referee that habitually no-shows for games will not be assigned to further games, and removed from assigned games at the sole discretion of the Director of Referees. If it is a GDMJSL, IPSL, or MRL game, the club may be subject to a fine of $50.00 minimum, which may be passed onto the offending referee for payment.
Process
for Securing Substitute Referees
Please check you game schedule as soon as you get it to identify conflicts ASAP –don’t wait! You cannot turn back games you have accepted using Arbiter - you have to contact Club Assignor/Director of Referees.
It each referee’s responsibility to secure their own substitutes, unless we have miss-scheduled you for dates you indicated as conflicts when you registered this season. Referees that habitually accept and then later reject games will simply not be assigned to future games.
We ask you follow this process to secure subs:
- Contact other referees you know or other referees from the ref list included in this mailing. Make several attempts before asking for help.
- If this is unsuccessful, call the Director of Referees with info on games you need subs for and we will email this request to our referee list and attempt to find a substitute.
If you secure your own sub, please email the Director of Referees via email or phone with information about reschedules (game number and date, who is in, who is out) so we can update the website so that it correctly shows who will be officiating each game.
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