REFEREES
REFEREE FOR NORTH SUBURBAN
2025: BECOME A REFEREE

CERTIFICATION PROCESS
New Ref Certification Clinic
Date: Saturday, April 5
Location: TCO Sports Garden - Vadnais Heights
Time: 5 - 7:30 pm
*Additional dates available at other sites - see below link for details
*Prerequisites:
- 5 hours of online course work completed through US Soccer Learning Center prior to on-field clinic sessions.
- Must be 13 years or older to start the certification process. No exceptions.
Junior Ref Spring Clinic
Monday, April 21, 2025 @ Irondale HS Multi-Purpose Room
- 6 - 7 pm
- NEW Jr. Referees will receive a Jr. Referee T-shirt and whistle at the clinic.
Requirements:
- Must be 11 years or older.
- Mandatory for any NEW Jr. Referees
- Highly encouraged for any returning Jr. Referees
Did you miss the info session? Click below to get caught up and have most of your questions answered!
There are two paths:
- All Competitive matches require a state certification, obtained annually, leading up to the Spring/Summer season. You must be 13 years of age to become certified.
- All Jr. Academy & Recreational matches do NOT require a certification, however, if you are certified, you may also work these matches. This program is open to 11 and 12-year olds, as well as those that are older.
We encourage all that are 13 years of age or older to become certified.
If you are a:
- youth player wanting to grow your knowledge of the game (must be 13 years old)
- soccer enthusiast with an interest to impact the game
- parent of a soccer player and want to support youth soccer in a new, active way
- collaborative, open-minded individual who is motivated to actively improve your skills
- natural leader wanting to apply your abilities to the great game
Become a referee – don’t delay!
- Flexible, work-as-much-or-as-little as you would like.
- Earn good money being around the sport you love.
- Learn time management, communication, life skills.
- Referee with your kids! This is a great family activity!
CONTACT
North Suburban Soccer partners with MAT Assigning to secure referees for all NSSA home games.
Questions or want to be added to the pool of officials? Reach out to:
Tyler Dalsin, NSSA Referee Assignor
tyler@matassigning.com
612-751-4432
Important Dates
League Games: May 1- July 30 (Approximately)
Tournaments: Various weekends throughout the Summer
NSSA OFFERS GREAT INCENTIVES FOR OUR NEW & RETURNING REFEREES!
NSSA INCENTIVES FOR NEW REFEREES
New referees, after refereeing 10 NSSA club (competitive league) games, will be reimbursed for referee certification and starter kit ($150).
New referees are also eligible for the following additional bonuses:
- 20 Game Officiated: $75 bonus
- 30 Games Officiated: $100 bonus
PLEASE NOTE: The officiated games must be NSSA Club Competitive League games. Time frame includes both spring/summer and fall seasons.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. How old to I need to be to be a certified referee?
A. All referee certification is organized by the Minnesota State Referee Committee. U.S. Soccer Policy is that the certification is open to those 13 years of age or older at the time of creating an account.
Q. I am certified. Now what?
A. You will want to reach out to Tyler at tyler@matassigning.com to introduce yourself. From there, Tyler will send you a link to be added to the MAT Assigning software, Notch.
Q. How do I get assigned games?
A. There are multiple methods to receiving game assignments: setting your availability and waiting for assignment based on that availability, requesting games, or responding to an email with open games listed.
Q. How much will I earn?
A. Referees earn anywhere between $25 and $90, dependent on age, level and position (either center referee or assistant referee).
Q. How often am I paid?
A. You will be paid for your work VERY FAST! Work a game, submit a game report, wait for approval (usually same day) and your funds will be transferred to your Notch wallet for disbursement to your bank account.
Q. Who decides when, where, or how much I work?
A. You! One benefit to this job is that you get to work when you want, where you want as often as you want.
Q. I have other questions. Who can I contact?
A. We want to answer your questions. Please reach out to tyler@matassigning.com and we’ll get back to you quickly.