1. Returning certified match officials: you will need to re-register to be a volunteer for the MY2022 season (we need to re-register every year). You will also need to do the yearly “Background Check” with Sterling Volunteers. Go to your inLeague account and re-register (as a volunteer) for MY2022. Note: We have a newly updated version of “InLeague” so it will look a little different than the past years. Click the “Volunteer Registration” button and complete the process. Make sure you choose “Referee” as your volunteer preference (even if you just plan on becoming an Assistant Referee). Initiate the Background Check, and then be on the lookout for an email from them–it will need to be confirmed/responded to.
New requirement as of 2019: make sure you have taken the required Simon’s Heart “Sudden Cardiac Arrest” course (if you haven’t already) which is found at “eTrainU” (our new educational platform). You access the eTrainU platform by logging in to InLeague (using your own email and password), and then click the ‘graduation cap‘ icon in the upper right-hand corner. This will bring you to a new page that lets you “Log into eTrainU.” You will be brought to a ‘home page’ that has a column of tabs on the left-hand side. (BTW, you should see YOUR name on this page.) On the left-hand column of tabs, click “Training Library” and then the Safe Haven View Courses button. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest course can be found here (as well as the SafeHaven and CDC Concussion course).
New requirement as of 2022: all referees need to take the “SafeSport” class, which is a state mandated requirement. The link to SafeSport is found by clicking the ‘graduation cap’ icon, which brings you to a page that has the link to “SafeSport” at the bottom of the page. Make sure you are using your full legal name (no nicknames, abbreviated names, etc.) when signing up for this.
2. NEW to the Region, and/or NOT a certified referee yet, you will need to take the referee training, but first you’ll need to register as a VOLUNTEER in your inLeague account. Log in to InLeague (using your own name and password, not that of a spouse) and click the “Volunteer Registration” button. Follow the instructions and be sure to use your full legal name (no nicknames or abbreviations). Make sure you choose “Referee” as your volunteer preference (even if you just plan on becoming an Assistant Referee). There will also be a “Background Check” (since our volunteers are working closely with young athletes) by the folks at Sterling Volunteers, please initiate that as well and then be on the lookout for an email from them that needs a confirmation/response. If you have questions about this process please reach out to me at rra@ayso20.org
Referee Training: Once you are registered as a volunteer in InLeague, there are two options in becoming a referee: taking a “full-day” in-person course (8 hrs) OR a “combo” of online training and in-person training. This “combo” option involves a required 90′ online training, followed by a 3-4 hour in-person training session. Most folks choose the “combo” because it feels easier to manage (doing some on your own time and the rest in the shorter in-class session). The “full-day” course is also great, but takes a full day. You choose what works best for your schedule.
REFEREE Training–The “combo” course opportunities are conveniently located in Santa Monica at the Colorado Center (2500 Broadway). [You must complete online modules and quiz before attending the in-person session.] There is plenty of street parking (meters) or subterranean parking that we can validate for you!
You only need to take one classroom session (but feel free to attend as many as you wish if you want to get more comfortable with the material). These are the course dates:
August 13, 20, 27 (Saturdays from 8am-12pm)
September 3, 10 (Saturdays from 8am-12pm)
September 18, 25 (Sundays, from 1pm-5pm)
September 20 (Tuesday night from 6pm-10pm)
Option 1: “The Combo”. You will need to complete the online referee training before attending the in-person referee course. You can start on the online material right now if you wish, but you may want to wait till you get closer to one of the classroom sessions so the material is fresh in your mind (you are also free to go back and retake the online modules as many times as you wish)! To access the online course material, log on to your InLeague website at https://inleague.ayso20.org/ using your own email and password—not a spouse’s, then click the “graduation cap” icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page. This will bring you to a page that lets you “Log into eTrainU.” Click that button and you will be brought to eTrainU.
You will be brought to an eTrainU home page that has a column of tabs on the left-hand side. (BTW, you should see YOUR name on the upper left corner of this page.) On the left-hand column of tabs, click “Training Event” icon. This will bring you to a ‘calendar’ page. In the ‘Regions’ box enter “Region 20.” In the ‘Courses’ box enter “Regional Referee Online + In-Person Companion Course (2-part bundle).” Then scroll through the months/dates until you get to a date that works for you (they start in mid-August). When you find one that works for you, click “enroll.” (If you make a mistake, or change your mind, and wish to take the class on another date you will need to unenroll from the class you signed up for.)
There are 9 online modules plus a “final exam” that need to be successfully completed before attending the in-person classroom session. The online part should take you about 60-90 minutes. Then all you need to do is attend the in-person class and there we will outfit you with the (free) match official ‘uniform’ including: socks, shorts, jersey, ref wallet, flags, whistle and a hat (like the folks modeling the spiffy uniform on the picture above)!
Option 2: “The Full-Day Course” You will need to sign up for and take the “Regional Referee – Full In-Person Course.“ There are no online pre-req’s for this. This is accessed and signed up for just like the above course, but enroll in the “Regional Referee – Full In-person Course.”
***All Volunteers–Take online “Safety” classes–there are a few “safety classes” that need to be completed before you can help on the field. To access the online “safety” course material, first log on to your InLeague website (using your own email and password–not a spouse’s), then click the “graduation cap” icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page. This will bring you to a page that lets you “Log into eTrainU.”
You will be brought to eTrainU. Then you will be brought to a home page that has a column of tabs on the left-hand side. (You should see YOUR name on this page.) On the left column of tabs, click “Training Library” and then “Safe Haven Courses.” Here you will find the three (3) required safety courses (Safe Haven-Online, CDC Concussion Awareness-Online, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest-Online). Complete these before opening weekend.
***All Volunteers–Take online “SafeSport” class—log in to InLeague. Click on ‘graduation cap icon’ At the bottom of the next page will be info about SafeSport and a link to get you there.
If you are interested or have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to: rra@ayso20.org
See you on the pitch!
