2020 Registration Opens September 3

For the past year, U.S. Soccer has been working on creating a new digital Learning Center that will handle all registrations uniformly across the country. This new platform is being implemented nationwide starting with the 2020 registration year. As a result, CNRA will no longer be processing registrations for current and new referees in Game Officials as we have the past few years. Instead, CNRA will begin utilizing U.S. Soccer’s newly mandated platform effective September 3, 2019. Specific information about how to register using the new platform will be sent on September 3.

Along with this change comes a new Referee Pathway, which consolidates the current nine grade certification program into five license levels. The pathway design aims to clarify a referee’s journey from grassroots to the highest levels of the game, lower the barriers of entry for anyone wishing to participate as a referee, and offer all referees more mobility and flexibility in their development.

GRASSROOTS REFEREE (FORMERLY GRADES 9, 8 AND 7)

• Qualified to officiate competitive, small-sided or recreational youth matches and amateur adult matches.
• U.S. Soccer Grassroots Referees will register for courses and be certified through State Referee Committees.

REGIONAL REFEREE (FORMERLY GRADES 6 AND 5)

• Qualified to officiate competitive state competitions, regional events, and professional leagues including NPSL and USL League Two.
• Regional Referees will register for courses and be certified through State Referee Committees.
• Details on certification and recertification requirements will be sent out soon.

NATIONAL REFEREE/ASSISTANT REFEREE (FORMERLY GRADES 4 AND 3)

• Qualified to officiate national and professional matches in any league except MLS. This includes the USL Championship and NWSL.
• National Referees and Assistant Referees are selected and certified directly by U.S. Soccer.
• Details on certification and recertification requirements will be sent out soon.

Detailed information about how to register in the U.S. Soccer Learning Center on September 3. We kindly ask you to hold off on any questions until all information has been published.

Reminder: Access to the new Digital Learning Center will not be available until September 3, 2019.