Maine Soccer Referee Association offers beginning soccer referee training in Windham and Portland

Anyone 14 years of age and older who has ever thought about becoming a certified youth soccer referee is invited to sign up for one of two upcoming Grassroots Soccer Referee training courses taking place in Windham April 21 and April 22 and in Portland April 28 and April 29.

Soccer referee training will be held Friday,
April 21 ands Saturday, April 22 in Windham.
COURTESY PHOTO 

“Whatever your age, there are plenty of good reasons to become a soccer referee.” says Pete LeVasseur, Maine’s State Director of Soccer Referee Instruction. “If you’re a teenager, it is a great way to make more money per hour while being outdoors and staying fit.

If you play soccer, you will be a better player when you better understand the Laws of the Game. If you’re an adult of any age it is a great way to support and give back to your community. And if you love soccer, there is simply no better “seat in the house.”

Levasseur himself is 73 and still an active referee.

Referring to the thousands of kids aged 7 to 18 playing youth soccer on teams from Bangor south to Kittery and the Lakes Region east to Eastport, Jason Pelletier, Maine’s State Referee Administrator, says, “It takes a lot of referees to make this program work, and we heartily welcome everyone who chooses to join us.”

Previous knowledge of the game isn’t necessary. The course begins with the basics and builds from there. The Grassroots training course is 10 hours long, split between Friday evening from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The course covers the basics of the Laws of the Game, referee signals for both Assistant Referees and Center Referees, movement on the field, and game management.

Courses will be taught by experienced USSF-certified Instructors who are all active referees themselves. Uniforms can be ordered during registration and will be available for pick-up at the course.

The Windham class will be conducted April 21 and April 22, will take place at The Little Meeting House, 723 Roosevelt Trail, Windham. The Portland class is set for April 28 and April 29 and will take place at East End Community School, 195 North St. in Portland and you must be pre-registered to attend.

For more information about the classes or any other aspect of youth soccer refereeing, send an email to pjhl1949@gmail.com, or go to the Maine Soccer Referees Association (MSRA) website at www.mainesoccerreferee.com. <