Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of CSOA. Below are the steps that you must follow to become a member. If you have any questions about this process you can contact the commissioner.
Attend a VHSL soccer rules clinic at one of the locations listed under the VHSL link on our web page. Based on the new rating system, officials MUST attend a mandatory rules clinic in order to be eligible to referee VARSITY level games.
Complete a VHSL registration - Registration for soccer takes place from October and ends at the CSOA clinic in February. The registration fee this year is $40.00 including insurance. Since there is no longer any reciprocity with Maryland, if you register in Maryland then you will have to pay $40.00 for Virginia registration. Everyone must pay the same amount unless you officiate another VHSL sport in which case you will pay $25.00. CSOA will have a representative at the VHSL Rules clinics for those who want to register there. Rulebooks will be provided at the clinics or when you pay your registration fee.
Take the National Federation High School Exam - The exam is administered on-line; guidance will be provided. The date of our clinic will be posted on upcoming events on our home page within 30 days of the scheduled date of the clinic.To prepare for the exam, review the rules book and last year’s exam. In addition to reviewing the past exam, it is vital that you read the play rulings throughout the rule book.
If you take the exam in Maryland in the fall, provide a copy of your exam to a CSOA representative at the CSOA Clinic/Business Meeting held in February. Without a copy of your Maryland test you will have to retake the exam at the clinic.
Attend the annual CSOA Clinic/Business Meeting that is held in the February/March timeframe. The Clinic runs from about 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. High School Soccer has some different rules than FIFA. You should check NF-FIFA_Differences_2006.pdf them out. We provide breakfast and lunch. Vendors of referee gear will also be in attendance. See you there. The clinic is mandatory for all CSOA referees so please plan ahead.
Complete your availability using Arbitersports.com - see Related link on this page
You need to keep your availability current so that your assignor can begin to assign games immediately following the clinic and throughout the season. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AS YOUR AVAILBILITY CHANGES YOU MUST UPDATE YOUR AVAILABILITY IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ASSIGNOR GET’S YOU THE GAMES THAT YOU CAN DO.
CSOA refs also do scrimmages for the high schools as a way to knock the rust off from the winter. It is expected that each ref will volunteer to do two scrimmages. Check in with the assignor at the Clinic/Business Meeting to sign up for scrimmages.
