Topics include:

• Fouls and Misconduct - Handling the gray areas, football understanding, big-picture thinking, and proactive refereeing

• Assistant Referee Decisions - Offside, fouls, misconduct, crew collaboration

• Positioning - Reading the game, advanced positioning concepts, purposeful scanning, dynamic movement, anticipation, and getting the angle that sells the decision

• Assistant Referee Involvement - Movement, zones of involvement, proactive assistance, game management, and pre-game preparation

• Managing Participants - Player/coach management, de-escalation, command presence, and the “Moment Map”

• Leadership and Professionalism - Leadership on and off the field, conducting an effective pre-game, peer mentorship, and behaviors that shape referee culture

• High Performance - Training smarter, match demands, sports psychology, seasonal planning, peak performance, injury prevention, and recovery

Review of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) Changes to the Laws of the Game (LOTG) for 2026-27

You must get 50 questions correct in order to pass this quiz.

Topics include concussion awareness, Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), heat stroke, cold weather considerations, and lightning guidelines (30 minute presentation)

A JDP background check is required for those age 18 and older; cost is $23 and is good for 2 years; allow 1 week for a determination

Certification through the U.S. Center for SafeSport is required annually by law for those age 18 and older; a 90 minute module

• 1 assessment at the adult amateur level

• 1 assessment at the highest youth level (18U/19U) in a 90-minute match

Each assessment must be performed by a different or unique Referee Coach or National Referee Coach.

The Regional Referee Fitness Test consists of two parts:

• Repeated Sprint Ability – measures the referee’s ability to perform repeated sprints over 40m

• Interval Test – evaluates the referee’s capacity to perform a series of high-speed runs over 75m interspersed with 25m walking intervals

Timings:

Male – Category 1

• Sprints: 6.4 Seconds x 6 Sprints at 40 Meters

• Intervals: 17s per 75m Run, 20s per 25m Walk x 10 Laps

Female – Category 3

• Sprints: 6.6 Seconds x 6 Sprints at 40 Meters

• Intervals: 17s per 75m Run, 24s per 25m Walk x 10 Laps

NOTE: The time between the Sprint Test and Interval Test should be approximately 10 minutes.