REQUIREMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED...

1. AGE: 18 years of age or above

2. TIME IN GRADE: Licensed referee in 2024 and 2025

3. REFEREE CAPABILITY: While Referee Mentor is the entry-level step for new trainers, mentors are still highly experienced referees who have demonstrated effective game management at the youth level. As you progress to Mentor+ and Referee Coach, additional referee performance experience will be expected. But for Referee Mentor, you should consistently perform well in a U-19 boys and girls competitive match as the referee on a full 3-person crew with 22 players. You need to be able to model success at that level to mentor success in others. If you are primarily refereeing below the U-19 level or are not comfortable there, get more referee experience before considering mentor. You also be modeling current US Soccer's approved mechanics, positioning, and Laws of the Game.

4. OTHER EXPERIENCE: Those with teaching or coaching experience may find it is helpful in mentoring. However, you will still need to develop new skills to mentor the way US Soccer and the state of Idaho expect you to do so. In fact, we find many previous coaches have to leave behind some assumptions and learn what US Soccer requires of its referees, so be ready to learn.

5. COST: $77.50 the first year (which you will earn back in 2 field mentoring session or 1 class) plus a $22 background check every 2 years ($150 if you have lived internationally).

STEPS TO BECOME LICENSED...

6. APPLICATION: Your first step is to complete a New Mentor Application form here and request consideration. 

7. ZOOM INTERVIEW: Qualified applicants will have a zoom call with the. SDA/SDI. You must have the. support of your DRA and the SDA/SDI to move forward.

8. ONLINE CLASS: Once you are approved, completed the Idaho New Mentor Course. You will need an invitation key from the SDA/SDA to enroll. 

9. IN PERSON CLASS: After the online class, you'll attend an in person or zoom class (to be determined) with the SDA/SDI.   Attendance at 100% of the course in person is required. You may not come late nor leave early, so plan your travel accordingly. This year's class will be held in February on a date TBA.  

10. POST-CLASS WORK: It is possible you may be assigned post-class work if your work in class showed areas of needed improvement. If so,  your licensing will be delayed until you improve your post-class work.

11. LICENSE: After you have completed 100% of the pre-course work, online work, in-person work, and post-course work, you will receive an email with your license. Your license is valid for a calendar year (January-December), then you must relicense each year. We begin re-licensing in July each year and mentors should be among the first to re-license.

12. SHADOW ASSIGNMENTS: After receiving your license, you will be required to shadow another mentor for an in-person class, a mentoring session with a referee crew, and a field session. After that, you will be allowed to mentor on your own.

13. MENTORING ASSIGNMENTS: Mentors will be assigned by the SDI/SDA to mentor anywhere in the state. Your participation in state-wide mentoring events (which change location each year) is expected to return for re-licensing the next year. 

14. NEXT STEP: Get feedback from experienced mentors and the SDI/SDA. After you have gained experience, you may be selected to move up to Mentor+.