SOCCER EXPERIENCE: You must have been licensed by US Soccer in 2023, 2024, or 2025. If you missed all 3 of these years or if you were trained by a local club without a US Soccer license, begin as a first time referee.

COST: $85 annually (which you will earn back in 2-3 games) plus a $22 background check every 2 years ($150 if you have lived internationally)

ONLINE CLASS: Register and complete the Idaho Returning Referee Course (COMING IN JULY). There is no in-person class required. 

LICENSE: After you have completed 100% of the online work, you will receive an email with your license. Your referee badge will be mailed to you within 2-3 weeks. Your license is valid for a calendar year (January-December), then you must relicense each year. We begin re-licensing in July each year. If you are a referee under 18 years of age, you will also receive a "Youth Referee" armband to wear in all your matches. This provides you with extra protection and enhanced penalities for those that would create an issue for you.

MENTORING: Thanks to a grant, we offer free mentoring on 2 matches each year for referees in their first 3 years of their career or those referees moving to a significantly new level. Mentoring is not required to license but is offered after you receive your license at no charge. To arrange a mentor to come see you, get your game schedule and contact your DRA to request a mentor.

NEXT STEP: Get on field mentoring, learn from licensed referee mentor/coaches, and get paid more by moving up to Advanced Referee.