  Overview of Referee Grades
What do the Grades mean? All referees affiliated with FIFA have a designated referee grade. The grade indicates the qualification of the referee to officiate at various levels of local, national and international soccer competition. Referees who officiate in the World Cup and international matches are designated as Grade 1, their referee assistants at that level are Grade 2. In the United States competition at the national level (including professional soccer) requires Grade 3 or 4 where Grade 3 indicates the referee's readiness to be considered for international service. The highest level of competition within a state (amateur leagues beyond youth) requires a Grade 5 or 6 where Grade 5 indicates the referee's readiness to be considered for national service. Grade 7 is an experienced referee in the state qualified to officiate all but the highest levels of amateur soccer. Most referees begin their careers as Grade 8 having taken the entry training course described above. Very young aspirants to refereeing may take an abbreviated training course and be registered as Grade 11 which qualifies them only for very young "small sided" matches (usually seven and eight year old players in six versus six per team matches). (Approximately 90% of all referees are Grade 8, 7% are Grade 7 and the rest are Grade 6 or higher.) The Upgrade Process The progression of a referee from lower grade to higher grade (e.g. Grade 8 to Grade 7) is prescribed by the Referee Administrative Handbook. Upgrade is based upon experience (number of matches officiated) at various age and competition levels and upon the recommendation of assessors. Assessors are trained and certified by the USSF to serve as evaluators and advisors to referees. Assessors are experienced referees trained to observe the skills and demeanor of referees. Assessors provide feedback to the referee and to the SRC indicating the competency of the official and recommending areas of performance for enhancement. The assessors' feedback serves the individual referee's development and together with the referee's own report provides input the the SRC's instruction program to improve the performance of the referees across the board. Once a referee has accumulated the appropriate experience and received assessments as required by the Referee Administrative Handbook, the referee must document this information and submit a request for upgrade to the SRC. The SRC reviews the documentation and acts on the strength of the assessments and the needs of the state for referees at the requested grade and either approves or disapproves the upgrade request. Upon approval the referee's grade is changed upon the next registration. Grade Maintenance As referees advance to higher grades they are required to demonstrate their continued qualification for their grade through "maintenance" assessments and sustained high level competition experience. Each referee at Grade 7 or higher is also required to successfully pass a physical fitness field examination which includes distance, agility and speed tests (as set out in the Referee Administrative handbook). The results of this testing are recorded to fulfill part of the annual registration / recertification qualifications. In rare circumstances referees who fail to maintain their qualifications are "down graded" by the SRC and this is reflected on their next registration. | 
