Becoming a referee is fairly simple. Becoming a great referee takes hard work and dedication to the game. You first have to go to a clinic, take a test, buy a uniform and do your first game. 
Becoming a USSF Referee (grade 8): A person must attend a 15 hour entry level referee clinic.  At the end of the clinic, the candidate must pass a written test. The candidate is then registered as a Grade 8 official and is given the USSF badge. The fees for registration is set for USSF. The clinics are scheduled by leagues, local referee associations or clubs.To find out when the next referee clinics will be given in your area, contact your State Referee Administrator.

Find out when and where the next referee courses are:  http://www.indref.com


The Uniform and Equipment
Now that you've passed the test and have registered with USSF it's time to go out and buy your first uniform. The basic uniform for referees is a yellow shirt, black referee shorts, black socks with three stripes and shoes. Though there are several places to buy uniforms, USSF is officially sponsored by Official Sports Inc., (view website). In addition to a uniform, you will need a watch with a timer.  You'll need a whistle, a small book to keep score, a flipping coin, red and yellow cards and a set of flags. Now you ask yourself where do I get all this stuff. During the clinic your instructor will tell you where you can buy all this stuff.

Getting Games
Now that you've passed the test, bought your uniform and all the stuff, you'll need to talk to a licensed USSF assignor who will schedule your games. Not sure who your local assignor is - not to worry. Again your instructor will give you the name and p hone number of the assignor in your area. You can also ask current referees who they get thier games from.

Your First Year
Well you've been out on the fields for a year now and you've learned how to issue cards, deal with coaches and parents and suffered through the heat and cold. Now what. Every year you will be required to take a re-certification test and attend five hours of training. The training part you can usually get in your local referee association.

Want to Advance
So you've been doing recreational games and are ready for more challenging games. How do you get these games? Again you'll have to work with your local assignor who will get hold of your local assessor. The assessor will come to the field and evaluate your game and give you pointers on how to improve your game. The assessor is there to help you and take their feedback as constructive criticism. View the Upgrade area on this website for full details on what you need to do.

That's what it takes to be a referee in a nutshell. Of course, the more games you do the more your confidence improves and games will seem easier. One thing to remember is that we all have a bad game from time to time so don't despair. With assessors and assignors helping you, these will be few and far between.

Remember that if you have any questions, contact your local area administrator and if he/she cannot answer your questions, talk to other referees, they are a great help as they are sharing the same experience as you are.