Entry Level Referee Application and Courses FAQ

What is the format for the Entry Level Referee Course?

• • For 2023 – All Entry Level Referee Courses will be in-person courses in each region.
  • The Pre-Course Study is to be completed and brought to the in-person Entry Level Course.
  • There will be 10-12 hours of in-class theory and 4-6 hours of on-field practical training.
  • There is a final online exam that will be emailed after the completion of the in-person courses.

When are the courses offered and where?

• • Typically, each region will offer an Entry Level Referee Course each spring (April – May) IF they need referees in their region.
  • You must apply for a course in the region in which you live.
    • There is an exception for 2023 where Truro (Highland Region) applicants may apply for the Suburban (East Hants Sportsplex) Course.
  • If you are a player, playing in a different region from where you live, you must apply based on the address where you live and not the region in which you are playing.

How do I register for the Entry Level Referee Course?

• • You must complete the New Official registration on the 2023 RAMP Registration Form.
  • There is no fee to apply ($0.00).
  • When registering you will be asked to create an account for the RAMP Assigning system.
    • You will need to have your email address and a password to create your account.
    • If you already have a RAMP Assigning system account, you will be asked to enter your login information.
  • If selected, you will receive an email with the Pre-Course Study material, and additional information for the course, and the Entry Level Referee Course package will be added to your account for payment.
  • Once payment has been completed, your registration is complete for the course.
    • We encourage you to make your payment right away after you have been accepted to guarantee your spot in the course as we often have a waitlist in certain areas for applicants.
    • All payments must be received a minimum of 72 hours (3 days) prior to the course start date at the latest.

When will the Entry Level Referee Course Application and Information be available?

• • The Entry Level Referee Course Application and Information will be available in early March on the Soccer Nova Scotia website.
  • On the home page of the Soccer Nova Scotia website, select Development>Referee>Referee Registration and Management>Entry Level Referee Application and Course Information

What is the deadline to complete the New Official/Entry Level Referee Course Application?

• • The deadline to complete the Entry Level Referee Course Application is March 29.

How long will it take to find out if I have been selected to participate in an Entry Level Referee Course?

• • Applicants will be selected at the end of March/beginning of April as courses begin in early April throughout the province.
  • Emails will start to be sent at the end of March/beginning of April to successful applicants for the Entry Level Referee Courses for all regions.
  • They will be sent in priority based on the start date of each Entry Level Referee Course.
  • Please check the spam/junk folder as the emails may end up there.

What is the total cost for the Entry Level Referee Course?

• • The total cost of the Entry Level Referee Course is $105.

How do I pay for my Entry Level Referee Course?

• • Once you receive the email that you have been selected and the Entry Level Referee Course Package has been added to your account, you will be able to log in to your RAMP account to pay for the course.
    • Click on Pay Outstanding Balances to make the payment
  • Online payments are preferred.
  • If an alternate payment method is required, please contact admin@soccerns.ca.
  • We encourage you to make your payment as soon as possible after you have been accepted to guarantee your spot in the course as we often have a waitlist in certain areas for applicants.
    • All payments must be received a minimum of 72 hours (3 days) prior to the course start date at the latest.

If I have been selected, what is required to complete my Entry Level Referee Course Registration?

• • Complete the payment for the Entry Level Referee Course Package that has been added to your account.
    • If you have decided you do not want to participate in the Entry Level Referee Course this year, please email admin@soccerns.ca.
  • We encourage you to make your payment as soon as possible after you have been accepted to guarantee your spot in the course as we often have a waitlist in some regions for applicants.
    • All payments must be received a minimum of 72 hours (3 days) prior to the course start date at the latest.

Can I use my parent’s email address if I am a youth applicant?

• • Youth participants should have their own email addresses for their referee accounts.
  • In the past the government-issued school email addresses (gnspes.ca) have had issues receiving computer-generated emails and communications, so you are encouraged to use an alternate email address (iCloud, Gmail, etc.) to avoid missing out on important communications.
  • On the RAMP Assigning system a Parent or Guardian email address may be added to receive referee emails and communications as well as their Youth participant.

How old do I have to be to apply for the Entry Level Referee Course?

• • The minimum age is 14 years old by June 15 of the year you are applying.
  • If you are not invited in the first year you apply, please apply in subsequent year(s) as being selected may depend on the total number of applicants or criteria for that year in your region.

Can I apply for any Entry Level Referee Course?

• • No, you must apply for the Entry Level Referee Course in the region in which you live. It is based on your address.
    • There is an exception for 2023 where Truro (Highland Region) applicants may apply for the Suburban (East Hants Sportsplex) Course.
  • The region in which you live may be different from the region in which you play.
  • The regions are Halifax, Harbour East, Suburban, South Shore, South Shore South West, Valley, Highland, and Cape Breton.
  • In addition, we offer a Halifax Adult Course for adult participants in Halifax, Harbour East, and Suburban regions.
  • If you apply for a course not in the region in which you live, you will not be considered for that course. 

Will late Entry Level Referee Course Applications after the March 29 deadline be accepted?

• • Late Entry Level Referee Applications may be considered if the Entry Level Referee Course in the specific region has space available.
  • Please email admin@soccerns.ca to confirm if a late application may be accepted. Please indicate the region in which you live.

Is there anything that I need to bring with me to the Entry Level Referee Course?

• • Please bring a notebook and pens/pencils to the course
  • Completed Pre-Course Study Material
  • Water bottle
  • Food or snacks. Lunch is not provided for full-day courses.
  • Dress in athletic wear (tracksuit, indoor running shoes, etc.).
  • Dress appropriately if your on-field session is outdoors.

What will I receive when I participate in the on-field session of the Entry Level Referee Course?

• • A whistle
  • A flag
  • Cards and card book
  • A Canada Soccer Referee badge

What needs to be completed to be a referee and be assigned to games?

• • The Pre-Course Study Material must be completed prior to the course and brought to the instructor on the first day of the Entry Level Referee Course.
  • The in-person Entry Level Referee Course must be completed – all in-class theory and the on-field session including all materials that are provided.
  • The online exam needs to be completed and passed.
  • Once the above has been completed, you will be added to the List of Active Referees and will begin to be assigned to games.

What do I wear to officiate games?

• • Plain, Black Shorts and Socks.
  • Plain, Black T-shirt (free of logos).
  • Referee Apparel and additional supplies may also be ordered online (Savi, Nova Trophy, Amazon, or Avanti Sports) and occasionally found at some sporting goods stores.
  • The Canada Soccer Referee Badge MUST be attached to the left breast area of the shirt for all games as this shows that you are authorized to officiate games.
  • Ask the Regional Referee Instructor in your region as they may be aware of local shops to buy Referee Apparel.

What do referees get paid?

• • The fees that referees are paid are based on the divisions that you are officiating as well as the referee position (Referee or Assistant Referee).
  • The Referee Fee Schedule can be found on the Soccer Nova Scotia website, select Development>Referee>Referee Fees and Forms.
  • Click here to be redirected to the Referee Fee Schedule.
  • Please ensure you are looking at the correct tab for the correct season.
  • In some cases, such as tournaments, Referee Fees may be prorated where game lengths have been shortened to accommodate the schedule.

How do I get paid for the games I officiate?

• • Referee Payment is dependent on the region that you are officiating in.
  • Some regions pay in the form of cheques to the referees on scheduled dates while in other regions, referees are paid at the field during the game they are officiating.
  • Typically, within the HRM, referees are paid at the field during the game they are officiating.
  • To confirm how referees are paid in the region where you are officiating, please contact the Regional Referee Instructor for your Entry Level Referee Course or the Referee Assignor for your region.
  • Click here for Referee Contacts per region.

Does my Entry Level Referee Registration expire?

• • The Entry Level Referee Course registration includes the annual Referee Registration fee.
  • All referee registrations expire annually on March 31, so your registration will expire on March 31 of the following year.

How do I register as a referee after my first year as an Entry Level Referee?

• • In the following year, you will register for the annual season as a Returning Referee with the appropriate classification – Youth or District.
    • Youth referees are under the age of 16.
    • District referees are 16 years old and older.
    • The registration typically opens in early March and is valid annually from April 1 – March 31 the following year.

If you have any questions regarding the Entry Level Referee Courses, please contact admin@soccerns.ca.