Interested in Upgrading? The Louisiana Referee Committee encourages and supports referees who wish to advance their career by attaining grades beyond the entry-level referee certification. Successful upgrades involve close collaboration among the instructional, assessment, and administrative aspects of the Louisiana Referee Program.
How do I upgrade? While the upgrade process may vary slightly depending on individual circumstances, referees should be guided by the following steps:
1. The referee must gain enough game experience to be comfortable while working games at the desired level. Referees are required to keep a record of games to be counted for upgrade by using the corresponding upgrade application form. Once the referee has accumulated enough games, the form should be sent to the State Referee Administrator for verification.
2. The referee to attend the corresponding upgrade course and successfully complete the written and fitness testing requirements corresponding to the desired grade.
3. For a state (Grade 6) referee upgrade, the referee must successfully complete field evaluations or assessments in matches competitive enough to test the referee’s abilities at the required level. The referee should work with an assignor and obtain an appropriate game assignment. Once the assignment is secured, the referee should contact the State Director of Assessments and request that an assessor be assigned to evaluate the referee’s performance.
4. The referee must send an updated upgrade application form with all required data to the State Referee Administrator for final approval. Once approved, the referee can log in to the US Soccer registration system and request the corresponding upgrade.