The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) is calling on St. Lawrence County residents to join its growing team of certified referees and assistant referees as demand for officials continues to rise.

Following a halt in activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic, soccer resumed in August 2020, with players returning enthusiastically but referees slower to follow. Since then, Eastern New York has seen a significant increase in the number of certified referees, with over 3,500 currently registered—helping to fulfill 80,000 assignments in 2024 alone.

State Referee Administrator Joe Brosi emphasized the importance of engaging with local referee groups, stating, “I strongly encourage everybody to join a referee group. But don’t just pay a membership fee, show up at their meetings.”

With the growing need for referees, ENYYSA is offering certification and recertification classes across the region, with a focus on key principles such as proper attire and arriving at least 30 minutes before game time. The recent recertification curriculum has also addressed the evolving rules surrounding handball, a section that has expanded to over 300 words with multiple changes in recent years to ensure fairness in the game.

The minimum age for becoming a certified referee is 14 years old. Interested individuals can find more information and register for classes at ENYYSA's Referee Page. For further questions, email questions@enysreferee.org or newref@enysreferee.org.