GSSA Referee Program
Existing Referee Signup
Referee registration for the spring season is open until April 10, 2026. Click on the Registration button in the upper right to get started (step by step directions).
New Referee Training
Sign up for New Referee Training
GSSA will hold two referee training classes in 2026. The first will be in late March on the 23rd and 30th, and the second in August. Class will be from 18:00 to 20:30 both nights. Attendance will be limited to 30 students in each. Each course will consist of five hours of instruction over two nights, plus a test.
Process: Study 2026 SAY Playing Rules (start NOW). Sign up for the class via this form, Take the test (open book, untimed, no excuses), pass, pay for training (details to come), take both classes (March 23 and 30), become a referee. We will only take 30 students, so only the best scores will be allowed into the class (Study 2026 SAY Playing Rules). Those that don't get accepted are welcome to try again in the fall, or train at another SAY community.
Rationale: We have trained over 100 referees in the last two years, yet we struggle to assign all our games each week. Feedback from coaches is that referees do not know the rules. Be restricting access, we hope to raise the quality of future referees by ensuring their dedication and knowledge before training begins instead of afterwards. Not everyone will make it into the class, and that is by design. We want to set you up for success, and that was not the case in the past.
Options: GSSA also accepts training and certification from other SAY communities (e.g. WCSC, LSO, Loveland, Kings, SAY East, All Saints, Milford, Little Miami, etc.). Several communities offer training classes in the summer. Search for “SAY referee training Cincinnati” on the web or go to the SAY soccer websites for nearby communities for more information. If you have successfully completed a course in another community, please have the instructor or other official from the class email [email protected] to verify completion of the course and we can add you to the roster of referees for upcoming seasons.
GSSA does not require returning referees to take the course again each year--but they, and coaches, are welcome to audit the class, free of charge. Sycamore SAY soccer does offer continuing education, quizzes and other rules refresher opportunities prior to the start of the season--email [email protected] to request.
New Referees: 2026 Referee Class Information <-- SEE FAQ HERE
Wings+: Email the referee coordinator if you are interested in an advanced class for experienced referees. If there is enough demand, we will run this class again.
Other Referee Classes (2025): Ref classes from additional SAY North Organizations
You can also google "SAY Referee Training Cincinnati" to find other in-person trainings beyond those gathered here--SAY Online Training is not sufficient.
Instructions for registering on the GSSA website as well as for referees
Age Groups and Referees
Upon successful completion of a referee training course, all new referees begin by working Instructional (U6) and Passers (U8) games. Following two seasons of experience in Instructional/Passers, a ref can request to begin refereeing Wings (U10) games. With two additional seasons of the Wings level experience, a referee can move to upper level games. See the table below for a summary.
* New referees must turn 12 by April 1 to be eligible to begin refereeing in the spring; if you turn 12 by September 1, you can still take the class in the spring and begin to referee in the fall season.The
Build Out Area applies to U8 and U10 (for U6, use a reasonable distance, like midfield. but focus on fun, not strict rules).
2026 SAY Playing Rules: current SAY rules which are used for all GSSA levels; note that as of late February 2026 the same rule book from (c) 2024 was still posted on the SAY Soccer website.
Referee FAQ
2026 Referee Class Information (see pages 2-3) - update coming in late January 2026, but most of the information is still relevant.