Individuals desiring credit are responsible for paying all fees and meeting the University’s registration requirements. Special thanks to Brian Glach at UCCS, Jay Engeln at NSCAA and NISOA’s Bob Jones for making this continuing and unique partnership work for NISOA members.

1. George Noujaim, Director of National Referee Program announced that the deadline for accepting new applicants has been extended to June 1, 2012 just in case someone may have missed the deadline. That also means that the $30 late fee will be waived as well. So if you know of someone that is qualified and interested in the NISOA National Referee Program, please have them complete the application process quickly and route it through their chapter and Regional Area Coordinator along with a check for $75.00 payable to NISOA.
2. The National Referee Recertification Test is now available online at the NCAA Central Hub. Login to Arbiter Sports and select NCAA Central Hub under the “Type” column. Once you are on the Central Hub Home page, select the “Testing” tab at the top of the page. The “National Referee Recertification Test” should show under Open Tests. This exam must be completed prior to your attendance at a National Academy. You have three opportunities to pass the exam with a score of 80. This exam must be completed and passed prior to your attendance at a National Academy otherwise you will have your invitation rescinded. Consider this when making travel plans!
3. Physical Fitness Test should be completed prior to your selected academy if possible. It must be given by a National Clinician, National Assessor or someone with NRP staff approval. All results will be submitted to Kenneth Kaylor, Physical Fitness Director for NISOA at KIKAYLOR@MAC.COM. The PFT requires a passing score of 3.5 overall to meet requirements.

May 5, 2012 – Southern California (Citrus College, Glendora, CA)

June 2, 2012 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area (Gloucester County College, Sewell, NJ)

June 9, 2012 – Dallas, Texas (Richland College, Dallas, TX) **Note revised site**

June 9, 2012 – Cincinnati, Ohio (Thomas More College, Crestview, KY)

June 23, 2012 – Worcester, Massachusetts (College of the Holy Cross)

July 21, 2012 – Fredricksburg, Virginia (University of Mary Washington)

July 22, 2012 – Chicago, Illinois (St. Laurence High School, Burbank, Illinois)

July 28, 2012 – Jacksonville, Florida (St. John’s Country Day School, Orange Park, FL) **Site confirmed**

August 4, 2012 – Northern California (Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA) **Note revised date**

The sites that the NRP staff selected are based on population density of assessors, national referees, and airport accessibility.

George Noujaim, Director, NISOA National Referee Academy Program

Moving forward with our mission and vision to serve the collegiate game, the NISOA National Referee Academy certification, and recertification has taken a monumental step forward to serve our customers.  We are looking at multiple sites in the country to minimize travel, and expenses to participating referees, and instructors. The program will consist of a one day yearly program aimed at the qualified referees according to policy.  Qualified referees will earn a national “current year badge” at the conclusion of the session when all the requirements listed in the National policy are met.  I am looking forward to your participation.

Best regards,

George Noujaim, Director

NISOA National Referee Academy Program

2012 National Referee Academy Program Highlights

• One day clinics located throughout the country between June 2, 2012 and August 5, 2012 at central locations
• Clinic Fee reduced to $50
• Applicant Fee $75;
• Program Renewal Fee-$40.
• Assessments reduced to 1 as a Referee, and 1 as an AR, annually
• Online testing & registration
• PPT test prior to clinic if possible
• Deleted Candidate status
• Instruction aimed at National Referees primarily thru video clips

Field Training at the NISOA Referee Training Camp

NISOA is now accepting online applications for the 2012 Referee Training Camp in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania from July 8, 2012 through July 12, 2012. Various scholarships and grants are available for applicants as indicated on the application form.

The NISOA Referee Training Camp is a unique, four day residential training program that focuses on improving soccer referees at the interscholastic and intercollegiate levels.

Please follow the following guidelines before you post your question:

• Read the current NCAA Soccer Rules book (available on the Forms page of our site).
• Do not post questions regarding issues of referee judgement.
• Do not post specific game details ( i.e. home team, match date, etc.) with your question, if your question happens to be about something you saw during an intercollegiate soccer game.

C. Cliff McCrath - NISOA Executive Director

Ladies and Gentlemen of NISOA, greetings from the Emerald City – Seattle – where the sun has been shining for more than seven days this summer. (Summer was on a Tuesday last year!) Unfortunately, I haven’t been there much to enjoy it. But I have enjoyed getting to know an ever-expanding number of you as I have traveled near and far to meet with various chapters and regions. In addition, I have been encouraged by the developments taking place within the administrative sectors of NISOA particularly the massive undertaking by Todd Abraham, our Director of Instruction, Legal Counsel – and soon-to-be NCAA Men’s and Women’s Secretary-Rules Editor, Ken Andres and President Manny Ortiz. These three, together with Don Wilbur, NCAA National Assignor Coordinator, have been setting a rapid pace in the restructuring of NISOA, the preparation and posting of the refresher test and further consolidation of our relationship with ArbiterSports. More about that in future blogs. But, for now, the primary message is the one you most might like to hear.

The 2011 collegiate soccer season is upon us and many of you have already had initial assignments in preseason games. Hundreds of you have logged on to Arbiter and taken the refresher test the results, of which, I won’t address at this time other than to say that some of the questions seem to be posing the greatest challenges. One, in particular, albeit now removed from the test, has to do with the restart after play has been suspended in the goal area. The specific rule in question is Rule 2.3. Oddly, the section is entitled Defective Ball. The restart, for which, is a drop ball. Even more oddly, is the Exception which calls for an Indirect Free Kick by his or her team IF the goalkeeper has possession. ENTER RULE 9.3.2. and A.R.9.3.2.a. 

The ruling and decision in this situation is clear and there should not be any confusion. What will be changed and crystal clear in the 2012-13 Rules and Interpretations book IS NOT SO CLEAR IN THE CURRENT 2010-11 edition which determines what happens when the injury occurs to players other than the goalkeeper.

I hasten to say that when a rule is not clear, the applicable rule is provided by Secretary-Rules Editors on behalf of the rules committee for each sport. To wit, the interpretation for this situation is as follows:

The restart, for all injuries in the penalty area, is an INDIRECT FREE KICK by the goalkeeper’s team IF THE GOALKEEPER HAS POSSESSION!!!

Further comment: When the rule was written, the committee felt that injuries to a goalkeeper – more vulnerable than others – should not result in even further disadvantage such as a drop ball in close proximity to the goal – hence, the IFK. Since the rule has been in effect, incidences of fake injuries – to gain advantage, led the committee to apply the same rule regardless of who sustained the injury as long as the goalkeeper has POSSESSION!

Hopefully, this will clear up any further confusion. Have a great year!

Cliff

Individuals desiring credit are responsible for paying all fees and meeting the University’s registration requirements. Special thanks to Brian Glach at UCCS, Jay Engeln at NSCAA and NISOA’s Bob Jones for making this continuing and unique partnership work for NISOA members.