Entry Level Referee Course Information

• Registration for the Block 1 – Canada Soccer Online Theory Modules may occur at any time throughout the year.
• Registration for Block 2 – SNS In-person Practical Sessions will be available annually mid to late February.
• Check regularly for updated information

• The Entry Level Referee Course consists of two blocks.
• Block 1 – Canada Soccer Entry Level Referee Online Theory Modules – there are two (2) registrations required
  • Registration will be through Canada Soccer
  • Registration Fee is $30 until February 14, 2026 – Canada Soccer is increasing this fee to $40 as of February 15, 2026
    • Once your initial registration and payment have been completed, you will receive an access key to complete the second registration with Canada Soccer to access the Online Modules
  • Block 1 – Canada Soccer Entry Level Referee Online Theory Modules must be completed and the Certificate of Completion PDF emailed to amy@soccerns.ca prior to registration and participation in Block 2
    • Forward the PDF of the Certificate of Completion that is received via email – do not send a screenshot of the Certificate of Completion
  • Ensure Block 1 Online Theory Modules are completed before Block 2 registration closes
    • Block 2 registration closes approximately 5-7 days prior to the start date for each In-person Practical Session
• Block 2 – Soccer Nova Scotia (SNS) In-person Practical Session – there are two (2) registrations required
  • Registration will be through Soccer Nova Scotia
  • Registration Fee is $90
    • The first registration is an Official Registration as a New Official and includes the $90 payment
      • The New Official Registration is password protected as the PDF of Canada Soccer Certificate of Completion is required prior to receiving the password
    • The second registration is a Camp and Clinic Registration to register for the specific SNS In-person Practical Session
  • Approximately 3 – 4 hours of in-class training and 3 hours of on-field practical training
  • Block 2 registration closes for each In-person Practical Session 5-7 days prior to the date of the session

Canada Soccer states that participants must be 14 years of age for the Entry Level Referee Course.

• If you are 13 years old, but turning 14 early in the calendar year, you may be able to register and complete the Canada Soccer Online Theory Modules prior to turning 14
• Block 2 registration will be dependent on the registrant’s actual 14th birthday

• Block 1 Registration – there are two (2) registrations required
  • Registration and payment will be through Canada Soccer
  • Block 1 cost is $40 as of February 15, 2026
    • Please note that Canada Soccer is increasing this fee to $50 in 2027
  • Canada Soccer Registration Guide and Link to register in Key Components section – click here
    • The initial registration is to complete payment and receive an Access Key
    • Once the Access Key is received, a second registration is required to complete the registration process and access the Online Modules
    • If you are a parent or guardian registering a youth, please ensure you register with Canada Soccer using the youth’s name as opposed to a parent or guardian’s name
      • If the youth has their own email address, it should be used as opposed to a parent or guardian’s email address
    • Once you receive the access key, you will complete your Canada Soccer registration to access the online modules
    • If you have processed payment, but did not receive an access key to register for the Online Theory Modules, please email amy@soccerns.ca
  • Block 1 must be completed prior to registration and participation for Block 2
  • Ensure Block 1 Online Theory Modules are completed before Block 2 registration closes
    • Block 2 registration closes approximately 5-7 days prior to the start date of the In-person Practical Session

Block 2 Registration – there are two (2) registrations required

• Registration and payment will be through Soccer Nova Scotia
• Block 2 cost is $90
• Soccer Nova Scotia Registration Guide and Link to register in Key Components section – click here
  • Registration #1 – The New Official Registration is password protected
    • Please email the PDF of your Canada Soccer Certificate of Completion to amy@soccerns.ca
      • No screenshots or images, please forward the original PDF of the Certificate of Completion from Canada Soccer
    • The password and registration information will be provided once your certificate has been received
      
    • If a parent or guardian is registering a youth, the youth’s email address should be used when asked to create a RAMP Assigning account during the registration process
  • Registration #2 – The Camp and Clinic Registration for your specific SNS In-person Practical Session in your Home Region
    • Select the appropriate Entry Level Referee Course – SNS In-person Practical Session in your Home Region
      • Click on the Register for Camp and Clinic button
    • The Entry Level Referee Course – SNS In-person Practical Session registration closes for each In-person Practical Session approximately 5-7 days prior to the date of the session

Total Registration cost as of February 15, 2026:

• Registration Fee – $40 – Block 1 – Canada Soccer Entry Level Referee Online Modules
• Registration Fee – $90 – Block 2 – Soccer Nova Scotia New Official Registration and  In-person Practical Session (Camp and Clinic Registration)
• Total Registration Cost is $130

Canada Soccer is increasing the fee for the Online Theory Modules to $50 in 2027

• Online payment for Block 1 – Canada Soccer Entry Level Referee Online Theory Modules will take place at time of registration with Canada Soccer
• Online payment for Block 2 – Soccer Nova Scotia In-person Practical Session will take place at time of registration with Soccer Nova Scotia

• All Entry Level Referee Course Registrants will require their own unique email address for the RAMP Assigning system for their referee accounts
  • RAMP Assigning will not accept the same email address for two referee accounts
• Youth Registrants should have their own email addresses for their RAMP Assigning referee accounts and not use a parent or guardian’s email address
  • When registering in RAMP Registrations, please use the Youth’s email address in the RAMP Official Assigning Account Sync section
  • If a parent registers their youth referee and uses their own email address when completing the RAMP Official Assigning Account Sync, the youth’s referee account will be linked to the parent’s email address
  • A secondary email address may be added to the RAMP Assigning system if parents/guardians want to receive referee emails as well

• Each region will offer at least one Block 2 – SNS In-person Practical Session for the Entry Level Referee Course between March 15 and June 1 each spring, provided there is a need for referees in the region
• 2026 SNS In-person Practical Sessions can be found HERE

*All sessions or details may not be available at this time as some regions of the province need additional time to secure facilities and instructors for the sessions

Please bring the following to the Block 2 – SNS In-person Practical Session:

• Notebook and Pens/Pencils
• Water bottle
• Food or Snacks. Lunch is not provided for full-day courses.
• Dress in Athletic Wear (shorts, tracksuit, indoor running shoes, cleats, etc.).
• Dress appropriately if your On-field Session is outdoors or in a gym.

• A Whistle
• A Flag
• Cards and Card Book
• Canada Soccer Handbook for New Referees
• A Canada Soccer Referee Badge
• Youth Entry Level Referees (U18) will receive a green armband

• Block 1 – Canada Soccer Online Theory Modules must be completed
  • The PDF of the Canada Soccer Certificate of Completion must be emailed to amy@soccerns.ca prior to registration for Block 2
  • No screenshots or images, the original PDF of the Certificate of Completion from Canada Soccer must be received
• Block 2 – Soccer Nova Scotia In-person Practical Session must be completed – both the classroom and the on-field session
  • Once Block 2 is completed, each referee will be marked Active in the RAMP Assigning System and receive an email on the next steps for activating their referee account
  • The email for activating referee accounts  will be received within 24-48 hours of Block 2 completion
• Registration and Payment for both Blocks of the course must be received

• Plain, Black Shorts and High Socks
  • Short socks are not to be worn as a referee
• Plain, Black T-shirt (free of logos) until a Referee Shirt/Jersey can be acquired
• Soccer Nova Scotia has a partnership with Savi for referee uniforms and additional gear
  • Savi Referee Uniforms Online Store
• Referee Apparel and additional supplies may also be ordered online (Amazon, or Avanti Sports) and occasionally found at some sporting goods stores
• Ask the Regional Referee Instructor in your region as they may be aware of local shops to purchase Referee Apparel
• The Canada Soccer Referee Badge MUST be attached to the left pocket area of the shirt for all games as this shows that you are authorized to officiate games

• 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 (soccerns.ca), select Referees>Fees & Forms
  • Referee Fee Schedule
  • Please ensure you are looking at the correct season and year for the correct Referee Fees
• In some cases, such as tournaments, Referee Fees may be prorated where game lengths have been shortened to accommodate the schedule/facility bookings
  • These fees should be communicated to the referees by the Tournament Referee Assignor

• 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 cash at the field during the game they are officiating
• Typically, within the HRM, referees are paid cash at the field during the game they are officiating
  • Some divisions such as the Skill Centre age groups may be paid using digital payments through a secure platform from Soccer Nova Scotia
    • Payment Dates will be provided for the Indoor and Outdoor seasons for when payments will be received
  • Excel Games, SNS Provincial Championships and NSSL Play-offs hosted by Soccer Nova Scotia may be paid using digital payments through a secure platform from Soccer Nova Scotia
  • Tournaments may be paid via cash at the field, digital payments or cheques depending on the individual tournament
    • These payments are paid by the Tournament Organizers
• 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

• The Entry Level Referee Course registration includes the Annual Referee Registration
• All referee registrations expire annually on March 31, so your registration will expire on March 31 of the year following the completion of the Entry Level Referee Course
  • For example, the 2026 Entry Level Referee Course registration will expire on March 31, 2027
• Annually in February, registration reminders will be provided to indicate your registration is expiring and it is time to register for the upcoming season
  • Posts will be provided on the Soccer Nova Scotia website
  • Emails will be sent to the primary and secondary email addresses listed on your RAMP Assigning Account

In the following year, you will register for the Annual Referee Season as a Returning Referee with the appropriate classification – Youth or District

• Youth referees are under the age of 16 at time of registration
• District referees are 16 years old and older at time of registration
• The Annual Referee Registration will open mid to late February 2026* and is valid annually from April 1 – March 31 the following year

*Dates are subject to change due to technical difficulties or if not all information required has been received in time to open registration.

Following the first year as an Entry Level Referee, you will register as a Returning Referee using the Annual Referee Registration form.

The Annual Referee Registration form is available annually mid to late February. The Annual Referee Season runs from April 1 to the following March 31.

The fees for the Annual Referee Registration are as follows:

• Youth Referee – $115.00
  • Under 16 years of age
• District Referee – $115.00
  • 16 years of age or older