STEP 1: Eligibility

Three separate entities/programs are used for the Referee Training and Mentoring Program:

• Copper Mountain Soccer® (“CMS”) offers this program for adults and youth to train as recreation-level referees. Games in the U9 – Middle School age groups are used as paid training opportunities for referees to train on. Games are covered per referee availability. There is no guarantee all games will have a referee.
• CMS trains and certifies recreation-level referees.
• Demosphere is a software program used for registration, communication, etc.

Are you eligible?

• Adults and youth aged 13+ during the current year. If you are not 13 yet, you can still sign up for games, but you should pick games that occur after you turn 13.
• Certify as a referee through CMS. Certification is valid for 1 year. This is REQUIRED.
• Register as a referee with CMS each season to participate. (See Step 2 in How To Participate below.)
• Ability to read, understand and enforce CMS Soccer Rules for 3rd/4th, 5th/6th and Middle School games.

STEP 2: Certify as a CMS Referee

• Register for the in-person certification course at Here and complete it. 
• State-certified referees do not need to also certify with CMS. They may also do CMS Comp games, but must schedule separately with that assignor. If you are certified by the state, please review CMS rules to make sure you know the differences.
• If you have been certified with iRef in Spring 2025, you don’t need to recertify until next Spring. 

STEP 3: Register as a CMS Referee

After CMS certification, register as a referee for Copper Mountain when it is available for the current season. We will send updates to your email and announce when it is open on social media.

1. Follow this link
2. Do NOT select a current Household in the system. Create a new account instead to continue. Each referee needs to have a separate account. Carefully note that the email address you register with is the email that may be used for referee communication, so make sure it is checked regularly. 
3. Fill in Household Information
4. “Register a Participant/Player”
5. Complete the registration. You do not need an access code.
6. “CMRS Referee Registration – 2025/2026” should populate. Select “CMS” or “iRef” (or USSF if you are state-certified). If there’s an issue with the email, you may have duplicate records and need to go back to Step 2.1.
7. Complete. Save and Continue
8. Register Another OR No, Proceed to Next Step
9. Select “No donation”. Save and Continue
10. Proceed, Submit
11. You must see “Registration Order Complete!” to confirm you are in the system for the current season and to receive future emails, which will include the link to the schedule.

You will receive an automated email confirmation. If you don’t, go back to complete it.

STEP 4: Getting Scheduled for Games

The game schedule is typically released 1-2 weeks before the start of the season. At this point, the communication channels will be updated with available game schedules.

Before signing up – be honest with yourself on your confidence level for each age group: you may like to partner for 5th/6th grade games, or you may like to be alone with 3rd/4th grade games to start off, then venture to Middle School. “AG” notes All-Girls teams, while the others are coed.

How to sign up for games:

• The game schedule is done on a Google spreadsheet. Games are usually on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The field locations will vary.
  • Assignments: 1 referee for 3rd and 4th grade games, 2 referees for 5th grade and older. This may vary per club discretion, as select games may be used for training purposes. The Club may also assign Mentors to certain games.
• Around the weekend prior to the start of the season, the coordinator will send a communication alerting the referee pool to the date and time the self-assigning schedule will be available. We try to make it fair by allowing referees to sign up for a set number of games per hour, determined by the coordinator; that number changes each season.
  • One open box on the spreadsheet = 1 referee spot. Don’t add your name to a box with a referee’s name already there, or add more boxes. If you want to referee with a friend, you both need to sign up for a game that needs 2 referees and have both boxes open.
  • 1st Hour: A 1-hour time session allows referees to sign up for a pre-selected number of games. If the referee isn’t available, a family member may sign them up.
  • 2nd Hour: At the end of the 1st hour, the schedule is open on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • The club will send a weekly communication to referees with updates, reminders and the schedule for the upcoming weekend. Referees may sign up for more open spots on a first-come, first-served basis.
• When signing up for back-to-back games, they must be at the same park.
• Be aware of your experience. Do not take a middle school game as your first-ever game. CMS prefers experienced referees on middle school games, or at least one adult/experienced referee on those games, to help mentor another referee. Alert the coordinator if your partner doesn’t show for a 2-referee game to update your pay.
• If you can’t make a game, post to GroupMe to see if anyone else can cover your game.
• Game Reschedule: You will receive notice via GroupMe, email or text.
• Game Cancellations/Weather: CMS will post a notice on Facebook.

STEP 5: Be Prepared

Referees are responsible for having a referee shirt, black shorts, socks, and a whistle by their first game. A few options include:

REF UNIFORM

• You will need to purchase a FOX40 whistle online or at a local store.
• We also recommend buying a small, pocket-sized notebook to keep score while you ref.
• CMS has some yellow shirts available in various sizes for $10, to be taken out of the referee’s check, OR, it will be gifted (for free) if the referee refs at least eight (8) games during the season. See the CMS Referee Coordinator. If you are not returning, please consider donating your shirt to the coordinator for a future referee.

BEFORE THE GAME

• Organization: Many find it helpful to bookmark the schedule and rules to have handy.
• Fields: Know the assigned park and field. Field # are marked in the corner of each field.
• Age: Know age group(s) (ie, ball size, length of game)
• Equipment: Metal whistle (FOX40). Watch or timer. Water.
• Dress: Wear a yellow referee shirt, any black bottoms and socks, and cleats. No sunglasses/prescription is OK. Dress for the weather (i.e., hat, poncho in rain, warm coat in cold).
• Personal belongings: If you bring a bag, leave it in a safe spot (i.e. safe place, with a coach)

STEP 6: Competitive Referee Certification (Optional)

UYSA is now subsidizing the Referee Certification Fee in an effort to support our referees and enable our competition teams to play. If you would like to referee competition games in the UYSA leagues, please visit the UYSA website.