Beverly Youth Soccer field
BYSA

Become a Referee

Make an Impact on the Game

BYSA referees are essential to our program. Whether you're a current player looking to earn money and give back, a parent wanting to support your child's league, or just someone who loves soccer — becoming a referee is rewarding and more accessible than you might think.

How to Register as a Referee

Follow these steps to get started with HorizonWebRef, our online referee management system:

  1. 1
    Open my.horizonwebref.com in Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. (If the link doesn't work, visit HorizonWebRef.com and continue from there.)
  2. 2
    Click the New Users Registration link. Important: If your child is under 13, you must create the account for them — it's the law. Please register your child's name, not yours.
  3. 3
    For families with multiple children as referees, each child must have their own email address.
  4. 4
    Complete the registration form and select the appropriate user type and positions. Select user type "Official".
  5. 5
    Enter the BYSA association number: 205506
  6. 6
    Alternatively, click the "Find Association #" link to search for BYSA's association number on your own.
  7. 7
    Our Referee Coordinator must approve your account. You'll receive an email once approved.
  8. 8
    Once approved, you'll receive an email with your username and password. Login to the system.
  9. 9
    Complete your profile information in the system.
  10. 10
    Optional: Download the HorizonWebRef app to your smartphone to stay on top of your assignments and avoid missing games.

Helpful Resources

Use these resources to deepen your understanding of the game and refereeing:

ECYSA Referee Home

Tips, guidance, and information from Essex County Youth Soccer Association

Visit ECYSA →

Laws of the Game

Official rules from the International Football Association Board (IFAB)

View IFAB →

Referee Training & Certification

To become a certified USSF referee, you must complete a training course and pass a written exam. The Massachusetts State Referee Committee (MSRC) offers several entry-level courses throughout the year, with local options in the Peabody area.

Referee Grades

Grade 9 (Recreational Referee)

Can referee: In-town games and ECYSA Grade 3/4 games

Requirements: Must complete 8 hours of instruction and pass a written test. Minimum age: 12 years old by the start of your first season.

Grade 8 (Advanced Referee)

Can referee: Any ECYSA game through Grade 12, plus in-town games

Requirements: Must complete 16 hours of instruction and pass a written test. Minimum age: 16 years old (or Grade 9 certification plus 16 years old) by the start of your first season.

Grade 8 Bridge (Upgrade for Grade 9s)

For: Eligible Grade 9 referees who want to advance

Requirements: Must complete 8 hours of instruction and pass a written test.

Find Training Courses

Visit the MSRC website for course locations, dates, times, and enrollment information.

Questions?

Contact our Referee Coordinator at refereecoordinator@bevsoccer.org with any questions about registration, the program, or what to expect.

We're always looking for more referees to support BYSA. Join our community and help make soccer great for Beverly's youth!

How to become a BYSA referee

If you are interested in learning about our in-town referee program (that works with our U8 and U10 program), please provide the following in an e-mail to Steve Enos at refereecoordinator@bevsoccer.org

  • child’s name

  • e-mail

  • phone

  • grade for the fall

  • mailing address

Please note that we may need to limit the number of referees per season and our list fills up fast.

Additional Training Courses

The Massachusetts State Referee Committee is offering a number of entry-level referee courses across the state over the next few months.   Several will be held locally in Peabody in January and February.   Courses offered for entry-level referees are:

Referee Grade 9 – Recreational Referee, intown and ECYSA Grade 3/4 games:

The USSF entry-level ( Grade 9 ) referee course will be led by USSF certified instructors. Students are required to complete all eight hours of instruction and pass a written test to become certified. (Note that USSF affiliated leagues can only assign USSF certified referees.) Participants must be at least 12 years of age by the beginning of their first season as a referee.

Referee Grade 8 – Can referee any ECYSA game through Grade 12 as well as intown.

The USSF entry-level ( Grade 8 ) referee course will be led by USSF certified instructors. Students are required to complete all sixteen hours of instruction and pass a written test to become certified. (Note that USSF affiliated leagues can only assign USSF certified referees.) The age of all participants plus their years of certification as a Grade 9 referee (if applicable) must be at least 16 years of age by the beginning of their first season as a referee at this grade.

Referee Grade 8 Bridge – Eligible Grade 9 Referees can upgrade to Grade 8.

The USSF entry-level ( Grade 8 Bridge ) referee course will be led by USSF certified instructors. Students are required to complete all eight hours of instruction and pass a written test to become certified. (Note that USSF affiliated leagues can only assign USSF certified referees.) The age of all participants plus their years of certification as a Grade 9 referee (if applicable) must be at least 16 years of age by the beginning of their first season as a referee at this grade.

For additional information, course locations, dates and times, and to enroll in a course, visit the MSRC website.