Cadet Information

SJSOA – Meetings, Fees & Requirements

SJSOA

South Jersey Soccer Officials Association

Start Your Journey as a High School Soccer Referee

How to Become a High School Soccer Referee

1
Register with SJSOA

Complete Registration Form

Go to www.sjsoa.com and click the registration link to fill out the form.

Payment

Mail check or pay via Venmo: $170

This covers: Training class fee, chapter dues, rule book, insurance, and escrow of assigning fees

Venmo (Preferred)
@MichelleLind
(Last 4 digits: 5949)
Send: $170
Venmo QR Code - @MichelleLind (5949)

Please include your name in the payment note

✉️ Check by Mail

Make check payable to:
SJSOA

Mail to:
SJSOA
c/o Jim Wells
1 Radnor Blvd
Marlton, NJ 08053

Include your registration form with payment

2
Register with NJSIAA

Step 1: Go to Arbiter Sports

Go to Arbiter Sports

or https://www.njsiaa.org/officials
and click “Arbiter Registration”

$60 fee covers state registration and background check

Step 2: Create Account

You will see the registration page. Click “Create One” to create a new account.

NJSIAA Registration Page - Click Create One

Step 3: Email Verification

Enter your email address and click to send verification code.

Arbiter Verification Prompt

Step 4: Check Your Email

Look for a verification email from ArbiterSports that looks like this:

ArbiterSports Verification Email

Step 5: Follow The Steps

  1. Welcome
  2. User Consent
  3. Personal Info.
  4. Sports
  5. B.G. Consent
  6. Payment
  7. Review
✅ This registration covers both your background check and NJSIAA registration requirements.
3
SJSOA Certification Process

Class 2: High School Specific Rules (via Zoom)

Pick one date:

Thursday, August 14, 7:00-8:30 PM (Click to Join Zoom)
Meeting ID: 816 8718 0671
Passcode: 123

Class 3: Field Clinic

Mandatory for All Referees

Required for referees with or without experience

Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Location: Eastern High School, Voorhees, NJ
Address: 955 Burnt Mill Rd, Voorhees, NJ 08043

Track 1: HS Rules for Experienced Refs
6:00 – 8:00 PM

(Referees with prior experience)

Track 2: Introduction to Refereeing
5:00 – 8:00 PM

(Referees with no experience)

Purchase Uniform

Contact: Jim Griffin

Email: jgriffin@sportsparadise.net

Concussion Test

Follow these steps to complete your required NJSIAA Concussion Protocol Training:

  1. Log onto Arbiter.com
  2. Click “Eligibility”
  3. Click “2025-26 Soccer Active”
    Click on 2025-26 Soccer Active
  4. Click “Take Online Clinic” for NJSIAA Concussion Protocol Training
Arbiter Eligibility Dashboard - Click Take Online Clinic for concussion training

Note: This must be completed annually and closes on 6/30/2026 at 11:59 PM EDT.

4
Additional Requirements

Annual Requirements

  • Annual open book test online
  • NFHS Concussion in Sports course (annual)
  • NJSIAA Implicit Bias course (one-time requirement – See below)

JV Tournament

Attend JV Tournament for paid work with mentoring. This provides valuable feedback and allows the board and assignor to evaluate your officiating for higher level game assignments.

Chapter Meetings

SJSOA Mandatory Meetings for 2025

  • Tuesday, August 19, 6:00 PM Eastern – Fitness Test and Field Clinic
  • Wednesday, September 3, 7:00 PM Eastern – New Rules Review – Rulebooks
  • Monday, September 22, 7:00 PM Eastern – Guest Presenter – Season Update
  • Thursday, October 16, 7:00 PM (ZOOM) – Online Presentation – Nominations
  • Monday, November 3, 6:00 PM (TBD) – Annual Banquet and Service Awards

⚠️ ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT: Officials are required to attend all 5 meetings. Officials who fail to attend 3 of the 5 meetings will be fined $50.

New Cadets: Quick check-in with Rules Interpreter at the end of each meeting.

NJSIAA Workshop Requirements – Information for Current Officials

NJSIAA will be offering a limited number of workshop opportunities at specific dates and times. Officials may register for any of the workshops below, regardless of season.

This is a one-time-only requirement.
If you have already completed this workshop, you do not need to take it again.

Any official who has not yet completed this workshop will not be eligible for any assignment at any level (regular season and tournament contests).

Pre-registration is required.

The upcoming workshop opportunities are:

Fees

Registration Fees and Annual Costs

  • Chapter Dues $65
  • NFHS Rule Book $8.75
  • Training Class $36.25
  • Prepaid Game Fees $60
  • Total $170.00

NJSIAA Fees
(Paid Separately to NJSIAA)

  • Annual NJSIAA Registration Fee
    (includes background check)     $60
  • Each Additional Sport $30
  • Test Fee ✅ No Charge

Please note: NJSIAA fees, chapter dues, and game fees are charged annually.

2026 Annual JV Tournament

Location: Williamstown High School

Address: 1445 S Black Horse Pike, Williamstown, NJ 08094

View on Google Maps

Tournament Dates & Times:

  • Saturday, October 17 & Sunday, October 18, 2026 (8am – 4pm)
  • Saturday, October 24 & Sunday, October 25, 2026 (8am – 4pm)
  • Rain Date: Saturday, October 31 & Sunday, November 1, 2026 (8am – 4pm)

All cadets are expected to update their availability in other calendars now to ensure they can work these games, which are paid. You will receive valuable feedback, and the board and assignor will get to see you officiate, making you eligible for higher level games.

2024 SJSOA JV Tournament Results

2024 SJSOA JV Tournament Bracket

Follow this event on Instagram @SJSOArefs

Important Resources

2025-26 Soccer Major Rules Changes Soccer Points of Emphasis 2025-26

SJSOA All rights reserved.