While each official is expected to keep the assignments he or she accepts, there are certain occasions where a referee should be released from a lower-level assignment to officiate in a higher-level competition.
To this end, the following games are listed by priority for assignment:
- International and senior National Team games assigned by U.S. Soccer
- Games assigned by the Professional Referee Organization (PRO)
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup assigned by U.S. Soccer
- Youth National Team games assigned by U.S. Soccer
- Regional and National competitions assigned directly by U.S. Soccer’s Affiliate Members. Includes, but is not limited to:
- USASA, US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, & U.S. Soccer Affiliate Members
- State level competitions assigned directly by U.S. Soccer and U.S. Soccer’s Affiliate Members. Includes, but is not limited to:
- State Adult Associations & State Youth Associations
- League games are assigned directly by U.S. Soccer & U.S. Soccer’s affiliated members
Please note that this police does not apply:
- Within 72 hours of the scheduled game time unless an emergency exists
- When a substantial financial commitment has been made for the assignment (e.g. nonrefundable airline ticket)
Responsibilities on officials:
- Keep the lines of communication open about upcoming national and international appointments as far in advance as possible
- Communicate the receipt of a higher priority appointment to their assignor as soon as possible
- Report an assignor that refuses to release the official from a higher priority assignment to their State Referee Administrator (sra@pawest-soccer.org) and the U.S. Soccer Referee Department (referee@ussoccer.org)
Responsibility of Assignors:
- Identify the highly experienced officials on your assignment roster who are likely to be assigned to a higher priority assignment and always be prepared to fill these slots on an emergency basis
- Cooperate with officials and other assignors on those rare occasions when the game priority policy is invoked
- Report any concerns regarding officials to the State Referee Administrator (sra@pawest-soccer.org)