NLSA is committed to developing confident, knowledgeable, and well-prepared referees at every stage of their journey. Whether you’re brand new to officiating or looking to referee small-sided matches, our referee courses provide the foundation, support, and practical skills needed to succeed on the field.
Explore the courses below to find the right starting point for you.
The Entry Level Referee Course trains new referees to officiate 11-aside matches and act as assistant referees. It is designed for individuals 14 years of age or older who want to start their referee journey in soccer. The course provides the foundation in the Laws of the Game, refereeing principles, and practical skills needed to officiate safely and confidently.
There are two parts to be completed:
Registration and payment for the online portion will be through Canada Soccer.
Cost is $30 until February 14, 2026, increasing to $40 on February 15, 2026.
The minimum age to register is 14 years.
If a parent or guardian is registering a youth, please use the youth’s name.
Payment is required first to receive an access key, which will be sent to the email used for payment.
If payment is processed but the access key is not received, contact Canada Soccer SmarterU Support at canadasoccer@smarteru.com.
Online Module is a prerequisite for Online Module 2. Go to the Canada Soccer Referee Education website: https://canada-soccer.myshopify.com/ > Click on Referee Education and select Canada Soccer Entry Level Referee Course (English or French) > Click Add to Cart and complete checkout and payment > Check the email used for payment to receive your access key > Go to Training Login on the Canada Soccer platform and redeem your access key to create your account > Complete the Registration Form using the youth’s name and email if registering for someone under 18 > Access the Canada Soccer Online Modules and complete each module in order, scoring 80% or higher to move to the next > Download your Certificate of Completion (PDF) once all modules are finished > Send your Certificate of Completion PDF to NLSA; this is required before registering for the practical session.
The practical session will be held by NLSA member clubs.
Session details, including cost, dates and locations, will be released later this year.
Online Module must be completed before participating in this session.
The Small Sided Referee Course is an introductory course for individuals interested in refereeing U11 and younger divisions in small-sided soccer formats.
This 6 hour, NLSA-delivered course is practical and interactive, ideally held on a soccer field with classroom access. It introduces basic refereeing concepts and prepares officials to manage recreational U4-U11 in a safe, positive environment.
Important Information:
Minimum age to register: 12 years
This course does not qualify referees to officiate:
11-a-side soccer
As an assistant referee
Provincial tournaments (except small-sided matches)
To referee matches using direct free kicks, penalty kicks, or offside, the Entry Level Referee Course is required
Note:
Candidates aged 14 and over are strongly encouraged to complete the Entry Level Referee Course, which qualifies officials for both small-sided and 11-a-side soccer.