Mustang uses a web-based referee assigning system from www.GameOfficials.net . We utilize both self-assigning and manual assigning as described below. If you are a USSF-certified referee wishing to referee at Mustang, click on the Registration link for details on how to establish an account.
Self-Assigning - In order to facilitate the annual assigning of over 6000 referee positions for Mustang games, we release the majority of younger COMP games and REC games for referees to self-assign. GameOfficials enables a system of game difficulty and referee ability levels which limits the games which a referee may self-assign to those within their ability level. This self-assigning system allows us to provide referees with the flexibility to select games at their preferred times and levels while keeping them from self-assigning to games beyond their ability:
- GameOfficials limits referees to a maximum of 3 games officiated per day.
- No more than 4 games may be self-assigned in a 24 hour period (this allows more referees an opportunity to sign up for games).
- Once you self-assign to a game, in order to be removed from the game you must contact an assignor. If cancelling a game less than 48 hours before the match, you must contact the assignor by telephone. See the Referee Committee link for contact info.
Here is the game difficulty/referee ability level chart:
Level 2 |
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Level 3 |
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D4P |
D3 |
D1 |
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D4P |
D3 |
D1 |
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U9 |
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U9 |
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Newly trained Grassroot Referees are assigned |
U10 |
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U10 |
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a Ref level of 2 and Assistant Ref level of 3 |
U11 |
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U11 |
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U12 |
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U12 |
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A level X referee may self-assign to any game |
U13 |
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U13 |
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level which is colored in the Level X chart |
U14 |
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U14 |
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To gain experience to advance to the next level, |
Level 4 |
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Level 5 |
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refs progress from Green to Red games |
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D4P |
D3 |
D1 |
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D4P |
D3 |
D1 |
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When comfortable in the Red, refs request an |
U9 |
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U9 |
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evaluation for a level increase |
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U10 |
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U10 |
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U11 |
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U11 |
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Evaluation games are D1 games in the Red |
U12 |
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U12 |
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at the referee's current Ref level |
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U13 |
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U13 |
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U14 |
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U14 |
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Passing the evaluation increases the referee's |
U15 |
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U15 |
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CR and AR level by +1 |
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U16 |
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U16 |
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U17 |
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U17 |
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An AR evaluation can be requested to raise |
U18 |
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U18 |
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the AR level alone, for AR advancement |
U19 |
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U19 |
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Level 6 |
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Level 7 |
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D4P |
D3 |
D1 |
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D4P |
D3 |
D1 |
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LEGEND: |
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U9 |
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U9 |
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U10 |
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U10 |
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"Easy" games which are generally offer few |
U11 |
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U11 |
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opportunities for referee development |
U12 |
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U12 |
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"Moderate" games which offer numerous |
U13 |
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U13 |
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opportunities to develop skills |
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U14 |
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U14 |
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"Challenging" games for a referee at that |
U15 |
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U15 |
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level |
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U16 |
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U16 |
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"Challenging" girl's games |
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U17 |
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U17 |
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U18 |
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U18 |
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Game levels which do not exist (eg. |
U19 |
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U19 |
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U11 D4P) |
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Manual assignments – Some games and tournaments, representing the most competitive and challenging games to referee, as well as games where referees are receiving assessments, evaluations, mentoring, and "special request" assignments, are manually assigned. Here are the game types and the assigning process for each:
Mustang’s regular reason D1 & D3 games at the U15-U19 ages – Referees are assumed unavailable and must explicitly provide availability through the GameOfficials Availability function. Referees desiring these assignments should keep their availability up to date for a period of 28 days in the future, returning to update it when it changes. The assigning process takes place between 21 and 28 days before the game. Assignments will be released no less than 21 days prior to the game and must be accepted within 3 days or they are subject to being released and reassigned. Assignments for these games will be made based on a number of factors. These factors include the referee’s USSF grade, ability level, fitness, contribution to the Mustang referee program (such as mentoring, history of support, etc), need for developmental assignments (assessment, grade advancement, evaluations, and mentoring) and attendance at In-Service Clinics and other training events.
Mustang’s major D1 and D3 tournaments, the Stampede, Devil Mountain, and Winter Turf - About six weeks in advance of a tournament, referees are sent an email asking them to submit their availability using the GameOfficials Availability function. Referees are assumed to be unavailable unless they provide availability. About 2-3 weeks prior to the event, the tournament assignors publish the assignments, which are made based on referee skill and availability. After the initial release of assignments, any remaining openings and assignments which are turned-back are made available for self assignment.
Assessments, Evaluations and Mentoring - Referees who need a USSF assessment for grade upgrade or maintenance, or who wish to be evaluated for Mustang ability level advancement, or who wish to be assigned a game for mentoring purposes, should contact an assignor and work with them to identify and be assigned to a suitable game.
Special Requests - Mustang’s assignors will work with referees who have special requests to receive manual game assignments in advance of the games being released for self-assign. Examples of special requests include:
- Current players and parents of players who are referees - Often, it is difficult to schedule opportunities to referee around a loaded game schedule. Mustang wants to help these players and their parents gain more opportunities to referee and will manually assign players and parents to games which fit their schedule.
- Families/friends who want to work together - There are many "referee families" out there who enjoy being able to work a game together, or referees who want to work games with friends. Contact an assignor to be assigned games together as a crew.