A TRA PROGRAM FOR YOUNG REFEREES
junior program
Training and mentor support for 11–12 year olds not yet eligible for USSF certification.
No experience needed!
Registration is currently closed. Junior Track enrollment opens each December for the following program year.
Who the Junior Program is For
Available exclusively through our partner club communities. It runs for one program year, and yes, junior referees get paid for the games they work!
RIGHT AGE
Must be 11 or 12, and turn 13 after Feb 1 of the program year.
If you are 13 years old, you are ready to get certified! Start here, AND you qualify for the Youth Track → (ages 13-17).
Got a summer birthday? Turning 13 before August 1? You can move to the Youth Track Fall cohort that same year, or finish your Junior year first. It's your family's call. Just ask us.
THE PROGRAM
Duration
1-2 seasons
Junior Program starts in March and ends in November. Registrations open in December from the year prior.
Training Commitment
2 sessions
Junior Referees need to complete 1 Classroom session and 1 On-field Training led by TRA before starting to work.
TRA Team
Trainers & Mentors
TRA assigns experienced referee trainers and mentors to guide Junior referees on their first experiences.
What You Get
What comes with enrollment.
Hands-On Training
One required classroom session and one required on-field training with TRA trainers and mentors before your first game. We offer multiple dates and locations so referees can choose what works best with their schedule.
Mentors on the field
TRA mentors are present during your first game experiences, guiding you through real calls in a low-pressure environment.
Paid Experience
Junior referees get paid for the games they work.
A Clear Plan
Most graduates move straight into Youth Track once they turn 13 and get certified, same mentorship, same community, next stage.
TRA Game Day Kit
Included with enrollment: referee coin, whistle, watch, gear bag, Junior Referee Guidebook, and official TRA kit (teal jersey, shorts, socks).
REGISTRATION
Register for Junior Program
Complete the registration form. If there are no spots available, you will enter our referee waitlist.
Pay the Enrollment
Pay a one time enrollment fee that will cover a full year of mentoring and training and a game day kit so you have everything you need.
Wait for Invitation
We will send you a link to your inbox.
Join TRA Platform
Our team will send you an invitation to join our assigning platform, so you are ready to pick your training sessions when those are open.
Commitment
Attend 1 Classroom Session and 1 On-field Training
Both are required to work recreational games.
Officiate
Work at least 10 games within our network during the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: what is the date cutoff?
Junior Track is for kids 11-12 who turn 13 after Feb 1 of the program year. If you turn 13 on or before Feb 1, Youth Track is the best fit.
q: When can we enroll?
Every December, for the following program year.
q: Does THE referee need any experience?
None at all! Junior Track is built for first-timers, TRA trains them from scratch.
q: hOW DO I GET THE UNIFORM?
For new referees, the uniform is included in the enrollment fee. During registration, referees will select their size (jersey and shorts will be provided in the same size) and provide a shipping address for delivery.
The gear bag will be distributed at the program kickoff event.
q: How big a time commitment is it?
Training happens in scheduled sessions. We offer several options with different dates and locations, and the referee pick the one that best work for their schedule. Games are assigned around referee's availability, and it flexes with your family's schedule.
q: What if they turn 13 partway through the year?
If the birthday's before August 1, they can move up to the Youth Track Fall cohort, once certified and ready, or finish the Junior Track year first. The family's call.
Communities We Currently Serve
2150 3rd Street
Suite 16
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
OFFICE HOURS
Mon-Thu: 9AM to 4PM
Friday: 9AM to 3PM
Sat-Sun: Closed
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