In an effort to develop a referee recruitment program, I met with Scott Helin (Alaska State Referee Administrator) and Lori Stoneburner (President of the Alaska Amateur Soccer Association) last night. As a result of the meeting, I believe that we will create an incentive packet to encourage adult players to take the leap and become referees. Among its features:

• The class time will be shortened (grade 9 official)
  
• The class will take place on one Saturday, in early May and will be free
• Each new referee will receive a packet containing 2 shirts, shorts, socks, flags and a whistle at no cost
• Soccer Alaska will waive player fees for those individuals that certify as officials through this program
  
• The new officials are only committed to doing 10 games throughout the summer, 8 of them with full pay

We will firm up plans for this package in the next few weeks, so stay tuned for updates. As always, have any bright ideas on how to increase our pool of referees? Let me know and we will gladly incorporate them into this program, or start fresh with yours.