The Third Team – Referee Meeting on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00 PM

Dear Referees,

I hope you’re all doing well and getting ready for another great soccer season!

We’ll be holding a referee meeting for The Third Team on Tuesday, April 29th at 7:00 PM at West Rapids Elementary School (901 SW 22nd Ave, Grand Rapids, MN 55744). The meeting will run for about an hour. If you’re coming from out of town, you can join us via Google Meet.

This meeting is for both new and returning officials, and we’ll cover a number of important topics to get everyone on the same page before the season begins:

• Introductions and communication methods for the season

• Field locations and logistics

• Assignments and scheduling

• Pay structure and how payments will be handled

• Uniform standards and expectations for match day

• Expectations for professionalism, timeliness, and game conduct

• Pre-game and post-game responsibilities

• New rules for this season

• Key points of focus at the start of the season

• Solo vs. full crew assignments (for in-house and visiting travel teams)

• Incident and game reporting procedures

• Optional mentorship/shadowing opportunities for newer referees

Also: if you’d like to add the association logo to your gear, please bring a plain black shirt or black pants to the meeting. I’ll have the iron-on press available, along with the 3-inch patch-style logo featuring the updated year 2025. You’ll need to bring your own item of clothing, but I’ll take care of applying the logo.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there—either in person or online. If you have any questions ahead of time, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Sean Martinson

Assignor, The Third Team

Cell: 218-259-3129

Email: seanmartinson@gmail.com

Website: www.the3rdteam.org

The 2024 soccer season is approaching, and all referees must complete their certification before officiating any matches. Whether you're a new referee or recertifying, be sure to take care of your requirements on time!

📌 New Referees – Certification Steps

To become a certified referee, follow these steps:

✅ Register with U.S. Soccer & Complete Online Coursework – This must be done before attending in-person training. Start now!
✅ Attend an In-Person Training Session – Final step to receive your certification.

📅 Grand Rapids Training Date:
📍 West Rapids Elementary School
🗓 Saturday, April 12
⏰ 12:45 – 3:45 PM

🔗 Get started & register today: Minnesota SRC – Become a Referee

📌 Returning Referees – Recertification Info

If you are a returning referee, follow these steps to recertify:

✅ Complete Online Recertification Course – No in-person training required.
✅ Recertification Deadline: End of June (but matches start in May, so complete it ASAP!).
✅ Complete Required Safety Courses (SafeSport, Background Check, etc.).

🔗 Recertification Details: Minnesota SRC – Recertification Info

⚠️ REMINDER: You cannot officiate a match until your certification is complete! ⚠️

For questions about certification, contact:
📞 [Your Name] – 218-259-3129

For assigning & game schedules, contact:
👤 Sean "Marty" Martinson – Referee Assignor, The Third Team
📧 seanmartinson@gmail.com
📞 218-259-3129
🌐 www.The3rdTeam.org

🏆 Thank you for supporting youth soccer! We look forward to seeing you on the field! ⚽