COLUMBIA SOCCER REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION
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Welcome to the Columbia Soccer Referees’ Association. Thanks for your interest. Below is some information about our assigning and payment procedure. As will become clear to you as you read the information below, we use the internet extensively in our processes. It is important that we always have your current email address.
ASSIGNING GAMES
The first thing you need to do is go to our website and click on the link “register to do games.” We must have that basic information about you before we can assign you games. Also, you MUST be a United States Soccer Federation certified referee for the current year.
The Columbia Soccer Referees’ Association (CSRA) is, basically, a scheduling organization. Members are certified United States Soccer Federation (USSF) referees who are desirous of CSRA to serve as their booking agency. Assignments are usually made by internet email. The schedule of all games is posted on the CSRA web-site, hcassignor.com. In addition to email, assignments can be made by phone also. More on that later.
The schedule is divided by leagues. Currently, CSRA schedules officials for Soccer Association of Columbia-Howard County (SAC); youth travel leagues (NCSL [boys] and WAGS [girls], and adult women league in Howard County.
When you are available to do games, look at the web-site and see which games need officials. Then email us, csrarefs@verizon.net, and request the games. Be sure to type your name in any emails you send. Some of your more cryptic email address don’t give any clue to your identity. You will receive a return email confirming the assignment. The email will usually have a file attached to it with your complete schedule for that season. When you request an assignment let me know how flexible you are - can you take games at another site or another time?
If there are three games at a site, you can request all three, the first or last game ONLY. If there are four games at a site, you can request the first two, last two or all four. If there are five games, request the first two, last two, or first three or last three.
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If you don’t have internet access, you can call, 410-465-8111 and request assignment. If you do call, be sure to know your schedule (if you are playing) for that weekend and have any transportation problems resolved BEFORE you call.
CANCELLATIONS & RAIN-OUTS
If a game you are scheduled to do is cancelled for any reason, other than weather related, you can expect an email or call from us. If it is raining on game day, or if it has been raining heavily the day before, you need to check our web site for cancellation announcements. ADDITIONALLY, you should call the field numbers posted on our web site to be absolutely certain the fields are open.
If you’ve done all of the above and go to the field and either the teams don’t show, or you determine the field is not playable, you need to contact me ASAP. You WILL get paid if you go to the field. However, if the cancellation was posted on our website or the field closing was recorded on the field’s closing phone message, you will not be paid. Bottom line, check your email and our website before going to your assignment. If we get a cancellation notice 24 hours before game time, I make every effort to contact you by phone as well as email.
PAYMENT
As an “independent contractor” the choice is yours alone as to how much you work or don’t work.. However, if you accept an assignment, and fail to appear, or give 24 hours notice, the amount of the game fee will be deducted from any money due you as a fine for failing to honor an assignment.
Payment is made to you AFTER the funds are collected from the various leagues CSRA assigns for. In this regard CSRA works for you to collect the fees and distribute them to you. If a league fails to make payment, CSRA will use its best efforts to collect the fees, but under no circumstances will CSRA be responsible for payment to you. This has NEVER happened in 20 years of our existence and all our leagues are very stable, but it is something that you need to understand.
CSRA sends an invoice to the leagues BEFORE the season begins for what we estimate will be about two weeks of games. When we get that payment we are able to pay you. We attempt to send checks out every three weeks or so. You can figure getting three checks during the course of the season. Trust me when I say the checks are mailed to you ASAP. Prior to sending the check we will email a statement that lists all the games we will be paying you for. If there are any errors in that listing of games, notify us immediately. It becomes very time consuming if you are paid for a game another ref did and we have to get the money back from you to pay the correct official.
No deductions, other than dues, are taken from your pay. Currently, CSRA dues are $0.00. As an “independent contractor,” YOU are responsible for any income tax liability you may incur. CSRA complies with all IRS reporting requirements. You can, therefore, expect a Form 1099 reporting income of over $599.99.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at csrarefs@verizon.net, or call, 410-465-8111. Again, thanks for your interest.
Dario J. Broccolino
CSRA Commissioner
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