Before Coming to the Referee Class,

Get An Individual Email Address That’s Only For You. 

Congratulations! You are interested in becoming a USSF Referee registered in North Carolina. Please visit the referee clinics page for schedule of entry level clinics grade 9 or 8 that are being offered.

     In addition, in North Carolina, all registered soccer referees are given a referee identity on a statewide World Wide Web assigning system called The Arbiter.  To be invited to tournaments and to be assigned soccer matches, every referee must have a unique, individual working email address.  Fortunately, access to a web-based email address is both easy and free.

     In addition to the price, your free web-based email account has advantages over a home, school or business account:

• These accounts rarely change
• These accounts are portable from city to city and country to country
• If your home account changes, this email address does not
• If you change jobs or schools, you still have access to your free account.    

     So where can I find an email account just for me?  Easy: Begin with a search of the World Wide Web.  You will quickly discover there are perhaps 100 ways to gain a free email account.  So look for and consider the following features:

• Lots of storage – 1GB or more
• POP3 Access – Use your own email program to manage your mail
• Good Spam Protection!

     Let’s get started with two examples: AOL Mail and Inbox.Com

AOL Mail

1. In your web browser, go to: https://www.aol.com and select “Get Free AOL Mail.
2. Fill out the required application; you may have to try several times to get an account name that has not already been used. You will need an alternate email address to receive confirmation of your free email address and your password.  The alternate email address could be Mom’s or Dad’s email address, but ask permission of your parents first.
3. Submit, and follow the instructions. Be sure to write down your account information and store in a safe place!
4. Remember, everything in your password is case sensitive!

Inbox.Com

1. In your web browser, go to: http://www.inbox.com and select on the right “Sign Up.”
2. Fill out the required application; you may have to try several times to get an account name that has not already been used. You will not need an alternate email address, but it is wise to have one – this is where you will receive confirmation or your password. It could be Mom’s or Dad’s email address, but ask permission of your parents first.
3. Submit, and follow the instructions. Be sure to write down your account information and store in a safe place!
4. Remember, everything in your password is case sensitive!

It is that easy!

Other free Email services

GMail   Requires a mobile phone number to register. Unlimited storage.

Yahoo Mail  Excellent Outlook-like look and feel. POP3 access is extra cost feature.

MSN Hotmail  Allows for limiting senders

FastMail  Limited Storage

Lycos Mail  The best spam protection available, but limited features and storage

Write Your Email Address on the Referee Registration Form at the Referee Clinic

Now when you fill out your USSF Registration Form at the referee clinic you attend, carefully write your new email address and watch in a few weeks for a “WELCOME to Arbiter” email. Then follow the instructions you received in your class about using www.thearbiter.net.  You can also learn more about Arbiter by visiting the “Arbiter Portal” at www.ncsra.org viewing the excellent PowerPoint tutorial located there. 
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQs”) 
 

Q:      What if I don’t bring my new email address to the referee clinic to put on my referee registration form?

Q. Why don’t I just use my brother’s account?

A. You can, IF your brother isn’t already or going to be an official with an Arbiter Account. Each official must have a unique email address of his own on The Arbiter.   
 

Q. Mom is helping me out getting started since I am just 14. Shouldn’t I use her email address?

A. Not a bad idea in your first year. And you can change to your own address at The Arbiter easily in the future. But if your brother or sister (or Mother!) wants to become a referee this year or next year, he/she cannot use the same address.  One email address per referee only. 

Q. My Mindspring account requires every new email sender to register, as a means of spam protection. Can I use my Mindspring account?

A. Yes, but be very aware that you must in advance submit as approved any email from THEARBITER.NET and from your assignor(s). Remember, your assignor(s) may be working with several hundred officials and several hundred emails every week.  
 
 
 

Q. Am I required to have an Email address to be a USSF Soccer Referee in North Carolina?

A. No, but most local assignors use the Arbiter, and you will most likely miss out on tournament invitations, class and clinic notices, training information, and other communications from your State Referee Administrator or your State Youth Referee Administrator.  
 

Q. Can I change my email address in the future?

A. Certainly! Go to www.thearbiter.net, sign in with your old email address; on your personal information page change your email address to your new email address; and SAVE your new information. Exit Arbiter entirely and then come back in. This time use your new email address (your password stays the same) and check “Automatically Sign Me In Next Time” if you wish. It would be wise to notify your assignor(s), too.  
 

Q. How often do I need to check my email account?

A. During the soccer season, you will check for new email messages at least once a day. As you get more active, you should check in several times a day on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Finally, it is vital that you check for new messages before leaving home on Saturday morning and again Sunday morning.