New Procedures for 2025/2026 on the Jessica Lunsford Act

Starting in the 2025/2026 season, after completing your photo and fingerprinting for a new JLA badge, officials must send a clear copy of a birth certificate OR current US passport and social security number (along with the FBI/FDLE acknowledgment form) to the email: lunsfordscreening@pcsb.org. Additionally, PSOA is requiring that all officials send a picture of their valid JLA License to our assignor at PSOA.assignor@gmail.com

As a reminder to all officials, check and verify that your JLA required background check and registration with the county is not expired, and also make sure you have your Contractor's badge!  Schools are required to check all game officials for this badge, so please check now and make sure you have it before the season starts.  If you need a new copy, or your check has expired, please act now to replace it.  The background checks are valid for 5 years.  Visit the New Members page for full information.

FHSAA Returns to Flags & Removes Blue Cards

After many years of consideration, FHSAA is finally returning to the diagonal system of officiating - 1 whistle on the field and two ARs with flags. Starting with the 2024-25 sport season, all preseason, regular season and state series soccer games with 3 contest officials will use the Traditional System of Officiating and all preseason, and regular season games with 2 contest officials will use the Dual System of Officiating, as written in the NFHS Soccer Rules Book.

Also, FHSAA is changing the carding system to align directly with the NFHS rule book, which is resulting in the dissolution of the blue card. Referees will no longer need to carry 3 different colors of cards.

PSOA Requiring Aqua Jerseys And 2-Stripe Socks for All Games

Pinellas Soccer Officials Association requires all officials to wear the aqua FHSAA high school referee jersey for all high school matches.

Starting in the 2021-22 season, PSOA is also requiring the use of the 2-stripe socks that are also part of the standard USSF kit. These socks can be ordered at Official Sports.

PSOA Meeting Schedule FHSAA Soccer Schedule Postseason Schedule
September 21st - First Meeting (Zoom Only)  Boys & Girls Preseason - TBD Girls Districts - TBD
October 12th - Rules Overview (In Person) Boys & Girls Regular Season - TBD Boys Districts - TBD
Week of October 27th - Assessment Game (In Person) Girls Regular Season - TBD Girls Regionals/Semis - TBD
December 7th - Mid Season Meeting (Zoom Only) Boys Regular Season - TBD Boys Regionals/Semis - TBD
January 18th - Post Season Expectations (In Person) State Series - Feb TBD
March 8th - End of Year Meeting (In Person)

Assigning

PSOA uses Arbiter for assigning. This allows better integration with FHSAA and NFHS and gives a high value to our members. All officials should sign up through fhsaa.arbitersports.com and select Pinellas Soccer Officials Association as their primary soccer association to be automatically forwarded to our system.

Please make sure to keep you availability up to date, and verify your contact information is current (including a phone number).

Jessica Lunsford Act

Florida law requires all high school match officials to complete a Level 2 background check to be in compliance with the Jessica Lunsford Act. These Badges are good for 5 years. Interested officials can find more information on this and other requirements on the New Members page.

Meetings

All our in-person meetings are held Sundays at 6:30pm. Location is Piper Fire, 13075 US Hwy 19, Clearwater, FL. See the Meetings/Dates page for more information.