Learning
Laws of the Game, mechanics, and the parts of officiating that only come up when you talk them through with someone who has been there.
The MRDA patch — worn by members on matches where a competition-specific patch is not required. It marks the community, not a certification.
Maine Referee Development Academy
Referees helping referees get better
MRDA is a Maine-based mentoring community. Experienced officials share advice, feedback, education, and opportunities so every referee can reach the level they want to reach — at their own pace, on their own terms.
USSF, high school (NFHS), college (NISOA and NCAA), youth, and adult amateur — whatever badge you hold and wherever you referee, you are welcome here.
What we're about
Learning, improvement, support
MRDA exists to break down the barriers between referees. Better communication, real growth, and genuine camaraderie make everyone on the field better.
Improvement
Honest, useful feedback aimed at whatever you personally want to get better at — not a curriculum handed down from above.
Support
A group of referees who answer the text after a hard match, share opportunities, and want to see you succeed.
All referees welcome
Development over politics. Mentorship over bureaucracy.
MRDA is a mentoring and development community — referees helping referees get better. Badges, assignments, and competition rules stay where they belong, with USSF, NCAA, NISOA, NFHS, MASO, and Soccer Maine Referee. Those groups do important work, and many of our members are active in them.
What we add is the part that is easy to miss: feedback, encouragement, and experience shared between referees. Regardless of badge, competition, or affiliation, we are all officiating the same sport — and we all get better when we help each other.
More about MRDA- No dues-driven bureaucracy — just referees who want to help.
- Open to every badge, every competition, every experience level.
- Your goals set the agenda, not a rank structure.
- Complementary to the organizations you already belong to.
Mentorship
Someone in your corner
Match management, positioning, mechanics, communication, fitness, assessments, advancement, and the situations nobody warns you about. Mentors work with you on what you actually need.
Opportunities & events
Get on more matches
Clinics, fitness tests, tournaments, travel, and development sessions shared across the community.
Referee clinics
In-person and online clinics covering the Laws of the Game, mechanics, and match-day preparation. MRDA members pass along clinic dates from the organizations that run them so nobody misses a registration window.
Fitness tests
Fitness testing is a requirement for several competition levels. Members share test dates, preparation advice, and training partners so first-timers know exactly what to expect.
Tournament assignments
Tournaments are one of the fastest ways to accumulate quality matches, work with new crews, and be seen by assignors. Members circulate tournament openings and help newer officials decide which ones fit their experience.
News & success stories
Maine referees, doing the work
Milestones worth celebrating — because they show what is possible from right here.
Andrew Porada earns USSF National Referee certification
Reaching National Referee is the product of years of matches, fitness work, assessments, and feedback. It is a milestone worth celebrating, and a reminder to every developing official in Maine that the pathway is real and reachable from here.
MRDA members officiate the first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match in Maine
Maine hosted its first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match involving Portland's Hearts of Pine, and MRDA members were on the crew. Big matches in our own state create experience that comes straight back to the local referee community.
Ready to develop?
Tell us where you referee and what you want to work on. We will point you toward the people and opportunities that help.