Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program

What Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program does

Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program is a non-profit referee certification and training organization that serves as the official USSF Soccer and Futsal referee governing body for Virginia and Washington, D.C. The organization oversees certification, recertification, career advancement, and ongoing professional development for referees across the region, serving individuals aged 13+ from grassroots youth through national-level officiating. Key leadership includes Chairman Mort Sajadian and State Referee Administrator George Vergara, with a volunteer-driven committee structure covering regional areas (North, Central, South, West).

The program operates a portfolio of interconnected services including Grassroots Referee Certification ($85), annual badge renewal ($85), Regional and National Referee certification pathways, Futsal certification, formal evaluations ($100-$200), and a Referee Abuse Prevention reporting system. Its technology stack is built on the Officials Management System (OMS) for registration and member tracking, integration with the US Soccer Learning Center for online coursework (with a 24-48 hour sync delay), RefEval for formal assessments, and Assignr.com for game assignment management. Distribution is self-service via online portals supplemented by in-person field training clinics and a monthly Zoom-based CELL continuing education webinar series.

The business model is fee-based certification and evaluation revenue, with ancillary income from badge replacements and transfer fees. The program markets primarily through its website (vadcsoccerref.com), social media (@vadcrefs on Instagram and Facebook), email newsletters, and tournament/league partnerships. In 2025, the organization launched a new VA/DC Referee Platform in a 30-day 'Live Trial' phase as a digital modernization initiative, suggesting ongoing investment in its core platforms despite its non-profit status.

Name

Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program

Legal name

Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program

Website

https://vadcsoccerref.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program is a non-profit governing body that certifies and trains USSF Soccer and Futsal referees across Virginia and Washington D.C., offering grassroots-to-national career pathways, game assignments, and abuse prevention through its OMS platform and regional clinic network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodbridge, Virginia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Referee Certification Fees: Initial referee certification for new referees costs $85, which includes online lessons, in-person clinic, and registration. Annual recertification also costs $85.
2. Badge Sales: Replacement badges are sold for $6.00 each. Recertifying referees receive badges by mail once all requirements are finalized.
3. Transfer Fees: Referees transferring their license from another state pay a transfer fee that covers the cost of transferring the license and running a new background check.
4. Formal Evaluation Fees: Regional Referee upgrade and maintenance evaluations cost $100. National Referee upgrade and maintenance evaluations cost $200.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program is the official USSF state referee committee for Virginia and Washington, D.C., providing soccer and futsal referee certification, annual recertification, structured career advancement from Grassroots through Regional to National levels, formal referee evaluations, and game assignment coordination. It operates a member management platform (OMS), continuing education webinars, abuse prevention reporting, and partnerships with regional leagues and tournaments to connect certified referees with match opportunities.

Product overview

Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program operates as a certification and administrative body overseeing USSF Soccer and Futsal referees in Virginia and Washington, D.C. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected services centered on referee certification (Grassroots, Regional, and National levels), annual badge renewal, game assignment coordination via OMS, and ongoing career development through training webinars and evaluation systems. Key platforms include the Officials Management System (OMS) for member registration and tracking, integration with US Soccer Learning Center for online coursework, RefEval for formal assessments, and Zoom-based CELL webinar series for continuing education. The program also manages referee abuse prevention reporting and maintains partnerships with local leagues and tournaments for game assignment opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grassroots Referee Certification

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USL (United Soccer League)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated league providing referee assignment opportunities for USL matches within the Virginia/DC region.
• US Soccer FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body that sets referee certification standards and provides the Learning Center platform. The Metro DC-VA program is the official state-level implementing organization.
• US Youth SoccercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational youth soccer organization that coordinates youth tournaments and championships requiring certified referees.
• FIFAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational governing body for soccer rules and refereeing standards (Laws of the Game).
• Metro DC-Virginia Soccer Association (MDCVSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional soccer association providing tournament opportunities and referee assignment coordination. President Jim Sadowski serves on the State Referee Committee.
• Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState youth soccer association. President Bill Phillips serves on the State Referee Committee. Coordinates state cup and tournament events.
• Official Sports International (OSI)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred vendor for referee uniforms and equipment. Official sponsor affiliated with the US Soccer referee program. Recommended supplier for referee kits.
• Adidas National CupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor youth soccer tournament requiring certified referees for match officiating.
• Jefferson CupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional showcase tournament in Richmond, VA providing referee assignment opportunities.
• USYS National ChampionshipsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational youth championship tournaments requiring certified referees for officiating at various age groups.
• Randolph Macon CollegeminorOthersHost venue for Semi-Annual Meetings for referee coaches, mentors, and assignors at 101 Calhoun Street, Ashland, VA.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• OMGTSys (Officials Management System): Provider of the OMS platform (mdcvasrp.omgtsys.com) that powers registration, clinic enrollment, certification tracking, and badge issuance for the program. Operates as the core technology vendor for state referee programs.
• Eastern New York State Referee Committee: Another US Soccer-affiliated state referee committee serving the Eastern New York region. Directly comparable in mandate, service portfolio, and organizational structure to Metro DC-Virginia.
• Cal North State Referee Program: A peer state-level referee program operating under US Soccer Federation in Northern California. Comparable operating model, revenue structure, and oversight function in a different geographic market.
• Assignr.com: Game assignment platform used by Metro DC-Virginia referees to accept match assignments. Operates in the same referee workflow value chain and is integrated directly into the program's member experience.

Emerging players

• USA Lacrosse: National governing body for lacrosse that similarly provides official certification, training, and assignment infrastructure. Comparable non-profit governance model and certification-driven revenue approach.

Others

• Official Sports International (OSI): Preferred vendor and official sponsor for referee uniforms and equipment within the US Soccer ecosystem. Adjacent ecosystem participant that monetizes the certified referee base.

Broad incumbents

• National Federation of State High School Associations: National body that oversees high school sports officiating. Operates in the same broader officials certification and assignment space but focuses on scholastic rather than club soccer/futsal.
• US Soccer Federation: The national governing body that sets certification standards, provides the Learning Center platform, and charter Metro DC-Virginia as a state referee committee. USSF is the ultimate authority the program operates under, making it the most relevant broader incumbent.

Regional players

• Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA): State youth soccer association led by President Bill Phillips (who sits on the State Referee Committee). Operates in the same regional soccer ecosystem and is a core partner for referee assignment coordination.
• Metro DC-Virginia Soccer Association (MDCVSA): Regional soccer association whose President Jim Sadowski sits on the State Referee Committee. Operates in the same regional soccer ecosystem, providing tournament opportunities and referee assignment coordination.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vadcrefs
• Instagraminstagram.com/vadcrefs/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metro-dc-virginia-state-referee-program

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metro DC-Virginia State Referee Program