Referee
2023 Ontario Soccer Match Official/Referee Clinics and Registration Now Open!
For more information on the Match Official Courses, Dates and Registration, check out our Certification page!
Is your Child, or are you, interested in becoming an accredited Ontario Soccer Match Offical?
Every year, more and more youth and adults are interested in taking up Refereeing either as a hobby or side job for the Soccer season. Clinics become available every Spring and usually have an in-class and on-field component.
This webpage and the subpages in the drop-down menu have been designed to become an ever-growing resource to assist those interested in pursuing officiating, and those who would like to know more about the rules involved with the game of Soccer in Ontario.
Hopefully, this helps to create a new pathway in the opportunities with the game of Soccer or helps you to better understand the game of Soccer!
To see what Ontario Soccer Clinics are all about, you can visit the "Match Officials" section of the Ontario Soccer Website or visit our "Certification" page within our website for greater details and what upcoming Clinics NFSC is offering.
Ontario Soccer offers two referee certification courses:
| Course | Student Age Requirement | Game Type | Offside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | 14 as of March 31 of the current year | 9 v 9 and 11 v 11 | Yes |
| Small Sided | 12 as of March 31 of the current year | 5 v 5 and 7 v 7 | No |
For more information on Refereeing within NFSC or any questions about Refereeing in general, please contact
Gary Flanagan
Phone: 905 246 6502
NIAGARA FALLS SOCCER CLUB AND NIAGARA FC OPEN TRIALS!!!
The 2023/2024 Season has already kicked off and trials are underway for all of our NSL and Niagara FC Teams!
JOIN US FOR AN EXCITING 2023/2024 COMPETITIVE SOCCER SEASON!
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?! LETS FIND OUT!
Contact us today at nfscoffice@gmail.com to learn more or become a part of our NFSC and Niagara FC Family!
#bleedblue #somethingforeveryone #titans #niagarafc #opdl
NFSC TITANS - NIAGARA FC OPDL - Niagara Regional Soccer Program 2023 OPEN SESSIONS and TRIALS are kicking off!!!!
It's About that Time of Year!!
Hello Everyone!!!
It is that time of year again!!!!
If your child has a real passion for soccer and is looking for a little more than our House League recreational level, here in Niagara, and at NFSC, we offer 3 levels of Development based programs or as some would refer to it, travel or rep soccer!!
These levels are part of the Canada Soccer/Ontario Soccer Player Pathway (See attached) and are designed to provide development opportunities for all skill levels for both Girls and Boys. Everyone is Welcome!!
The best way we can help describe this pathway is that it would be similar to the Canada Hockey system (for those that are familiar), here in Niagara, soccer is now also offered at the A, AA, and AAA levels.
NSL (A) - Niagara Soccer League - starts at U8 and up (2015 and up) - This is a locally based league or District league played with Clubs from our surrounding areas from here to Lincoln/Grimsby. They typically train 1 - 2 times per week and have 1 game during the week.
U8 Grassroots Open Sessions/Trials for Girls and Boys will begin on August 21st here at E.E. Mitchelson!
U9 and up Trials for Girls and Boys will begin after the September 10th weekend. Registration in advance is required! Please ensure you are registered for Trial updates!! To register CLICK HERE for NSL Open Sessions and Trials!
If you are interested in Coaching an NSL team here at NFSC, we are now accepting applications until August 29th! To apply, CLICK HERE.
NRSP (AA) - Niagara Regional Soccer Program - U13 to U18 Girls and Boys (2010 to 2005) - This league is played in the Golden Horseshoe Soccer League and played with Clubs from here to Peel Halton. Teams in this program train usually 2 to 3 times per week and have 1/occasionally 2 games per week. This is a step up from the NSL and requires a little more commitment.
Tryouts for the NRSP teams will begin with the U13s on August 20th, and U14 and up will start on September 17th.
To register for the NRSP tryouts, we have attached the form below. Please fill it out and bring the form and a $25.00 Tryout fee (cash or cheque) with you to the first day of tryouts.
The NRSP is also looking for Coaches. Also, attached below is the NRSP Coaching Application, if anyone is interested in coaching an NRSP team for the 2022/2023 Season, the NRSP Coach application needs to be emailed to niagarasocceradministration@hotmail.com or nsastaff1981@hotmail.com
OPDL (AAA) - Ontario Player Development League - NIAGARA FC U13 to U17 Girls and Boys (2010 to 2006) This league is a Provincial league and plays the highest level teams from here to Ottawa. OPDL teams train 3 times per week, 11 months of the year, and have 1/occasionally 2 games per week. Games are usually played on the weekends (U13, U15s - Saturdays, and U14, U16/17s on Sundays) They do not play on holiday weekends, take the month of December off, and 2 weeks off at the end of July. Scouting in this league is high for College/University, Provincial/National and Professional opportunities. Head Coaches must be nationally certified and non-parent.
Trials for the OPDL teams will be kicking off PHASE I - PLAYERS OUTSIDE THE TALENTED PATHWAY ONLY - NON-OPDL PLAYERS on August 17th here at E.E. Mitchelson Park with the U13 Girls and Boys (2010s - 2011s are welcome). PHASE II - PLAYERS WITHIN THE TALENTED PATHWAY - CURRENT OPDL PLAYERS will commence on There is a $50.00 non-refundable trial fee. Registration must be done in advance and no walk-ons are permitted. To register for the NIAGARA FC OPDL Open Session Trials, CLICK HERE.
I know this is a lot of information, but I hope this answers some of your questions. All information and registration links can be found on our websites - www.nfsc.ca and www.niagarafc.ca.
If you have any questions with regards to any of these leagues and programs, we would be more than happy to help you out!
Good luck to all that attend and looking forward to an amazing 2023 season!!
ATTENTION!! 2023 OPDL U13 Girls and Boys Head Coaches have been Announced!!
It has been a great year so far for the NFSC - NIAGARA FC OPDL program, but we are always looking ahead and preparing for the upcoming year!!
With that, we are ready, and so pleased to announce the 2023 U13 Girls and Boys Head Coaches!!
For the NIAGARA FC U13 Girls (2010), we would like to welcome Davie Currie as our newest addition to the NIAGARA FC family as Head Coach!
Davie Currie was born in Glasgow, Scotland and developed a passion for soccer at an early age. As a youth player, Davie played for several Pro-Youth Academy’s. From there he obtained a full scholarship to an NCAA Division 1 school, Robert Morris University in Pittsburg PA.
After playing, Davie went on to become Assistant Coach of the Mens' program at Robert Morris University for five years. He helped them win the Conference Championship in his first year as Assistant.
Davie continued on to coach various men’s and women’s programs at the Division 1, 2, and 3 level in the NCAA. While coaching at West Liberty University, Davie completed a Masters of Arts in Teaching and was the Technical Director of Wheeling FC. He was also a member of the coaching staff with the WV Olympic Development Program.
In 2012, Davie moved to the Niagara Region where he continued his coaching career. He has been involved in many levels of coaching across the region including; Head coach of the Niagara United Men’s team in the Canadian Professional Soccer League, Head coach of a boys private academy team, and most recently coaching with the NRSP.
Davie also has acted as a guest coach for several NSL teams where he focuses on technical abilities. He also has trained several players privately in the region who have gone on to play at the NCAA Division 1 level.
Our U13 Boys (2010) Head Coach is no stranger to the NFSC family or to the Niagara Region! Gary Flanagan will be the 2023 Head Coach of the NIAGARA FC U13 Boys!
Like Davie, Gary was also born in Glasgow, Scotland and came to Canada in 1975 with his family. He immediately started playing
local youth soccer here in Niagara.
Over the years, Gary played in many youth soccer tournaments in North America, including the U15 Mini World Cup. Gary went on to play in the Youth National Soccer League with the St.
Catharines Roma Cosmos where he captained the team and was selected to the Allstar Game.
Gary has been a part of the Niagara Falls Soccer Club as a Board member, Coach, and Club Head Referee. As a former Regional Match Official, Gary joined Ontario Soccer as an Instructor and Provincial Assessor helping Match Officials learn their craft and increase their chances for promotion to the next level of officiating.
Throughout the years, Gary has coached kids of all ages. He is currently a Nationally Trained C License Coach and will be working towards his National Youth License in 2023.
We look forward to seeing both these Coaches out at Trials and seeing what they can do with our 2023 U13 Girls and Boys Teams!!
2022/23 Laws of the Game