WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SOCCER OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION
Welcome to the website of the Western Massachusetts Soccer Officials Association. The WMSOA registers, instructs, and certifies referees to officiate scholastic soccer matches in Franklin and Hampshire counties in western Massachusetts. Also, WMSOA referees preside at tournament games conducted by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council. AFFILIATIONSThe Western Massachusetts Soccer Officials Association is a member of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Soccer Officials Association. MISOA referees must observe the rules of the National Federation of High Schools and those of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Also, the WMSOA is subject to the rules and regulations of the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference, or PVIAC, which organizes scholastic sporting activity in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.
Consequently, WMSOA referees are expected to know and support NFHS, MIAA, and PVIAC goals, rules, and codes.
Similarly, WMSOA members must know and respect the NEPSAC rules and codes that govern private school play. MEMBERSHIPPresently, the membership of WMSOA consists of fifty-five referees. During the 2024 season, these officials will supervise more than 1200 scholastic soccer contests.
Many WMSOA members have extensive officiating experience. Seven WMSOA referees are members of NISOA, the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association . Also, fourteen WMSOA officials are certified by the United States Soccer Federation. Twenty-two members of the WMSOA officiate another scholastic sport. Presently, thirty-eight members of the WMSOA reside in Hampshire County, fifteen live in Franklin County, and a dozen dwell in neighboring communities. Usually, too, the Association's membership includes several undergraduate students at the University of Massachusetts.
All members of the WMSOA referee matches in both of the counties served by the group. SCHOOLSThe WMSOA serves both the girls and boys teams of thirty-two schools in Hampshire and Franklin counties. Eighteen of these institutions are located in Hampshire County and fourteen are situated in Franklin County. Twenty-one of these schools are public institutions.
Eleven of these schools are private. This group features six coeducational boarding schools and includes a Waldorf school, a boarding school for girls, and a boarding school for middle school boys.
Also, the educational institutions of the area include two technical high schools and two charter schools. While the schools served by the WMSOA compete at all levels of interscholastic soccer, half of the educational institutions in the area compete in Division III of the MIAA.
The teams of Northfield-Mount Hermon School and Deerfield Academy compete in the A Division of the Western New England Prep School Soccer Association, a member of the NEPSAC. The Williston Northampton School plays in the B Division of that League.
Also, Amherst High School and Northampton High School participate in Division II public school activity. WMSOA AWARDSThe WMSOA presents two annual awards to members of the soccer community in Franklin and Hampshire Counties. The Frederick Ames Award is presented to the team who combines best excellent play and the good spirit of sporting competition. Also, the Association recognizes annually significant contributions to soccer in Western Massachusetts by the presentation of the C. Bradley McGrath Award. WMSOA OFFICERSThe Commissioner for the Western Massachusetts Soccer Officials Association is Jason Dizek. Jason's email address is jdizek@gmail.com. The President of the WMSOA is Dan Peters. He can be contacted easily by email at danp17@yahoo.com The Vice President of the WMSOA is Greg Leeds. His email address is gleeds@nmhschool.org. The Secretary/Treasurer is Keith Lepine. He can be reached at kjlepine@yahoo.com. John Mathew is the Rules Intepreter. His email address is djawmm@comcast.net. NEW REFEREESCustomarily, the WMSOA registers new referees during August of each year.
Candidates for WMSOA membership must attend an instructional course, pass an entrance examination, and participate in training sessions. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Western Massachusetts Soccer Officials Association, please, contact President Dan Peters, or Greg Leeds, the association's Vice President.
Also, the WMSOA is subject to the rules and regulations of the Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference, or PVIAC, which organizes scholastic sporting activity in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.
Consequently, WMSOA referees are expected to know and support NFHS, MIAA, and PVIAC goals, rules, and codes.
Similarly, WMSOA members must know and respect the NEPSAC rules and codes that govern private school play. MEMBERSHIPPresently, the membership of WMSOA consists of fifty-five referees. During the 2024 season, these officials will supervise more than 1200 scholastic soccer contests.
Many WMSOA members have extensive officiating experience. Seven WMSOA referees are members of NISOA, the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association . Also, fourteen WMSOA officials are certified by the United States Soccer Federation. Twenty-two members of the WMSOA officiate another scholastic sport. Presently, thirty-eight members of the WMSOA reside in Hampshire County, fifteen live in Franklin County, and a dozen dwell in neighboring communities. Usually, too, the Association's membership includes several undergraduate students at the University of Massachusetts.
All members of the WMSOA referee matches in both of the counties served by the group. SCHOOLSThe WMSOA serves both the girls and boys teams of thirty-two schools in Hampshire and Franklin counties. Eighteen of these institutions are located in Hampshire County and fourteen are situated in Franklin County. Twenty-one of these schools are public institutions.
Eleven of these schools are private. This group features six coeducational boarding schools and includes a Waldorf school, a boarding school for girls, and a boarding school for middle school boys.
Also, the educational institutions of the area include two technical high schools and two charter schools. While the schools served by the WMSOA compete at all levels of interscholastic soccer, half of the educational institutions in the area compete in Division III of the MIAA.
The teams of Northfield-Mount Hermon School and Deerfield Academy compete in the A Division of the Western New England Prep School Soccer Association, a member of the NEPSAC. The Williston Northampton School plays in the B Division of that League.
Also, Amherst High School and Northampton High School participate in Division II public school activity. WMSOA AWARDSThe WMSOA presents two annual awards to members of the soccer community in Franklin and Hampshire Counties. The Frederick Ames Award is presented to the team who combines best excellent play and the good spirit of sporting competition. Also, the Association recognizes annually significant contributions to soccer in Western Massachusetts by the presentation of the C. Bradley McGrath Award. WMSOA OFFICERSThe Commissioner for the Western Massachusetts Soccer Officials Association is Jason Dizek. Jason's email address is jdizek@gmail.com. The President of the WMSOA is Dan Peters. He can be contacted easily by email at danp17@yahoo.com The Vice President of the WMSOA is Greg Leeds. His email address is gleeds@nmhschool.org. The Secretary/Treasurer is Keith Lepine. He can be reached at kjlepine@yahoo.com. John Mathew is the Rules Intepreter. His email address is djawmm@comcast.net. NEW REFEREESCustomarily, the WMSOA registers new referees during August of each year.
Candidates for WMSOA membership must attend an instructional course, pass an entrance examination, and participate in training sessions. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Western Massachusetts Soccer Officials Association, please, contact President Dan Peters, or Greg Leeds, the association's Vice President.