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.

 

AFFILIATIONS

The 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.

 

MEMBERSHIP

Presently, the membership of WMSOA consists of sixty-three referees.  During the 2021 season, these officials supervised 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, thirteen WMSOA officials are certified by the United States Soccer Federation.  Thirteen 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 ten 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.

 

SCHOOLS

The 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 I public school activity.  

 

WMSOA AWARDS

The 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 CONTACTS

The Commissioner for the Western Massachusetts Soccer Officials Association is Peter Kotch.  Peter can be reached at 413 625-9983.   His email address is pjkotch@aol.com.

 

The President of the WMSOA is Artie Burke.  Artie can be reached at 413 863-2452.     He can be contacted easily by email at AEBurke11@verizon.net He is certified by the United States Soccer Federation, too. 

 

NEW REFEREES

Customarily, 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 Artie Burke, who is the Director of Recruiting, too, or Emilie Wallace, the association's Vice President. Emilie can be reached via email at eaw2141@gmail.com.