In 1999, the Virginia Youth Referee Academy began a proud tradition of providing a solid residential program of instruction to the aspiring young referees of the Metro DC-Virginia and Maryland state referee associations. Over these past seven years, the Academy has introduced well over 200 youth referees between the ages of 13 and 20 to an intense, but nurturing five day, four night program of classroom and field training resulting in marked increases in ability and confidence, while providing a springboard for additional accomplishments throughout the state, the region and nationally. In six of those seven years, every Metro DC-Virginia male and female "youth referee of the year" award recipient is a graduate of the Academy. Included in this number are several Regional Youth Referees of the Year and two National Youth Referees of the Year. Also, several former youth referees have progressed up the ladder of referee grades and currently officiate at the professional level.

In 2006 the Virginia Youth Soccer Association and the Metro DC-Virginia state referee committee decided to end the residential Academy in favor of a year-long mentoring program. In response to a ground swell of support urging its continuation, the staff has committed to offering the same quality program renamed the PRIDE Academy.

The PRIDE staff believes the Academy provides a valuable training ground to our youth referees in specific and the growing state referee development program in general.

Early promotion of the PRIDE Academy assures sufficient numbers of applicants are identified to cross-pollinate the Academy by age, sex and skill level commensurate with a program representative and supportive of each region in the state, and surrounding states that indicate a desire to participate.