REFEREE TRAINING CLASSES

GETTING STARTED: Volunteer through our site, go to AYSOU for classes and sign up! If your child is already signed up, you can use your regular AYSO18 username and password.

Step-by-step instructions for signing up can be found in the attached PDF on How to Sign up for referee courses. 

NOTE: Specific location details for each class are available on AYSOU.  If you click on the course you registered for, the Advanced Settings will provide a detailed description, explain more about the class and give you an exact location.  When you register for the class, there is a button to add the class to your calendar. 

Certification Requirements

All Referee volunteers must complete AYSO’s Safe Haven course, Sudden Cardiac Arrest training, and a Concussion Awareness course prior to being certified.  These courses can be taken online at AYSOU.org and is strongly suggested they be completed prior to taking the Referee training class.

In addition, Referee Volunteers must complete the Certification Class that corresponds with the Division where they would like to Referee.  Brief class descriptions are provided below. 

Note:  All classes can be found on AYSOU.  When possible, we try to highlight some local Referee courses below.  However, AYSOU is always the master list of classes.  Please look there for upcoming classes.

8U Official

The 8U Official referee certification is open to all volunteers 10 years of age and older. The 8U certification allows you to officiate 7U & 8U matches (AYSO does not use referees in 5U & 6U matches). For parents and older siblings this is a great way to get involved in your child's AYSO experience. You or their sibling can directly participate in your child's matches by serving as the match official (not available in 10U and above matches).

Requirements

Please complete the following training courses (How to sign up for referee classes online):

• 8U Official Online Training (approximately 45 minutes)
• AYSO Safe Haven (approximately 45 minutes)
• CDC Concussion Awareness (State mandated), approximately 30 minutes)
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training (State mandated, approximately 30 minutes)

After you have completed all four online courses, please attend one of the following 8U Official Online Companion Courses shown below.

The in-person class will review the following;

• Starting the match – using the game cards, player safety check, kickoff procedure
• Managing the match – how to keep time in a soccer match, track substitutions, manage the breaks (substitution periods and half time)
• Restarts – Kick-off, Throw-in, Corner Kick, Goal Kick, Drop Ball
• Post-game duties – managing the handshake, recording the results of the match on the game cards

Please bring copies of the Certificate of Completion for each of the 4 classes to the in-person training or email them to [email protected] before you attend the in-person training.

When the class concludes you will receive your 8U Official kit (8U Official badge, referee jersey, and whistle).

Once you have completed the course, games can be self assigned through the RSS system; to access RSS, click here:  . Directions on how to use RSS can be found here rss quick start guide 8.22.pdf In addition, Region18 offers a full orientation and mentoring program to help you on the field and get you confidant in starting your referee experience. 

Some options for the in-person class will be listed below but always check AYSOU for a full listing of available classes.

Regional Referee (Preferred for first time Referees)

Successful completion of the Regional Referee course makes the participant eligible to Referee 10U matches and below.  There are 3 Options to complete your Regional Referee/10U requirement.  Option 1 is entirely In-Person, Option 2 is half Online, half In-Person and Option 3 is entirely In Person but requires prior completion of the 8U Official class. 

Option 1: Complete the In-Person Regional Referee Class.  This is typically a full-day course, although exact hours will vary.

Option 2: Complete the Online Regional Referee Class first AND then complete the in-person Regional Referee Online Companion Course.  The Online Companion Course is an in-person class that is typically a half day or evening (~3 hours).  The Online Regional Referee Class must be completed before attending the in-person Online Companion Course. 

Option 3: This is an upgrade class for those who were previously certified as an 8U Official.  The class will focus on differences between 8U and 10U games, primarily Offside and Fouls & Misconduct. 

Option 1: Regional Referee Course
This course is completed entirely in-person. There are no prerequisites other than age (12 or over).

Specific location details for each class are available on AYSOU.  Be sure to click on the class name on AYSOU to show the details.  Some options are listed below; check AYSOU for a full listing of available classes.

Option 2: Regional Referee Online Companion Course
This course is completed half on-line and half in-person.  As a prerequisite, you MUST complete the Online Regional Referee Course on AYSOU first. 

Specific location details for each class are available on AYSOU.  Be sure to click on the class name on AYSOU and “Advanced Settings” to show the details.  Some options are listed below; check AYSOU for a full listing of available classes.

Option 3: 8U Official to Regional Referee Upgrade Course
This course is for those individuals who have previously been certified as an AYSO 8U official and are looking to Referee 10U games.  8U Official Certification is a prerequisite for this course.  Some options are listed below; check AYSOU for a full listing of available classes.

There are no prerequisites to becoming a Regional Referee other than a desire to help our kids enjoy soccer and be at least 12 years old.

Intermediate Referee Course

Successful completion of the Intermediate Referee course makes the participant eligible to Referee 12U matches and below.  Regional Referee Certification is a prerequisite for this course.  Some options are listed below; check AYSOU for a full listing of available classes.

Advanced Referee Course

Successful completion of the Advanced Referee course makes the participant eligible to Referee 14U matches and below.  Intermediate Referee Certification is a prerequisite for this course.  Some options are listed below; check AYSOU for a full listing of available classes.