Why Referee?
Referees are part of the AYSO volunteer team and help keep the games safe, fair and fun. Refereeing can be a rewarding experience that gives volunteers a new appreciation for the rules and the game of soccer.
How to become a referee:
- Enroll as a volunteer for the current season with AYSO Region 18: Youth Volunteer Instructions
- Complete AYSOU Safety Requirements (Safe Haven, Concussion Awareness, Sudden Cardiac Arrest)
- Complete the Referee training course for the divisions(s) they would like to Referee in - see chart below.
- Youth under the age of 18 do not need a Background Check - it will show with the status "Blue" until they turn 18.
- Request referee uniform and equipment here.
- Create an account in the Referee Scheduling System here.
- Send a screenshot of your Volunteer Dashboard (on AYSO18.org) to [email protected] for approval in RSS.
Upcoming referee training classes are listed on this page.
AYSO referee training requirements by level and division
Training requirements vary by the level of referee certification you're seeking. Anyone may take the training and exams for 8-U Official or Regional Referee, but Intermediate or higher certifications require completion of the lower level qualifications and a certain level of experience.
Youth Referees must be 2 years older than the oldest player in the division - so to Referee 10U they must be 12 years old.
|
8U Official |
Regional Ref |
Intermediate Ref |
Advanced Ref |
National |
| Can referee at |
7/8U |
10U and below |
12U and below |
14U and below |
19U and below |
| Can assistant referee at |
N/A |
Any division |
Any division |
Any division |
Any division |
| Pre-requisite badge |
None |
None |
Regional |
Intermediate |
Advanced |
Background check
Safe Haven
CDC Concussion
Sudden Cardiac Arest
Referee course and exam for the level
|
Required |
Required |
Required |
Required |
Required |
LiveScan Fingerprinting (state mandate)
SafeSport (federal mandate)
|
Not under 18 |
Not under 18 |
Not under 18 |
Not under 18 |
Not under 18 |
Referee uniform and equipment requests
If you're a new or returning referee and need equipment, please fill out our online form. Equipment requests are typically fulfilled quickly, but please allow 3-5 days lead time in case items need to be retrieved from storage.
Laws of the game and division-specific adjustments
Region 18 follows the IFAB Laws of the Game with age-appropriate modifications to support development and competitive play. See more information about division-specific adjustments on a dedicated page.
For additional questions, please reach out to [email protected]
Referee Scheduling System
RSS is used to sign up for games, receive referee points credit, and request mentors. To access the Referee Scheduling System (RSS), navigate to https://www.cgisports.com/ref/5504/.
Some helpful resources for working with RSS:
Additional resources for referees
AYSO Resources
Resources from Soccer Governing Bodies