Keeping The Game Safe, Fair And Fun
Why should you become an AYSO Referee?  We need you. We can't have games without referees. More importantly, it's rewarding and working with kids is great fun!
 
The referee's job is to be the official in charge of the game. The referee is the independent arbiter and manager of the game. Their authority extends to everyone at the field, including players, substitutes, team officials, spectators, and even assistant referees.
 
The referee's No. 1 one concern is to keep the game as safe as possible for the players. While there is risk in all sports, the referee is responsible for minimizing such risks from field conditions, equipment, spectators, and the players.
 
The referee is responsible for enforcing the Laws of the Game in such a way as to keep the game safe, fair and fun for everyone: the players, the coaches, the spectators and themselves. The referee interferes with the game as little as possible, avoiding making calls for doubtful and trifling offenses. Referees only make calls for offenses they are sure occurred.
 
We want our kids to continue to play, and they keep playing as long as it is fun. Referees learn that fun soccer varies from age group to age group of players.

Volunteer Application
Every volunteer (coach, referee, team coordinator, etc.) must submit a Volunteer Application each season. Click here for instructions: Submitting a Volunteer Application

Background Check Effective January 1, 2001
All American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Regions, Areas, and Sections are required to comply with the AYSO policy on criminal background checks. Information: Policy - Criminal Background Check / Instructions: Submitting a Background Check

Live Scan (fingerprinting) Effective, January 1, 2022
All administrators, employees and regular volunteers in California MUST have a one-time background check as approved by the California Department of Justice to exclude individuals with a history of child abuse. This form of background check requires live scan fingerprinting (once / lifetime). Instructions: LiveScan Process

---

AYSO's Safe Haven
This free online course is required for all AYSO Volunteers and must be completed before any interaction with players and/or parents. We will reach out to all volunteers with clinic date/time and location. Click here for more information: AYSO Safe Haven for Parents

SafeSport Mandatory Training
The 2017 SafeSport Act has expanded Mandated Reporters to include adults authorized to interact with children. Due to this expansion, that includes AYSO and it requires training on child abuse and mandated reporting. Click here for more information

CDC HEADS UP Concussion training
This free online course is required for all volunteers that interact with our players on the field such as Coaches & Referees and recommended for all other volunteers. Click here for more information: AYSO Volunteer Resources - Concussion Safety

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
This is a course (added in 2021) is required by the State of California for all AYSO Coaches & Referees. This course is available in AYSOU. AYSO Volunteer Resources - SCA

Region 88 has a program just for referees under the age of 18. It is called the Player Referee Organization or PRO, which stands for Player Referee Organization. It is the standard name given to AYSO Referee programs geared towards kids 18 years old and younger. Anyone is welcome to become a youth referee – they do not have to be a soccer player to join PRO. However, 95% of AYSO youth referees are also soccer players and therefore the program is named Player Referee Organization.

National guidelines state that kids 12 years old and older can become certified referees or Regional Referees (10U or 12U games).

For more info, please contact the PRO directors at [email protected].