Become a Referee

Keeping the Game Safe, Fair, and Fun

Why should you become an AYSO referee? We need you! We cannot have games without referees. More importantly, it's rewarding and working with kids is great fun!

The referees' number one concern is to keep the game as safe as possible for the players. While there is a 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. They interfere with the game as little as possible, avoiding making calls for doubtful 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. 

If you are 10 years of age and older, and would like to volunteer as a referee, please fill out the Volunteer section of the online registration when signing up your child to play soccer or as a volunteer only.

Registration Instructions (includes registering son/daughter for soccer) -- CLICK HERE
Volunteer Only Instructions -- CLICK HERE

For more information or questions, please view our Spring 2025 Referee kickoff slides and contact our Referee Administrator at [email protected].

Referee Training

Come join the guardians of the game by attending online and in-person training.

To be an AYSO Referee, you must: 

• Be at least 10 years of age (Youth referees can referee players whose entire division is two years younger than them)
• Register as a volunteer for AYSO (register by clicking Register Now (if you are new) or Login (if you have an account) on our Home Page)
• Complete the free online Regional Referee Training course. Follow the steps below
  1. Go to AYSOU, or by clicking AYSOU under your volunteer position on the volunteer tab in your account at www.ayso498.org.
  2. In the left navigation panel, click Training Library.
  3. Under Safe Haven, click View Courses.
  4. Enroll in and complete each of these courses (total time is 6-8 hours):
     • AYSO's Safe Haven
     • CDC Concussion Awareness
     • Sudden Cardiac Arrest
     • SafeSport if you are at least 18 years old (click "Access This Training")
  5. Go back to the Training Library and open the Refereeing Courses.
  6. If you are 10-11 years old, take the 8U Official - Online course. Otherwise, you have two options:
     • Take the Regional Referee Online Course (1.5-2 hours) plus the in-person companion course (2-3 hours), or
     • Take the Regional Referee Full In-person Course (6-7 hours, including more hands-on time)
  7. Strongly encouraged but not required: take the AYSO Summary of the Laws of the Game online course
• Complete a background check (instructions will be emailed to you during the volunteer sign-up process).

For more information or questions, please contact our Referee Instructor at [email protected].

Thank you for stepping up to keep the game safe, fair, and fun for the kids!