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 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 one age group under their playing division)
• 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.  Click Online Courses
3.  Take the following coursed by clicking Open next to each item
- AYSO Safe Haven
- CDC: Concussion Course
- AYSO's Summary  of the Laws of the Game
- Regional Referee Training
4.  Complete each section of the online training course in descending order starting at the top, by clicking Launch

• Pass the referee exam for the Basic Referee Companion course (this is a live instruction course in which AYSO referee instructors will review key concepts). Follow the instructions to sign-up for a live instruction course by clicking
• Complete the free online SafeSport, AYSO Safe Haven, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and CDC Concussion Awareness training online courses in AYSOU.
• Complete a background check (instructions will be emailed to you during the volunteer sign-up process).

You must complete the online Regional Referee Training course before attending the Regional Referee Companion course and taking the referee exam. Taking all of the required referee courses take approximately 8-10 hours with most of that being online instruction you can take on your own schedule. 

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!