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Become A Referee Become A Referee

Welcome to AYSO 1335 Referee!

Referees are as critical to soccer as players and coaches. In AYSO, the game can’t be played if there aren’t enough referees. It’s most common for a volunteer to begin their AYSO referee career by refereeing their own child’s game. However, as they learn the rules, develop their own techniques for managing players, coaches and fans, and gain an appreciation for how important the role of the referee is to a fun, fair and safe soccer experience, they often find it very rewarding to expand their knowledge and experience through AYSO’s advanced training and certification process. AYSO’s referee training is considered some of the best in the U.S. and includes both in-person courses in your community and online opportunities. Soccer knowledge is a plus, but is certainly not required. The AYSO referee training will give you all you need to know to have a terrific experience on the field.

As a referee, one benefit is you are able to choose which games you will referee.







Youth Referee Program.  
This program is open to individuals who are 12 year old and older.  This is a good way to accumulate hours toward community service.  Youth referees are always accompanied by certified adult referees. Go to www.ayso1335.org to register as a youth referee for Fall soccer
season. Training needs to be completed by the time games start after Labor Day weekend.  All
equipment except for shoes will be provided. Contact [email protected] for any questions.  

REFEREE LINKS

Get the FIFA Laws of the Game App for your mobile phone! HERE
The Care and Feeding of Referees by AYSO






AYSO 1335

How to Become A Referee How to Become A Referee

How to Become a Referee

Apply as a Volunteer Russell Poucher

Log in to our website: www.ayso1335.org

On the right side, click on the person icon, then click on Account.  Click on Volunteer (left side), then Find Volunteer Roles: Referee to enter all of the information.  This might take 10 minutes.  Good thing is, you only have to do this once, each year after, all the info is still there. The application is complete when you click “Submit”.  It will be on the second page that looks like a form. Make a note of your AYSO volunteer ID. (It will be an 8-digit number) 

Thank you for Volunteering to Referee. For the best possible experience for you and your players, we ask you to complete the following training.

Safety Training Requirements

For the protection of the players, volunteers and participants, we ask all AYSO volunteers to complete the state and Federally mandated safety training. Through AYSOU, volunteers can access and complete:

  • CDC Concussion Awareness Training
  • Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training (CA, TN, OH, WA)
  • AYSO's Safe Haven - Child & Volunteer protection guidelines


Currently, to access Federally mandated US SafeSport Training, use this link to access the FREE version to AYSO.

Referee Courses

Prior to taking the field, AYSO Referees are required to take the age-specific referee course for the games they will be officiating.

  • 8U Official Online OR 8U Official Full In-Person Course (8U games).
  • Regional Referee Online Course + In-Person Online Companion Course OR Full In-Person Regional Referee Course (10U/12U games).
  • Intermediate Referee Course + post course assessments (12U/14U games).
  • Advanced Referee Course + post course assessments (14U/16U games).
  • National Referee Course + post course assessments (19U games).


Game assignments may vary based on referee observations and referee comfort level. For more details, you can review the Referee Training Matrix.

THE NEED FOR REFEREES AND REFEREE POINTS

After regular Fall Season AREA "Q" begins "AREA" Playoffs.  This is considered extra play as a reward for 10U -14U teams that earned 100% of the required referee points for the region. Points are given to each referee participant of a team and are required to enter the play-off season. They are acquired by parents and/or siblings that complete AYSO referee training and volunteering as referees for other teams and divisions.  Each team will be required to have 10 referee points in order to qualify for playoffs.

An invitation to AREA Playoffs will only be given to teams who have earned their team points. If there is more than 1 team in your division, invitation will be given to the 1st place team within the region as long as they have earned all their referee points. If the first place team fails to earn the necessary referee points, the invitation will be given to the second place team, again, if they have acquired the necessary points.

Point system consists of earning at least 10 referee points a season (per team) to take your team to AREA Q playoffs.  

Referee Points Explained

Only AYSO certified registered referees who have completed the course AND IN UNIFORM, will be able to receive these points.

Points are available as follows: 

• 2 points as a Center Referee
• 1 Point as an Assistant Referee (sideline referee)
• An additional point (1) may be earned for referring your first match

Sign-ups for games will be available by signing up on www.matchtrak.com .  Remember, first come first serve, so sign up early.

Referee Badge Levels Referee Badge Levels

Take your referee skills to the next level

The following referee levels outline the requirements required to advance to the next level referee certifications.

Regional Referee (minimum age 12)

  • # of Games:  No minimum number of games required
  • Training:  Basic Referee Course (Includes Safe Haven Referee Certification)
  • Testing:  75% or better on the Regional Referee Exam
  • Assessment:  Not required
  • Fitness Test:  Not required
  • Service Units:  None required

Intermediate Referee (minimum age 14)

  • # of Games:  25 as a referee with at least 5 in U-12 matches
  • Training:  Intermediate (Area) Referee Course
  • Testing:  90% or better on the Intermediate Referee Exam
  • Assessment:  See note 3 below
  • Fitness Test:  Not required - practice for AYSO Physical Fitness Test is recommended
  • Service Units:  None required

Advanced Referee (minimum age 16)

  • # of Games:  50 as Referee (10 in U-14) and 5 as an Assistant Referee (in U-14)
  • Training:  Advanced (Section) Referee Course
  • Testing:  90% or better on the Advanced Referee Exam
  • Assessment:  One each as Referee and Assistant Referee in a U-14 match
  • Fitness Test:  Complete the AYSO Physical Fitness Test for this level
  • Service Units:  Do a minimum of five service units. 

National Referee (minimum age 18)

  • No. of Games:  100 as Referee with at least 30 in 16U and 19U matches of which at least 15 must be in 19U, if available, and 25 as Assistant Referee with at least 10 in 19U, if available.  The Section Referee Administrator may authorize substitution of 16U for 19U, if 19U matches are not available.
  • Training:  Complete the National Referee Course.  At least 80 matches as Referee prior to attending the National Referee Course is required.
  • Testing:  90% or better on the National Referee Exam
  • Assessment:  Two assessments as Referee in 16U or 19U with at least one in 19U, if available, and one as Assistant Referee in a U-19 match, if available.  The Section Referee Administrator may authorize substitution of 16U for 19U if 19U matches are not available.
  • Fitness Test:  Complete the AYSO Physical Fitness Test for this level.
  • Service:  Do an additional five service units.  

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AYSO REGION 1335

PO Box 5523 
Orange, California 92863

Email Us: [email protected]
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