Referees

Become a Referee:

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! Region 870 tries to provide referees for 7U, 8U teams and above but we can only to that if you sign-up and show up as a referee. (Games for younger teams: 4U, 5U, 6U, are officiated by the coaches)

Referees are critical to soccer – the game can’t be played without them. The referee’s job is to be the official in charge of the game. He/she is the independent arbiter and manager of the game. His/her authority extends to everyone at the field, including players, substitutes, team officials, spectators, and even assistant referees.

Scheduling is very flexible - we don’t want anyone to miss their own kids play! Sign up to referee the game immediately before or after your own child’s game.

We work around your schedule to make your referee experience as easy as possible!

Rule Differences between age groups

Some reminders about the rule differences between leagues / age groups:

Offside begins at 10U

Goalkeepers may punt the ball beginning at 12U

Heading is allowed at 14U+

5U/6U - 60 min 30min practice/30 min game, 15 min halves.

7U/8U - 40 min game, 20 min halves. Sub at the qtrs

10U - 50 min game, 25 min halves, sub at the qtrs

12U - 60 min game, 30 min halves, sub at the qtrs

BMS/GMS - 80 min games, 40 min halves, sub at stoppages of game with referee approval.

17U - 19U - 80 min games, 45 min halves, sub at stoppages of game with referee approval.

For 7U & 8U games, below are rules unique to this age group that can be found on the AYSO Volunteers website at AYSO Volunteer Referee Resources Small Sided Games.

• If used, all free kicks are indirect.
• Opponents should be 5 yards away from the ball on all restarts.
• No penalty kicks.
• No off side.

Referee Training

Referee Training Requirements

All referees are required to complete the following courses in: AYSOU

- Referee training:
- 8U Official Online course for 7 & 8U officials OR
- Regional Referee Training Course* - a 2 part series for referees at the 10U and older levels of play.
- - Complete the online portion and attend one of the In-Person Companion Courses listed below.
- Volunteer certifications:
- AYSO's Safe Haven Training Course
- CDC: Concussion Training Course
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest
- Adult Volunteer training
- Safe Sport training (youth referees do not need to complete this)

To complete the Regional Referee training, attend one of these in-person courses listed:

Course	Date	Time	Location	Instructor - Email
Referee In-Person Companion Course	4/1/2025	5:30pm - 8:00pm	Timber Linn Fields	Vince Waterhous - [email protected]
Referee In-Person Companion Course	4/3/2025	5:30pm - 8:00pm	Cheadle Lake Fields	Vince Waterhous - [email protected]

*Part 1 is the Regional Referee Training Online Course and is required prior to taking a Referee Course listed above

Certification

How To Become Certified as a Regional Referee:

1. If you haven’t yet, go to Sports Connect and register as a volunteer referee. It will have you complete a background check through Sterling Volunteers (which is free, and WAY easier than it sounds) and will receive the email once your volunteer registration is completed. If you do not get this email please send a note to [email protected], and check your spam or junk email.
2. Log into Sports Connect, access may take up to 24 hours from completion of your volunteer registration.
3. Click on Volunteer, on the left hand side.
4. Click on gray AYSOU button in the left hand column.
5. Click on Training Library on left hand side to initiate the Regional Referee Training.
6. Click on View Courses for Refereeing in the Course Categories
7. If you are only going to referee 8U divisions Enroll in the AYSO - 8U Official course ( not the In Person course).
7. Click on Enroll for the Regional Referee - Online + In-Person Companion Course
8. Once you are enrolled you can Start and take the courses and the Exam - if you stop and come back, you will find this course in your My Training folder where you can View what you have and have not completed for this course.

To Sign up for and complete the On Field Companion Course for Regional Referees (not required for 8U Officials):

1. Log into Sports Connect.
2. Click on Volunteer, on the left hand side.
3. Click on gray AYSOU button in the left hand column.
4. Click on Training Event in the left hand column.
5. Advance the Calendar to find the date of the Event (Regional Referee Companion Course).
6. Click on the Event of the day you plan to attend the click on Enroll.
7. Attend the Event on the date and at the time you signed up for.

To complete the Safe Haven, CDC Concussion, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest trainings, you can follow these steps:

1. Log into your Training Library as in Steps 1-5 of the How to Become Certified instructions above.
2. Click on View Courses for Safe Haven in the Course Categories.
3. Click on Enroll for the AYSO’s Safe Haven – Online and CDC Concussion Awareness – Online and Sudden Cardiac Arrest trainings respectively.
4. Once your are enrolled, you may Start and take the courses and complete the exams. Note: if you stop and come back, you will find this course in your My Training folder in ETrainU where you can View what you have and have not completed for this course.

To Complete the Safe Sport training, you can follow these steps:

Note: Safe Sport training is required for all adult volunteers, but NOT required for youth volunteers
1. Log into your Volunteer area as in Steps 1-5 of the How to Become Certified instructions above.
2. Click on View Courses for Safe Haven in the Course Categories.
3. Click on Access your Safe Sport Course Here and Access This Training.