When do I Ref?
If you are refereeing for a team, you are typically responsible for officiating the following match.  For example, if your child plays at 9:00am, then you will referee the following match at 10:00am.  The one exception is if your child plays at an upper division, U12 and higher, and you are a new referee, you will be assigned to a lower division match, U8 and U10.  Also, if your child plays in the last match of the day, you are responsible for officiating the first match of the day.  Verify your team's assigned games with the Team Mom or coach.  Regardless of which match you officiate, please log this at the referee tent so your team receives the proper credit.  Also, if you can spend some time on Saturdays beyond your scheduled match you can be assigned other matches to officiate.

Need some help?
There are a couple of helpful sites to assist you with refereeing. This one, Ask The Ref is done in a  Q & A forum.  If you have another site you'd like to bring to our attention, please contact the webmaster.

Offside Law Explained
Have you ever wondered about the offside law?  This informative short video will help explain how to properly identify this infraction.  Click here.

Team Format
Know the correct number of players for the matches you officiate.  Click here to review.

Match Procedures
Here are some guidelines to help you officiate matches at all divisions

• U8 - Offside and Penalty kicks are NOT enforced.  Never show red or yellow cards.  Stop the match midway through each half to allow for substitutions.  (Clock continues to run for substitution breaks.)
• U10 - Never show red or yellow cards entire season.  (A player may still be dismissed for serious foul play, just don't show the card).  Stop the match midway through each half to allow for substitutions.  (Clock continues to run for substitution breaks.)
• U12 & U14 - Full laws enforced including the showing of cards to players.  Stop the match midway through each half to allow for substitutions.  (Clock continues to run for substitution breaks.)
• U16 & U19 - Full laws enforced including the showing of cards to players.  Match is played in two equal halves with free substitutions.
• In ANY match where a coach enters the field without your permission to challenge a call, the match MUST be abandoned.  Fill out a match report at the referee tent.

Photo IDs
Among your other start up duties for U10 and higher divisions, check the teams ID photos against the players.  Only players that have a photo ID issued by AYSO can play.  NO EXCEPTIONS!!  Do not argue with a coach, refer the matter to the Division Manager.  If one cannot be found, start the match clock and tell the coach he is now on game time.  The matter should sort itself out by the first quarter substitutions.  Retain the ID cards until after the match and inspect the sidelines for trash.  Only return the cards if the area is clean.  Again, don't argue, simply release the IDs to the referee tent.

Zero Tolerance!!!
At the recent round of referee training, Region 24's Referee Instructor Hank Strang announced an enforcement policy change for unruly parents who challenge referee calls during matches.  "In the past we've instructed referees to largely ignore the jeering from the sidelines in response to referee calls.  This has created a situation where parents think this behavior is acceptable, and can create problems for other referees when they officiate matches.  It is the duty of the referee to remind the coach that the behavior of the parents is the coach's responsibility, and that unruly parents along with the coach will be dismissed from the field should they continue their negative behavior."  Lucy Aguero, Referee Administrator echoed the statement, "We have over 25 youth referees, and parent's wouldn't want anyone to yell at their children, so they shouldn't be yelling at anyone else's children.  They should think how they would feel if their child was being yelled at."

Referees:  Begin the match with the coach in cooperation.  Introduce yourself to the coaches in a friendly manner.  Ask if they will need any help with controlling the parents and spectators.  You'd be surprised how many times coaches know of who is a problem, and don't know how to handle it.  If this is the case, ask for a Field Monitor from the Referee Tent to observe the sidelines.  If a parent challenges a call, do NOT show the parent or coach a yellow card...cards are only for players, and only at the upper divisions.  Give the coach one verbal warning about the negative comments.  Remind them about the dismissal policy and that parents behavior is the responsibility of the coach.  Also, remind them that an ejected coach will not be considered for All Star or post season assignment.  If the behavior continues, remove the parent(s) and the coach.  One rule of thumb, if a parent voluntarily removes themselves from the match, the coach can remain.  But if a parent is asked to remove themselves, the coach must be removed also.  In the rare event this should happen, and in the rarer event that an Assistant Coach must later be removed so that both coaches would be gone, the match is terminated, because a team cannot play without proper REGISTERED adult supervision.  Also, any disciplinary action taken towards players or coaches must be recorded in a Referee Game Misconduct Report and turned in to Lucy.  Disciplinary action is an ejected parent and/or coach, also yellow card offences or higher for players.