Want to be a Referee? Thank you.

Referees are critical to soccer just as players and coaches. In AYSO, the game can’t be played if there aren’t enough referees. All our referees are volunteers, just like everyone else in AYSO.  We will train everyone who signs up to volunteer as a referee, and that means anyone 12 years old and up (yes, Grandparents can help, too!)

Volunteer as a Referee

There are multiple requirements to become an AYSO Referee

1. Complete the volunteer application on this Sports Connect based website each school year if you are volunteering for Region 35 (Fall through Spring)
   
2. Complete the Safe Haven certification. This can be done on the new training platform EtrainU. EtrainU can be accessed from your account’s volunteer tab using AYSOU My Training button (visible post volunteer registration). It was previously under aysou.org (Online Courses -> Safe haven courses).
   
3. Complete the Optional Concussion Awareness training on EtrainU. Previously on aysou.org (in the same location as Safe haven)
   
4. As required by California State Law, Complete the Sudden Cardiac Training which has been recently mandated by the state of California (same location in aysou.org or etrainu with the AYSOU button in the Volunteer tab)
5. As required by California State Law, starting in 2022, Complete the SafeSport course through https://safesport.org/. If you have completed this course already along with current annual updates for any other institution like US Soccer, the information can be synchronized and you don't have to repeat it.
   
6. Complete Regional Referee certification course
   1. One option is to do the online course for Regional referee on aysou.org or etrainu. Click on Training Library and Enroll for "Regional Referee - Online + In-Person Companion Course (2 Part Bundle)". Follow the online couse with an on-field session conducting by AYSO
   2. Alternatively, attend a full Regional referee course
      

Note that Referee courses are offered periodically in our Region and Area.  Courses are listed on EtrainU and potentially in the Area website at https://www.ayso2j.org/Default.aspx?tabid=863172.

A lot of useful information for referees is also available in the area website at https://www.ayso2j.org/Default.aspx?tabid=863172. Please email [email protected] for any questions about refereeing in AYSO.

The previous in-person referee companion training was on 11/7/2021 morning. The class registrations are available on aysoU.org and etrainU (the new training platform for AYSO).

To become a new AYSO referee:

• BEFORE the class, if you are from Region 35, please Register on this website as a volunteer. If from another region, register on the appropriate region website.
  
• Using the credentials from the website, you will have to Register for the Class at the online training site AYSOU.org or the - the new eTrainU system. EtrainU can be accessed from your Region portal, by clicking on Volunteer tab and then AYSOU My Training button. 
• To find the enrollment option in etrainU, the My Training button click will open another tab or window. Once logged in automatically, click on "Training Event" in the left hand menu list. You will see an event to Enroll.
• To find the registration page in aysoU, click on In-Person Courses, then open Referee Instructor Led Courses and then click on sessions next to Regional Referee Online Companion Course. Find the specific class and then Register. If you are unable to login to aysoU after registering as a volunteer and completing the background check on www.ayso35.org, there are some tips at https://aysou.org/instruction-bsb.aspx .
  
• You also have to do additional free courses online BEFORE the in-person class:
  • Safe Haven available under My Courses in aysoU and Training Library in etrainU
  • Concussion training
  • California state mandated Sudden Cardiac Arrest training
  • California state mandated SafeSport as applicable
    
• For Region 35 volunteers, email your UNIFORM SIZE in advance to [email protected]

If you are unable to make this class, there are other referee training classes instructed by our neighboring regions. You can find the schedule of those classes on AYSOU or eTrainU (Area classes are also on the Region Calendar and the Area referee page).

All referees, whether NEW or RETURNING, must turn in a Volunteer form for each School Year (So you all need to do MY2021 now!).  The AYSO player and volunteer registration uses this WEB SITE starting Fall'17. Details on how to register as referee volunteer are HERE.

The summary of the steps are:

• You will have to create your new account (if you already did this for player or prior volunteer registration, proceed to the next step). 
• After you login, Click on Volunteer, then Register as Referee or Youth Referee (either in your related player's division or at the bottom under MY2021.
• Enter your information. 
• Be sure to Electronically sign your Volunteer forms!
• Starting Fall'19, to ensure player and volunteer safety, additional background check is done for certain volunteering roles by a specialist 3rd party called Verified Volunteers (now Sterling Volunteers)
  
• If you want to add additional volunteers like your child, Click on Volunteer, Find Volunteer Roles, Choose the appropriate volunteer role say Referee or Youth Referee (either in your related player's division or at the bottom under MY2021), Click on Continue.
• If the volunteer does not have an account on this new website yet, click on Invite New Account User and proceed to enter information and submit. Remember to match the name as in eayso, if there was an account there. Also use an email address different from yours if you are registering a relative.