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 button (visible post volunteer registration).
   
3. Complete Regional Referee certification course
   1. One option is to do the online course for Regional referee on etrainu. Click on Training Library and Enroll for "Regional Referee - Online + In-Person Companion Course (2 Part Bundle)". Follow the online course with an on-field session conducting by AYSO
   2. Alternatively, attend a full Regional referee course (less frequently scheduled)
      
4. Complete the Concussion Awareness training on EtrainU (AYSOU).
   
5. As required by California State Law, Complete the Sudden Cardiac Training which has been recently mandated by the state of California (same location in etrainu with the AYSOU button in the Volunteer tab)
6. As required by Law for Youth sports, 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.
7. California also requires volunteers of youth organizations to fingerprint once for specific criteria. Look for the next scheduled event for this.
   

Note that Referee courses are offered periodically in our Region and Area.  Courses are listed on AYSOU.

A lot of useful information for referees is available here and 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 next in-person referee companion training is on 8/26 in neighboring regions. The class registrations are available on AYSOU/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 - the new eTrainU system. EtrainU can be accessed from your Region portal, by clicking on Volunteer tab on the left pane and then AYSOU button. 
• To find the enrollment option, the AYSOU 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 Regional Referee companion courses in nearby regions to Enroll.
  
• You also have to do additional free courses online BEFORE the in-person class:
  • Online Regional Referee course
    
  • Safe Haven available under Training Library in AYSOU
  • Concussion training
  • California state mandated Sudden Cardiac Arrest training
  • California state mandated SafeSport as applicable (Adult volunteers only) using the URL in the Announcements on the Volunteer tab
  • One time fingerprinting for AYSO as mandated by California - there are proposed events in the area
    
• For Region 35 volunteers, email your UNIFORM SIZE in advance to [email protected]

If you are unable to make a class, there are other referee training classes instructed by our neighboring regions. You can find the schedule of those classes on AYSOU (Area classes are also often 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 MY2023 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:

• If you don't have an account with AYSO in the last 3-4 years,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 (preferably in MY2023 program).
• 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 (either in your related player's division or at the bottom under MY2023), 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.