How to Become a Referee

Complete a Volunteer Referee Application on this website, AYSO177.org
1. This may be done either through individual programs (e.g. Fall Core, EXTRA, Spring Academy) or through the separate "MY2026 Board Member and Referee Program".
2. If submitting through a program, it does not matter which division you select -- you only need to submit one application even if you plan to referee in multiple age divisions.
3. This must be completed once per membership year.
Complete an online background check
1. After submitting your volunteer application, look for an email from [email protected]. You must follow this link to initiate the background check.
2. This must be done once per year.
Complete required online volunteer safety courses through AYSOU
1. Once you submit the referee application through your own account-- not a spouse's account -- your volunteer page will display a link that takes you to the "AYSOU" online training portal.
2. The four online volunteer safety courses are: Safe Haven, Concussion Awareness, Sudden Cardiac Arrest and SafeSport.
Attend a Regional Referee Course (either full-in person, or "hybrid" course which is partial-online and partial in-person)
1. 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).
2. 10U/Regional Referees must be a minimum of 12 years old
3. Please see our page on Referee Courses for more information on available courses

>> STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP

I Passed My Certification Class, What Next?

The Referee Staff will verify completion of all the required items as part of your volunteer application (see Volunteer Sign-Up instructions).
Once verified, You will receive an email from our scheduling system known as MATCHTRAK.
1. http://www.matchtrak.com
  Username: John Doe (your first and last names)
  Password: ayso (This is temporary)
2. There is a link to a Matchtrak training video on the main page to orient you with signing up for games.
3. Remember:
  1. Center = Official in the middle with the whistle
  2. AR#1/AR#2 = The official with the Flag running the touchline (sideline)
4. Feel Free to start with Referee or Assistant Referee assignments depending on your level of comfort. One way to start is to start off as an AR on a U10 match where you can see how a center referee introduces themselves to coaches, checks the players equipment, and manages the match. Once you've done this, you can sign up as referee for a U7/U8 match to practice what you've learned, or hop right into a U10 match
5. Here is a walkthrough guide for your first matches of each type. Once you feel comfortable in both roles and have re-familiarized yourself with the full Laws of the Game, go ahead and sign up to center a U10 match and you are encouraged to check the box in Matchtrak requesting a mentor. You can discuss with your mentor what style of mentoring you want (styles are described on the Referee Mentoring page).
6. Please DO NOT Referee your own child's game at 10U or Above. If you are there to watch, and the Referee needs an Assistant Referee, if you think you can be neutral and unbiased, go ahead and take the Assignment. Please email the RRA and they will make sure you get credit for that game, however you must be in full Referee Uniform to get credit. Certified referees that are not in uniform can only act as a club linesman who only signals when the ball is out of play (does not indicate throw in direction or call any fouls/offenses).
Uniform and equipment handouts are typically done Friday evenings after referee classes.
1. Watch for emails from the RRA with dates/times and location which is typically the Region 114 container at Heartwell Park East (see map).
  We try to stock unisex from Adult AXS all the way to XXXL. Youth sizes are more limited but we should be able to accommodate all.
Look for emails from [email protected] for learning opportunities!
These may range from on-field practice sessions, referee practice opportunities during a scrimmage between two teams, or Zoom calls with reminders, videos, and Q&A.
Get out there and Referee, you might really enjoy it like many of us!
1. Feel Free to Request a Mentor on any game you are doing in MATCHTRAK at anytime, but please be mindful not to request mentors for multiple weeks in a row as we sometimes struggle to accommodate all mentor requests as some of our more experienced mentors hit the road when their children have away games. We will do our best to fulfill your mentor request at the game your requested, however please be prepared to be flexible and to have the Mentor suggest a different Game date or time according to their availability.

Quick Links

R eferee Overview
Referee Training Courses
Returning Referees
AYSO Wiki - Referees
Referee Resources
Referee Mentoring

Questions?

For questions about training courses, please contact the Regional Referee Instructor at [email protected].

For general questions about volunteer referees, contact our Regional Referee Administrator at [email protected].