Providing world class youth soccer programs that enrich children's lives.

Santee AYSO Region 341

Become an AYSO Referee

The referee’s job is to be the official in charge of the game. A referee’s authority extends to everyone at the field, including players, substitutes, team officials, spectators, and even assistant referees. AYSO Referees keep the game safe, fair and fun for everyone: the players, the coaches, the spectators, and themselves!

Keeping The Game Safe, Fair And Fun

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!

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. They are the independent arbiter and manager of the game. Their authority extends to everyone at the field, including players, substitutes, team officials, spectators, and even assistant referees.

The referee's number one concern is to keep the game as safe as possible for the players. While there is risk in all sports, the referee is responsible for minimizing such risks from field conditions, equipment, spectators, and the players.

The referee is responsible for enforcing the Laws of the Game in such a way as to keep the game safe, fair and fun for everyone: the players, the coaches, the spectators and themselves. They interfere with the game as little as possible, avoiding making calls for doubtful and trifling offenses. Referees only make calls for offenses they are sure occurred.

We want our kids to continue to play, and they keep playing as long as it is fun. Referees learn that fun soccer varies from age group to age group of players.

Contact your Regional Commissioner if you are ready to become a referee.

Regional Referee Course

The fall soccer season is underway and your player is probably practicing with their team. By now, I am sure that you have heard we are in desperate need of referees, remember, no referees, no game. To help we are offering a referee course.

This Regional Referee course is in two parts, an online portion and an in-person portion. In order to take this class, you must be a registered volunteer with AYSO. After registering as a volunteer, you will receive an email, click on the link in the email to confirm your registration. Then log in to your Region’s website, click on the My Account button or the profile button in the upper right-hand corner and choose Account in the drop down. When your profile displays, click on Volunteer on the left side of the screen, then click the AYSOU button on the right side of the screen. Once in AYSOU, click Training Library. Find the Refereeing box and click View Courses.

Find the course entitled “Regional Referee - Online + In Person Companion Course (2 Part Bundle)” and click Enroll.

On the next page click Start on the first module. The online course takes approximately 3 hours to complete all of the modules and requires a passing grade on the exam. If you only do a portion and come back to the training later, after logging in to AYSOU, click on My Training on the left and continue from where the training left off.

When all of the modules are complete and a passing grade is achieved on the exam, the next step is to enroll in the in-person portion of the class. The last module is the In-Person Companion Course, click Start. Then click View Slides. Then click Start. Click the red button in the middle of the page.

On the calendar, at the top of the page, remove anything in the Regions box and type Region 89 and click on Region 89 when it pops up. Click on Sunday September 25th on the calendar and click enroll for the Regional Referee Companion Class. You are now enrolled in the in-person portion. You will receive a confirmation email with the details of the class.

The in-person portion of this class is outside on the field, please bring hat, water, sunscreen, etc. as needed.

If you have any questions please email [email protected].

Thank you for all that you do for AYSO.

Our “Zero Tolerance Policy” applies to all referees (not just Youth Referees).

AYSO Region 3 recognizes the hard work and dedication that all of our volunteer parent (and “community”) referees put forth and want to keep them contributing to the region as long as we can. They have volunteered–one of the key components of AYSO–to take on a challenging task and try their best to officiate to the best of their ability. Remember, they are all just regular parents and members of the community (like you) trying to do their best. Sure they will make mistakes, they are only human. Let’s try to keep that in mind as the coaches “coach” and the parents “cheer” our Kids from the touchlines!

Referee Zero Tolerance Policy

Region 341 AYSO has a “Zero Tolerance Policy” for ALL referees in order to preserve and protect them.

All individuals responsible for a team (Coaches and Team Managers) and all spectators (parents, friends, siblings, relatives) shall support the referee and respect his/her decisions. Failure to do so will undermine the referee’s authority and has the potential of creating a hostile environment for the players, the referee, and all the other participants and spectators.

Consequently, Region 341 AYSO has adopted and modified the following rules:

No one is to speak to the referee in an aggressive, demeaning, sarcastic or abusive manner before, during or after the game. Coaches may ask questions, politely, before and after the game, point out emergencies during the game, or respond to the referee if addressed during the game.
Absolutely no disputing calls, during or after the game. NO YELLING at the referee–EVER, and no criticism, sarcasm, harassment, or intimidation of any kind before, during or after the game. If the Coach wishes to get an explanation for a particular call he/she must wait until halftime or after the match is finished to approach the referee in a calm and controlled manner, but it is not the Referee’s responsibility to defend or justify their calls. All decisions are made “in the opinion of the referee” and to the best of their ability. In accordance of Law 5 of The Laws of the Game, “The decisions of the referee, and all other match officials, must always be respected.”
Violators may be ejected and are subject to disciplinary action by the Region 3 AYSO Board of Directors.
If coaches or spectators have questions or complaints regarding particular calls, rules, or a specific referee, or wish to give feedback regarding a referee, please feel free to contact the Regional Referee Administrator, Assistant Regional Referee Administrator, or any other board member. There is also a “Referee Performance Feedback Form” which can be submitted.

Enforcing the Referee Zero Tolerance Policy

If a coach (or spectator) questions the call of a referee in a manner deemed inappropriate/irresponsible, the referee may stop the match, retrieve the game ball, and invite the coach onto the field for a conversation.
During this conversation the coach may be told 3 things:
- The purpose of the conversation is not to “debate” a call but to inform the coach that the behavior of the coach/spectator is unacceptable.
- The coach has 2 choices. He/she can go back to their coaching area and coach per the AYSO philosophies, or, the coach/spectator can leave the playing facility.
- The coach/spectator may be sent off if the referee has to speak to them again during the match.
If the referee is a Youth Referee, the Youth Referee may stop the match, retrieve the game ball, and either deal with the matter on his or her own as described above, or, find a board member (if available) to deal with the situation as described above.
Any coach/spectator who is heard “verbally abusing a referee” may automatically be sent off by the referee or by a board member (if present). “Verbal abuse” includes, but is not limited to, foul and abusive language. As with all decisions made by the referee, what constitutes “verbal abuse” is entirely “in the opinion of the referee”
If the unacceptable behavior of the coach/spectator occurs after the game has ended it will still be reported by the referee and will be considered as a cause for disciplinary action.
Referees must submit a written or verbal report of any occurrences where a coach/spectator is sent off/ejected, and there will be an investigation to determine the facts and subsequent additional penalties if necessary. The penalties are at the discretion of the Region Board of Directors and may include, but are not limited to, suspension from future games.
The Region Board of Directors also reserves the right to investigate instances when abuse of a referee or volunteer is not reported by the referee or volunteer, but is subsequently brought to the Board’s attention by any individual. The penalties are at the discretion of the Board and may include, but are not limited to, suspension from future games.