Good Sportsmanship, Positive Coaching, Open Registration, Balanced Teams, Everyone Plays

Referees

Volunteer to be a referee or assistant referee - you get the best view of all the games, besides getting great exercise. U-8 officials can officiate U-8 (under 8 years old) games only. Basic referees can confidently officiate up to U-12 level games. Higher level referees are recommended for older games. Youths at least 10 years old can be trained to referee U-8 games, requirements are more restrictive to higher level training. AYSO/USSF cross-certification (PDF) is available.

To do

1. Follow the instructions for volunteer registration on the Join Us page
2. Sign up for and attend appropriate training (contact the person by e-mail or telephone). You can be assured of a place in the course if you log in to your eayso account, then choose "Enroll to take a class". U-8 Official qualifies you to referee under 8 year old games. Basic Referee includees U-8 training, and qualifies you to referee or assistant referee games of older children. Intermediate Referee is recommended above U-12 games, and has Basic Referee as a prerequisite.
3. If the course you took didn't include Safe Haven training, then
   1. After the CVPA processes your registration, obtain your 8-digit AYSO volunteer ID number by logging in to eAYSO, then pressing the AYSO Volunteers button, then the Click Here button next to "Current volunteer(s):See AYSO ID # or Update my contact information".
   2. Complete the Safe Haven for Referees course on online AYSO training. Also, be sure to print your certificate of completion, and keep this for your records.
4. Contact the Referee Administrator (on our Contact Us page) to get scheduled for games.
5. Study our rules page.

Items of interest

• The first game is the first Saturday after Labor Day in Fall, or the first Saturday after the Oak Park District 97 schools resume after the Spring break.
• There are 9 games per season (some divisions play a tournament on the last weekend).
• Make sure the field is open for play (see our rain and storm policy)
• If games run behind schedule, the referee may shorten the length of the halves by notifying the coaches.

Referee Resources

AYSO offers many referee resources, including a fun weekly series of quizes on rules called To Whistle or not to Whistle, What's the Correct AYSO Answer?, and Referee FAQs. AYSOhelp has lots of good documentation for coaches, referees, board members and others.. Also, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) has a good laws of the game page, with links to including Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game and Guide to Procedures. We offer some printed publications to referees, including the following.

• Laws of the Game
• AYSO Guidance for Referees and Coaches
• USSF Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials (particularly helpful to understand how referees and assistant referees can communicate and work together effectively)
• USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game (offers in-depth analysis for how to interpret the laws)

Contact the referee administrator listed on our Contact Us page if you want to get a printed copy of one of these.