Question Number: 26577

League Specific 7/27/2012

RE: pro Under 14

baely urban of modesto, ca united states asks...

how old do i have to be to referee soccer games and touraments

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

That will depend on your local practices and perhaps state law. My assignor, for child labor reasons, cannot assign a referee under 14 years unless there is an adult supervisor present. That essentially limits them to lines on games with an adult center. Many referee instructors also set a minimum age for taking the certification class, typically 12 to 14 years old. They want to teach young (and older) referees, not babysit kids who are too young to sit still.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The important part for me is the age that a young person can deal effectively with the challenges and responsibilities faced by a referee.
If a young persons starts too soon without the required life skills, the challenges of refereeing can become onerous for many and they end up quitting after a short period.
In addition to Referee Voshol advice, USSF states that the minimum age for a Class 1 referee is 17 years and the recommended Assignment Level is all youth games and mixed leagues, and assistant referee in all amateur games below the top division. The minimum age to become a State Referee is 18.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

In Southern California, we have many 11 and 12 year olds who complete the referee class and are refereeing in the competitive and recreational leagues and tournaments. Other areas can differ.

You can find out more about Northern California here. www.cnra.net