Question Number: 34553

Other 4/10/2022

RE: Competitive Under 13

Evie of Chandler, Arizona United States of America asks...

How old do you have to be to be a referee?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Evie
If depends on the association. In the US the age limit is 13 while in UK it is 14 and in my association it is 16.

Personally I think it depends on the maturity of the young person. Some are more capable of handling games than other. I remember when I was 14 there was a friend of mine and he was far more mature for his age and certainly more mature than we were, He was well capable of managing us in a team plus organising us in games. We were simply just interested in playing with a carefree attitude.

Plus I think if a referees are too young they may not have the skills to deal with difficult situations when they arise and I have seen many young persons walk away from refereeing very quickly simply because they could not deal with some of the abuse that came their way from coaches and parents.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Evie,
younger aged officials need to be mentored by knowledgeable & experienced individuals while protected from abuse by solid ROTC and league policies so as not to discourage their retention within the ranks of refereeing.

The maturity level and self-confidence that some young officials are blessed with as to their temperament & courage certainly plays a role. However, a good association should be diligent in piquing the interest of a young referee with ongoing training and duties as well as pointing out the monetary aspect of being PAID for a job which again builds character.

Soccer is played at many levels and age groups so a young 13-year-old could easily be capable of managing a group of 6 to 8 years olds in mini match play but not at all ready to do their peers or older groups. This is where your own comfort levels need to be taken into consideration, the assignors are aware of your abilities and quality mentoring to be capable of improving and moving on into more challenging and competitive matches.

The INTEREST level in the competitive side of officiating as to challenging matches versus watching paint dry will develop over time if indeed you are comprised of the right stuff and find a league worthy of being associated with. A good official must ALWAYS remember the safety of the players and the enjoyment level of the participants takes precedent over the attitudes of onlookers.

A decent league or association SHOULD have protocols in place to educate. train and deal with any issues that arise so young officials are not left on their own. Your duties for doing a JOB that likely you will be paid for, have responsibility & consequences that you need to accept & work on by getting better!

The mental & physical effort to do a good job.
Respect is derived from how you interact & communicate.
Understanding the LOTG, knowing when and how to blow the whistle, your restarts, foul recognition, keeping up with play, seeking those best angles of view.
Learning to work with other officials as a team, emphasizing fair play & safety while enjoying the game for what it can be, IF, those playing wish it to be!

We hope you find the rewards of being part of the beautiful game and inspire you to love it as much as we do!
Cheers