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Question Number: 15843

League Specific 6/20/2007

RE: Competive Under 15

sammie of Fresno, CA United States of America asks...

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

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

This will vary according to local policy. In some areas referees are in such short supply that assignors are glad to get 11-year-olds and put them on U17 games. That seems like asking for trouble.

My assignor will not put an AR on the field that is younger than the players. The center referee must be at least one age group older than the players. An exception might be made for a High School aged ref with years of experience; she might allow a 17-year-old AR on a U19 game. Also, she is constrained by state labor laws that say anyone under 14 must have an adult supervisor. That means the young AR can't be at a game centered by a HS student, but only one with an adult in the center (or on the other line, I suppose).

Ask a referee at one of your games how you go about getting certified and what games you would be able to do.



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Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

There is no min age unless the state sets one. Check with your state organization.



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