Question Number: 17706

Law 5 - The Referee 11/5/2007

RE: AYSO/Club Under 15

Michelle of Irvine, CA United States asks...

How old do you have to be for each referee level?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

To achieve a grade 7, a referee must be 17. Beyond that, it is all about experience in USSF. Some associations/clubs have age requirements for referees in youth games, but you'd have to check with the clubs.

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

AYSO Referee Certification and Training Requirements
(Team Parent Referee) (minimum age 10)
No. of Games: No minimum number of games required
Training: Complete the Referee Course (Includes Safe Haven Referee Certification)
Testing: Take Referee Exam
Assessment: Not required
Fitness Test: Not required
Service: Not required

Regional Referee (minimum age 12)
No. of Games: No minimum number of games required
Training: Complete the Regional Referee Course (Includes Safe Haven Referee Certification)
Testing: 75% or better on the Regional Referee Exam
Assessment: Not required
Fitness Test: Not required ? an introduction to the AYSO Physical Fitness Test is recommended
Service: None required

Area Referee (minimum age 14)
No. of Games: 25 as referee with at least 5 in U-12 matches
Training: Complete the Area Referee Course
Testing: 90% or better on the Area Referee Exam
Assessment: See note 3 below
Fitness Test: Not required ? practice for AYSO Physical Fitness Test is recommended
Service: Do a minimum of 3 service units. See notes 4 and 5 below.

Section Referee (minimum age 16)
No. of Games: 50 as referee (10 in U-14) and 5 as an assistant referee (in U-14)
Training: Complete the Section Referee Course
Testing: 90% or better on the Section Referee Exam
Assessment: One as referee and one as assistant referee in a U-14 match
Fitness Test: Complete the AYSO Physical Fitness Test for this level
Service: Do an additional of 5 service units. See notes 4 and 5 below.

National 2 Referee (minimum age 18)
No. of Games: 75 as referee (20 in U-16) and 15 as an assistant referee (10 in U-16)
Training: Complete the National 2 Referee Course
Testing: 90% or better on the National 2 Referee Exam
Assessment: One as referee and one as assistant referee in a U-16 match
Fitness Test: Complete the AYSO Physical Fitness Test for this level
Service: Do an additional five service units. See note 4 below.

National 1 Referee (minimum age 18)
No. of Games: 100 as referee (25 in U-19) and 25 as an assistant referee (10 in U-19)
Training: Complete the National 1 Referee Course
Testing: 90% or better on the National 1 Referee Exam
Assessment: Two as referee and one as assistant referee in a U-19 match
Fitness Test: Complete the AYSO Physical Fitness Test for this level
Service: Do an additional five services units. See note 4 below.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 18019