Region 1370 Youth Referee Program
Program Goal:
We have many talented players in our region 1370 who also understand the laws of the game or have the desire to take the next step and become an AYSO regional certified referee. Our region allows youths between the ages of 12 to 18 to become regional referees.
It is our goal to provide our youth referees with opportunities to increase their skills as a referee and to acknowledge them for their contributions to our region. We provide skill advancement with assigned Youth Referee Mentors in addition to High School required SERVICE community hours.
Youth Referee Training:
Youth Referees take the same training as adult Referees: Date, Time and Place will be announced well in advance.
Youth Referee Mentor Games:
This program is for youth referees to be active in the game as the referee in the center or as an assistant referee with a referee mentor directly working with them.
Game of the Day Assignments:
We invite our youth referees to volunteer for their preferred – based on their comfort level and other preferences. The scheduled games will be published in the Region 1370 Referee Assignment tool at the start of the each season.
We will provide, at no cost, full referee kits and gear to volunteers who complete the region certification requirements.
In addition to all of the above, we will also provide community service hours.
Supporting our Youth as Referees (Zero Tolerance)
It is important to remember that when a youth is refereeing a soccer match, he or she is an integral part of the official referee staff of our region. These youth represent future resources for AYSO and the greater community, and it is up to us - parents, coaches and fellow referees - to encourage, nurture and support them.
We must give them the patience and positive reinforcement that is the cornerstone of AYSO. Every coach, parent and spectator must keep in mind that the young referees working out there are our kids, and that we owe them the same, if not more, patience and respect than we give the players.
And if you are a coach in a game where one of your spectators is being disruptive or challenging the youth referee's authority, you need to intervene immediately. Coaches, remember that the first line of responsibility for dealing with spectators rests with you.