Referee Training

More information about all of our training opportunities can be found on our referee training page. Registration for all courses is through AYSOU (accessed through your Volunteer page on your account page) and you must be a registered AYSO volunteer before logging in.  Search for PHMSA within the Regional or Online Companion class list to find our classes. 

If you are unable to register for the 8U or Regional Referee courses through AYSOU, please check out the help information at AYSO Wiki and contact AYSO National for support if you still can't register:

800-872-2976

Need to pick up referee gear?

If you are a Regional or 8U referee and need gear, please contact [email protected] to arrange pickup. Please be prepared to show proof of referee certification. Pick-up is at the Soccer Locker at 370 Civic Dr. in Pleasant Hill. The locker is in the back of the parking lot, near the fence.

Certification levels of AYSO Referees

There are five certification levels for AYSO referees. Here is a brief description of the requirements for each. More details can be found on this page. These requirements are in addition to completing the Safe Haven trainings, which are available on AYSOU.org.

8U Official
(minimum age 10)
Complete the U-8 Official Course (now completely online).

Regional Referee
(minimum age 12)
Complete the Regional Referee Course (online or in-person), attend a field session and pass the Regional Referee Exam. 

Intermediate Referee
(minimum age 14)
Complete 25 games as referee with at least five in U-12 games, complete the Intermediate Referee Course, pass the Intermediate Referee Exam and be (observed) mentored in a U-12 game.

Advanced Referee
(minimum age 16)
Complete 50 games as referee with at least 10 in U-14 and five as an assistant referee (in U-14), complete the Advanced Referee Course, pass the Advanced Referee Exam, pass one assessment as referee and one as assistant referee in a U-14 match, pass the AYSO Physical Fitness Test.

National Referee
(minimum age 18)
Complete 100 games as referee with at least 30 in U-16 and U-19 games and 25 as Assistant Referee with at least 10 in U-19, complete the National Referee Course, pass the National Referee Exam, pass two assessments as referee in U-16 or U-19 matches and one as assistant referee in a U-19 match, complete the AYSO Physical Fitness Test.

Changes to the Laws of the Game

As of July 1, 2022, a variety of changes were made to the IFAB Laws of the Game. If you have any questions please contact one of the referee administrators (found on the PHMSA Board page). 

Laws of the Game

2024-25

• IFAB full text   Document Link
  
• IFAB Change Summary with Explanations
  
• IFAB App for Mobile Devices

Player Development Initiatives

2019-20

Implementation in AYSO:

• PPT slides    PDF
• Build-out line in 9U-10U, one-page summary