Referee Level and Requirment

All new youth referees will need to take a basic referee class.
All new and returning referees must be up to date on on Safe Haven and CDC Concussion
We encourage that all of the 10U, 12U and 14U teams have at least one youth referee.
The 10U referees will be 8U Official trained.
The 12U and older new referees will be regional referee trained
In order to advance to the next level of referee all qualified candidates must have refereed at current level for one year and be the minimum age for the advancement level.

10U referees will only be able to referee 8U games. 8U games are perfect for our youth who are ambitious about becoming a referee. 8U games will teach them how to make a call for most of the basic restarts. (Goal Kick, Throw-In, Kick-off, Drop Ball) These games will get the used to keeping time, how to vocalize their calls and give proper hand signals. 8U Officials: Referee must be at least 10 Years Old
12U referees will primarily be an assistant referee for the 10U games. If the referee show great ambition and knowledge of the game they may try a few 10U Center games (Please note that we will do our very best not to have a youth center a 10U game during Play-Offs.) These referees will learn the game from a different vantage point. They will learn the difference in an off side position and an off side offence. They will learn how to make the proper restart calls. (Goal Kick, Corner Kick, Throw-In, Kick-off, Drop Ball, Direct Free Kick, Indirect Free Kick). they will also learn how to be in constant communication with the Center Referee. Regional Referee: Referee must be at least 12 Years Old
14U referees will have the option to referee up to 12U. they will primarily be a center referee for the 10U games or AR 12U games. If the referee show great ambition and knowledge of the game they may try a few 12U Center games (Please note that we will do our very best not to have a youth center a 10U or 12U game during Play-Offs.) These referees will learn the game from a different vantage point. They will learn the difference in an off side position and an off side offence. They will learn how to make the proper restart calls. (along with learning all the aspects from 10U games. They will learn and understand the difference between an intentional charge of a player or just challenging for the ball. these games will test the referees ability to handle pressure.) They will also learn how to be in constant communication with the Center Referee and or AR even more so than in 10U games. Intermediate Referee: Referee Must be at least 14 Years Old
16U referees must have full knowledge of the Laws of the game. The more advanced a referee you become the more freedom in what games you wish to officiate you have. at this level referee will have the option to referee games from 8U to 14U. (We would like to ask that referees at this level try to only referee 12u and 14U games. unless mentoring or no other games are available.) They must know when it is an appropriate time to enforce the laws and when to allow the game to continue. At this level both the players and the referee should know what is aloud and not allowed. the referee will focus on how to handle disgruntled players, team officials, and or spectators. Advanced Referee: Referee Must be at least 16 Years Old

Questions or Concerns
Text 661.750.2621
Email [email protected]
Referee Admin Randall Graham

Region 479 Youth Referee Program

AYSO Region 479 Youth Referee Program

...an innovative opportunity for community service in Tehachapi

The Program

The Youth Referee program in Region 479 was launched to answer the growing demand for Referees in the 8U and 10U games. Youth Referees meet the same certification requirements as adults for these Divisions. There will be a Youth Referee Training class this season so that new Youth Referees can be trained with their peers.

AYSO requires that Youth Referees be at least 2 years older than the division that they are working as a Referee.

There is an opportunity for additional training to cover games in the 12U and 14U Divisions.

A Referee Mentor will accompany Youth Referees to their first few games as the Referee - person in charge of the game.

The program has multiple benefits:

It inspires younger players, giving them role models to look up to; and
Young people participating in the Youth Referee program get a chance to do community service and a unique opportunity for intellectual and emotional growth.

It also provides a secondary benefit:

When Coaches cannot fulfill their team’s responsibility to provide a Referee for the match prior to their own match, they can request one of the highly qualified Youth Referees through Region 479's Referee Administrator.

The Responsibility Of All Involved

Although we expect the best behavior from everyone toward all Referees, it is strictly forbidden to criticize a Youth Referee,
even if you are a Referee. There is a ZERO TOLERANCE FOR NEGATIVE COMMENTS TO OR ABOUT YOUTH REFEREES
at any time before, during, or after games. Anyone who does so will be asked to leave the field.

Youth Referees are trained, and many are also experienced players. However, they are still young and without the life experience to handle negative remarks. Please give each Youth Referee your full support and help model good behavior for others to follow.

Finally...

Thank you for your cooperation in this exciting program. Have a great season!

For more information, questions, or comments, please contact our Referee Administrator, Joe Heier, at [email protected]

“I WAS CERTIFIED AND REFFED FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST YEAR. AT FIRST, IT WAS VERY INTIMIDATING.

WHAT I TAKE FROM BEING A REFEREE IS THE CONFIDENCE IT HAS GIVEN ME. TO MAKE A DECISION AND STICK WITH IT. I WAS ASKED TO VOLUNTEER FOR A GAME THAT DID NOT HAVE A FULL STAFF. IT WAS A BOYS U-12 GAME. AT ONE POINT I MADE A CALL AND THE CENTER REF WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENT CALL; HOWEVER, HE CAME UP TO ME ASKED WHAT I SAW AND ASKED TO EXPLAIN WHY I HAD MADE THE CALL. I DID AND HE THANKED ME AND STUCK WITH MY ORIGINAL CALL. IT WAS THERE THAT I REALIZED THAT IF I EXPLAIN AND I’M CONFIDENT IN WHAT I CALLED I CAN MAKE AN IMPACT.

I HAVE MORE CONFIDENCE NOW NOT ONLY ON THE FIELD BUT ALSO IN OTHER AREAS OF MY LIFE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL STAY WITH ME FOREVER. I HAVE TAKEN THE INTERMEDIATE CLASS AND MY YOUNGER BROTHER IS WORKING ON GETTING CERTIFIED HIMSELF. I AM GOING TO MAKE SURE HE AND MY SISTER GET CERTIFIED, IT WILL HELP THEM MORE THAN THEY REALIZE.”

— KENNETH FUENTES-CARMONA, YOUTH REFEREE (REGION 18, MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIF.) VIA PLAYSOCCER MAGAZINE