For those planning / considering becoming an USSF referee to support the AYSO Alliance teams for the coming year there are many local referee classes upcoming:

Wednesday 7/24 -  Tesoro Fields, Concord – 5pm-8pm
Thursday 7/25 – Rudgear Soccer Field, Walnut Creek – 5pm-8pm
Friday 7/26 – Hidden Lakes Park, Martinez – 5pm-8pm
Wednesday 7/31 – Wilder Sports Complex, Orinda – 5pm-8pm
Friday 8/9 – Mustang Soccer Complex, Danville  - 5pm-8pm

More classes will become available in the next month as this is prime time for the availability of these classes. They will become scarcer as we get closer to the season. To sign-up / participate, you must first complete the online USSF First-time referee course in the USSF Soccer Learning Center. To get more information on becoming a referee please go to:  https://www.cnra.net/new-referee/

US Soccer Grassroots New Referees online training: https://learning.ussoccer.com/referee/courses/available/6/course-info

Grassroots field training sessions available after completion of online course (just need to attend 1).You can sign up for field sessions here: https://learning.ussoccer.com/referee/courses/available/6/list

Certification Requirements:

1.  Volunteer certification requirements - take online courses at AYSOU (click on AYSOU button on Volunteer page):
     a.  AYSO’s Safe Haven
     b.  CDC HEADS UP Concussion Training 
     c.  Sudden Cardiac Arrest Online Course
     d.  SafeSport Training - https://aysovolunteers.org/safesport-mandatory-training/
     e.  Volunteer fingerprinting - https://aysovolunteers.org/california-ab-506-background-check-livescan-policy-for-ca-volunteers/

2.  Referee Certification requirements:
     - 8U Official (minimum age 10) - Complete the U-8 Official Course online on AYSOU
     - Regional/10U Referee (minimum age 12) - Two class options available in AYSOU
         o Regional Referee Course - Full In Person (classroom sessions, field session and exam)
         o Regional Referee Course Online + In Person Companion Course (online course and exam plus in-person field day)

The Regional Referee 10U Course is comprised of two parts. You must first complete online Regional Referee 10U course in AYSOU before attending an in-person completer course to receive a Regional Referee certification. The courses are designed to prepare volunteers to officiate U10 soccer matches as either Referee or Assistant Referee. The in-person, on-field session to meant to reinforce the online material

https://ayso.learn-usa.etrainu.com/training/index.cfm?event=event.assessment.view&eventId=64f62e001b48320013c5f781

US Soccer Grassroots New Referees online training: https://learning.ussoccer.com/referee/courses/available/6/course-info
Grassroots field training sessions available after completion of online course (just need to attend 1):
You can sign up for these field sessions here: https://learning.ussoccer.com/referee/courses/available/6/list

To find, or sign-up, for AYSO classes, both volunteer and referee, you first need to register as a volunteer for your home region:

       Concord AYSO - Region 305 - www.concordayso.org  (Sports Connect)
       MDSA  - Region 223 - www.mdsoccer.org  (In League)
       PHMSA - Region 281 -  www.ayso281.org (Sports Connect)

Register as a Volunteer guidance - https://ayso.mywikis.net/wiki/Register_as_a_volunteer

Resource for issues with the Sports Connect application used to register as a volunteer - https://ayso.mywikis.net/wiki/Sports_Connect
Resource for AYSO Volunteer issues: https://aysovolunteers.org/
Resource for AYSO registration and other issues -  https://ayso.mywikis.net/wiki/Main_Page

Background Check

Once you register as a volunteer you will also need to submit a background check. Here is a link to information on getting a status of your background check: https://ayso.mywikis.net/wiki/Checking_your_Sterling_Background_Check_Status

AYSOU Access

Sports Connect
As a registered volunteer you will be able to access the AYSO training website by clicking on the "AYSOU" button on the "Volunteer" page once you are logged into the Sports Connect application for your region.

InLeague
As a registered volunteer you will be able to access the AYSO training website by clicking on the "eTrainU" button on the left side menu after clicking on the "Volunteer" button, once you are logged into the InLeague application for your region.

AYSOU

Once you are in the AYSOU training website click on  "Training Library". To see Referee Courses click on "View Courses" on the "Refereeing" category. There you will be able to select from these Referee courses:  
 - 8U Official Course - Online
 - Regional Referee - Online + In-Person Companion Course (2 Part Bundle)

A schedule in-person Regional Referee Companion course listed above. You must first complete the online Regional Referee class prior to attending the field session.

To see Volunteer Courses click on "View Courses" on the "Safe Haven" category. There you will be able to access and complete these courses:

AYSO's Safe Haven - Online
CDC Concussion Awareness - Online
Sudden Cardiac Arrest - Online

There is one additional Volunteer Course, called SafeSport, that is mandated and available through a different website. You can access this course from your "Volunteer" page in "Sports Connect" for your home region by:

1. Click on SafeSport box
2. Click on Renew and Update
3. A screen will pop up where you will click on the “click HERE” link or copy and paste the URL into your browser to begin training

More information about registering for Safesport:  https://ayso.mywikis.net/wiki/Register_for_Safesport

Once you complete the above courses contact the Regional Referee Administrator for your region (listed on the Referee page for this website) for equipment and access to referee game schedules.

To be a certified AYSO referee you need to complete:

Annual Requirements:

1.   Register as a volunteer for your region:
       Concord AYSO - Region 305 - www.concordayso.org
       MDSA  - Region 223 - www.mdsoccer.org 
      PHMSA - Region 281 -  www.ayso281.org

2.   Pass a background check every 2 years. As part of your volunteer registration, you will be sent a link to a Sterling Volunteers website to fill out the necessary information for your background check. Payment of $25 fee is covered by the region.

3. Live Scan/fingerprinting required for California volunteers- UPDATE!!
If you are going to be volunteering or think you maybe interested in volunteering we will have a company at Cowell Community Park on 9/23 11am-1pm to do your fingerprinting. All Volunteers must be Fingerprinted, please schedule your appointment below
https://www.applicantservices.com/AYSO-BILLED 

All learning participants must register through AYSOU.org, using your Blue Sombrero login. If you have questions or are unable to add yourself to a roster, contact our Referee Administrator/Instructor, Anita Luttrell, at 925-270-7289 or [email protected]

1.  Schedule of classes:
a.   Online “Regional Referee Course” can be taken online at any time at www.aysou.org under Refereeing Courses
b.  “Regional Referee Online Companion Course” – you will need to sign up for this course at www.AYSOU.org

For Regional Referee (10U/12U) certification, you must complete one of the All Day sessions or the classroom and field day sessions. For 8U certification, you only need to attend the classroom session.

2.  Once you complete the above courses contact the Regional Referee Administrator for your region for equipment and access to referee game schedules.

There are the 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.

Basic Referee Course - TBD

1. Course Instructor/Contact –
2. Dates/Location

Those interested can sign up for this class on the AYSOU Roster at AYSOU.org. If you are unable to add yourself to the roster please contact me directly and I can help.

Paul Harmenzon
Area 2C DRI

If these classes do not fit your schedule, you can attend training at MDSA (Clayton) and/or PHMSA (Pleasant Hill / Martinez). Go to AYSOU for
more information and other Area training opportunities.

For Regional Referee (10U/12U) certification, you must complete one of the All Day sessions or the classroom and field day sessions. For 8U certification, you only need to attend the classroom session.