There are the five certification levels for AYSO referees. Here is a brief description of the requirements for each. Contact your Regional Referee Administrator (RRA) for more details or review the
National Referee Program Manual.
8U Official Certification
- # of Games: No minimum number of games required
- Training: 8U Official Course (Includes Safe Haven Referee Certification)
- Testing: Take 8U Official Exam
- Fitness Test: Not required
Regional Referee (minimum age 12):
- # of Games: No minimum number of games required
- Training: Basic Referee Course + Safe Haven Certification
- Testing: 75% or better on the Regional Referee Exam
- Fitness Test: Not required
Intermediate Referee (minimum age 14)
- # of Games: 25 as referee with at least 5 in U-12 matches
- Training:Intermediate (Area) Referee Course
- Testing: 90% or better on the Intermediate Referee Exam Assessment: See note 3 below.
- Fitness Test: Not required - practice for AYSO Physical Fitness Test is recommended
Advanced Referee (minimum age 16)
- # of Games: 50 as Referee (10 in U-14) and 5 as an Assistant Referee (in U-14)
- Training: Advanced (Section) Referee Course Testing:
- 90% or better on the Advanced Referee Exam
- Assessment: One each as Referee and Assistant Referee in a U-14 match
- Fitness Test: Complete the AYSO Physical Fitness Test for this level.
National Referee (minimum age 18)
- No. of Games: 100 as Referee with at least 30 in U-16 and U-19 matches of which at least 15 must be in U-19, if available, and 25 as Assistant Referee with at least 10 in U-19, if available. The Section Referee Administrator may authorize substitution of U-16 for U-19, if U-19 matches are not available.
- Training: Complete the National Referee Course. At least 80 matches as Referee prior to attending the National Referee Course is required.
- Testing: or better on the National Referee Exam Assessment: Two assessments as Referee in U-16 or U-19 with at least one in U-19, if available, and one as Assistant Referee in a U-19 match, if available. The Section Referee Administrator may authorize substitution of U-16 for U-19, if U-19 matches are not available.
- Fitness Test: Complete the AYSO Physical Fitness Test for this level.
Entry may be at 8U Official or Regional Referee level but, in addition to the requirements noted above, candidates for upgrade to National Referee must have one year (min.) experience as an Advanced Referee.
Applicants for Intermediate Referee level must be mentored by a Referee Mentor (or assessor) and recommended for upgrade by the Regional Referee Administrator or the Regional Director of Referee Assessment. At least one observation as a Referee is required, and one as an Assistant Referee is recommended.
Field assessments for level upgrades must be done in a typical AYSO match in the age group specified, using the Diagonal System of Control. Matches used for upgrade assessments must be of the duration specified for that particular age group in the AYSO National Rules and Regulations.
If requested by the referee being assessed, a higher division match or a non-AYSO match of the equivalent age division (or higher) may be used for the assessment.