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American Youth Soccer Organization Providing world class youth soccer programs that enrich children's lives.

Overview

AYSO Referee Training is designed to prepare volunteers to officiate youth soccer games effectively, ensuring that the matches are safe, fair, and enjoyable for all participants. The training covers the fundamentals of soccer rules, refereeing techniques, and AYSO’s specific philosophies and practices. Here’s an overview of what AYSO Referee Training typically includes:

Key Components of AYSO Referee Training

  1. Introduction to AYSO and Refereeing:

    • Overview of AYSO’s mission, vision, and philosophies.
    • Importance of the referee’s role in creating a positive and safe soccer experience.
  2. Laws of the Game:

    • Detailed instruction on the FIFA Laws of the Game, adapted for youth soccer.
    • Key laws include the offside rule, fouls and misconduct, free kicks, throw-ins, goal kicks, and corner kicks.
  3. Age-Specific Guidelines:

    • Modifications to the Laws of the Game for different age groups (e.g., smaller fields, shorter game times, fewer players on the field).
    • Understanding the developmental stages of players and how it affects their play and behavior on the field.
  4. Referee Mechanics:

    • Proper positioning and movement to effectively cover the field and make accurate decisions.
    • Use of signals and communication techniques to clearly convey decisions to players, coaches, and spectators.
  5. Game Management:

    • Techniques for managing the flow of the game, including starting and stopping play, handling substitutions, and keeping time.
    • Strategies for dealing with common situations, such as dissent from players or coaches, injuries, and enforcing the rules fairly and consistently.
  6. Safety and First Aid:

    • Ensuring a safe playing environment by checking field conditions and player equipment.
    • Basic first aid knowledge and protocols for handling injuries on the field.
  7. Conflict Resolution and Communication:

    • Effective communication skills for interacting with players, coaches, and spectators.
    • Techniques for managing and resolving conflicts that may arise during the game.
  8. Ethics and Conduct:

    • Emphasizing the importance of impartiality, integrity, and professionalism.
    • Understanding the ethical responsibilities of a referee and maintaining a positive attitude.

Practical Training Components

  1. Classroom Sessions:

    • Instruction on the Laws of the Game and refereeing techniques.
    • Discussions and scenario-based learning to illustrate common situations and appropriate responses.
  2. Field Training:

    • On-field practice sessions where trainees can apply what they’ve learned in a controlled environment.
    • Role-playing exercises to simulate real-game scenarios and develop decision-making skills.
  3. Mentorship and Assessment:

    • New referees are often paired with experienced mentors who provide guidance and feedback.
    • Assessments to evaluate the trainee’s understanding and application of the training materials.

Certification Levels

AYSO offers different levels of referee certification to match the referee’s experience and the age groups they will officiate:

  • Regional Referee: Entry-level certification for refereeing younger age groups.
  • Intermediate Referee: Certification for those with some experience, allowing them to referee older age groups.
  • Advanced Referee: Higher-level certification for experienced referees, enabling them to officiate competitive matches.
  • National Referee: The highest level of certification, for referees with extensive experience and demonstrated proficiency.

AYSO Referee Training aims to ensure that all referees are well-prepared, knowledgeable, and confident in their abilities, contributing to a positive and enjoyable soccer experience for all participants.

AYSO Training Events

AYSO Spring Training Road Show
March 15 2026

Location:

Old Orchard Junior High School
9310 Kenton Ave
Skokie, Ill 60076

Note:  PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS ** REQUIRED **
1. ALL COURSE ATTENDEES MUST BE REGISTERED AS A VOLUNTEER.
2. REGISTER AT AYSOU (ETRAINU) FOR THE COURSE(S) YOU ARE ATTENDING.
3. TO SEARCH FOR COURSES, PLEASE LOGIN - AND SEARCH FOR "SPRING TRAINING"  OR "SKOKIE".   
4. PLEASE BE SURE TO SEARCH OUTSIDE OF YOUR REGION (TURN-OFF CHECK FOR MY REGION)



Coach Clinics and Courses

Referee Certification Courses
Management -  Regional Board Member Course


All Course Registration is thru AYSOU.

Coach Clinic Courses
08U Coach at 9:30am-11:30am
10U Coach at 9:00am-12:00pm
12U Coach at 9:00am-1:30pm ** 
14U Coach Course at 8:30am-3:00pm ** 
        Coach Clinic at 1:30pm-3:00pm **
** see below 
Contact Tad Lin : [email protected]

Referee Courses
Regional Referee Online Companion Course at 9:00am-12:00pm
Intermediate Referee Course at 8:30am-4:30pm
Contact: Michael Goroff [email protected]

Management Course
Regional Board Member Course at 1:00pm-3:00pm
Contact: Michael Humphries-Dolnick [email protected]

**Coach Online Coursework Required!
Course requires Online Course at AYSOU to be completed first before registering.
Please go to these links to review what is needed to complete online.

Please Note:   This is the only area wide training event before the Spring 2026 Season starts.  Spring Break Weeks are the last 2 weeks in March.     Regions that need training will need to work with their regional instructors for training after March 15. 

FYI:  Coach Instructor, Referee Instructor and Management Instructor training is offered at the AYSO 2026 EXPO in Naperville. 





 


More Courses


How to Register for a Course
https://wiki.ayso.org/wiki/Find_a_Course

Required:   All Volunteers Must Register for Courses Online at AYSOU

Some Courses Require Online Training Modules Before You Can Register Online for In-Person Course


Summer Training Schedule (In-Person Courses)

Looking for the Course in AYSOU ?

Use the Search Keywords at AYSOU such as

"Region 183", "Region 418", "Region 425", "Region 735", "Region 1007"


 



 

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Contact Us

AYSO Section 6 Area D

 
   

Email Us: [email protected]