Overview of the Program

(a)   Benefits to Youth Volunteers

The AYSO Region 1438 Youth Referee program provides youth volunteers with valuable benefits and life lessons.

The Youth volunteer program will help youths by:

i.        Increasing their interest in Soccer and helping to make new friends

ii.        Learning to become a role model

iii.       Earning respect

iv.        Earning Community Service hours (possible credit for High School and College)

v.        Learning decision making skills

vi.        Increasing their own pride and self confidence

vii.       Getting an early start on a refereeing career

viii.       Developing leadership and critical thinking skills

ix.        Learning the Laws of the Game and becoming better players as a result

x.        Becoming part of an exclusive group

(b)   Benefits to the Region

In return AYSO 1438 will earn the following benefits in return. The Region will:

i.        Increase the referee pool

ii.        Gain more knowledgeable referees

iii.       Require less training in the basics

iv.        Gain potential long-term commitment

v.        Increase retention of players

vi.        Present good role models for others

vii.       Increase the quality of referees (players make good referees when well trained)

Assigning

Assigning can be done by the Referee Administrator or the Youth Referee Program Coordinator. It shall be done in advance to allow enough time for rescheduling conflicts.

i.        Assignments shall be sent to Parents and Youth Referees at a minimum of one week in advance to the Youth Referee Email Distribution list.

ii.        Youth Referees must be at least 2 years older than the age division of the match in question in order to either Referee or participate as an Assistant Referee.

iii.       Referees that cannot fulfill the assignment or have a last-minute emergency to where they cannot officiate the game shall immediately email, text, or call the Referee Administrator or the Youth Referee Program Coordinator.

iv.        8U certified Youth Referees CANNOT be assigned as an AR or as Referee on 10U and above matches. The minimum badge level for this is Regional. This also means they cannot simply be “thrown on” a 10U match due to a missing AR. A club linesman will be appointed instead.

Mentorship

Mentors are approved and appointed by the Youth Referee Program Coordinator or the Referee Administrator.

ii.       It is ideal to have a mentor at every game observing and advising.

a.The advisor/mentor can ensure there is a liaison between the youth and the adults on the field as well as provide encouragement and feedback about performance after the game.

b.              A word or two from the advisor/mentor to coaches and even spectators prior to (or during) the game about the need to respect the “fully qualified” youth referees who have been assigned to the game may encourage more thoughtful consideration and support for the efforts of the young officials.

c.There is a ZERO tolerance policy for verbal or physical abuse towards a youth referee, violation of this policy will result in immediate removal from the field and or complex by the mentor or an active Board Member and WILL be reported to the Youth Referee Program Coordinator, the Coach Administrator, the Referee Administrator and the Regional Commissioner; absolutely ZERO exceptions. An Incident Report will be created and submitted to the Regional Commissioner in conjunction with this incident.

iii.     Mentors will provide constructive criticism and feedback during halftime and after the game, this will help develop the referee they’re advising and add a sense of instruction.

a.  Mentors will receive training from the Referee Admin team on how to observe and assess a referee. In short, everybody will receive training

iv.     Mentors will not berate, insult, or bully a youth referee.

a. Mistakes will be made, berating or scolding a youth referee will only discourage them from officiating games in the future, at the worst a mentor can be “firm but polite” on certain inconsistencies.

b. Mentors that are caught or reported to have bullied or insulted a youth referee will be dealt with by the Referee Admin team and may be barred from the program. An Incident Report will be created and submitted to the Regional Commissioner in conjunction with this incident.

Conflict Resolution

(f)    Dealing with Difficult Spectators, Team Officials, or Coaches

i.   It is up to the Region Board to make it clear at the Fall and Spring Coaches Meeting that Youth Referees are completely off-limits and that the Region will not tolerate any abuse of Youth Referees.

Enlist the aid of the coaches to help educate parents and spectators about what is expected of them.

a.      We are all here to help each other out! Let’s not forget that.

b.      Again ZERO tolerance policy for abuse towards a youth referee.

Youth Referee Competitions

i.         The Youth Referee Program Coordinator may set up Referee Competitions:

a. These should be modeled after the Ken Aston Cup where teams of referees compete against one another to determine which team best represents AYSO refereeing. The teams are assessed, and allocated points based upon established criteria.

b.  A youth referee competition is valuable and an exciting way of stimulating the interest and improving the performance of young referees.

ii.       Giveaways must be approved by the Regional Commissioner

a. There are certain guidelines for using the region budget to purchase giveaways for region competitions. The Regional Commissioner shall receive a plan that includes prices and quantities and will have overall approval of the purchase.

iii.   Competition teams must have an Adult Contact (Team Parent)

a. All teams MUST have an adult contact (Team Parent) who will act as the liaison between the team and the competition.

b. Competing referees must be between the ages of 12 and 16. Applicants aged 17 and 18 will be accepted but cannot win the Competition. The older applicants will receive the benefit of assessments from trained assessors and the participation awards.

iv.     Overall the competition will need to be written up and demonstrated to the Region 1463 Board for approval. The demonstration must also include who the assessors will be and how the method of scoring will work.