The American Youth Soccer Organization (“AYSO”) within its operating framework of Sections, Areas and Regions, offers a variety of player program options for delivering a quality soccer experience to all participants. Additionally, alternative soccer play programming may include indoor soccer, futsal, AYSO Playground Soccer, AYSO Schoolyard Soccer, jamboree format or monitored pick-up play, Soccerfest, camps, technical training, skills clinics and other offerings across the Organization.

AYSO primarily delivers outdoor soccer match play. The following Rules & Regulations shall be used for Region, Area, Section and tournament play within AYSO. Some flexibility in these rules may be allowed for other forms of match play with the approval of the Area Director and Section Director.

Download the 2017 AYSO National Rules & Regulations as a PDF »

Download and view the AYSO Player Development Initiative Guide for Referees which provides guidance to referees in how to administer matches with a focus on development over winning, creating an environment for player success, increasing technical skills, etc.

The Laws of the Game are authorized on an annual basis by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and provided by the Fédération Internationale de Football Associations (FIFA).

Visit the U.S. Soccer website to view the 2017/18 Laws of the Game.

[src: https://www.ussoccer.com/referees/laws-of-the-game]

Download and view summary of changes/clarifications to the 2019 IFAB Laws of the Game »

REFEREES

We Need You!

Please contact Brian Bohley, Evanston AYSO #735 Regional Referee Administrator with any questions, signing up to volunteer, and to sign up for training and gear ordering at [email protected]

Center Referees and Assistant Referees are needed at all levels from U8 on up to high school ages.  We should have a Center Referee and an Assistant Referee for each U10 game on up for both girls and boys.  AYSO National Becoming a Referee Link

Center Referees and Assistant Referees are needed at all levels from U8 on up to high school ages.  We should have a Center Referee and an Assistant Referee for each U10 game on up for both girls and boys.

No prior soccer experience is necessary.

You do not have to have a son or daughter playing in AYSO to referee.  Several of our referees no longer have children playing in AYSO.  Their “kids” are full fledged adults   They continue to referee because the experience is very fulfilling.

Having a referee at U8 on up makes for a superior experience for the athletes but also for the coaches and families at the games.

Learning to referee at younger ages helps you gain the experience for refereeing at the older ages where 3 person teams are needed for all levels U10 on up.

Assistant Referee is a great way to start learning about refereeing games.  You work as a team with the Center Referee to support one another

We have a referee program that focuses on community, development, and support throughout every stage from beginning referees to advanced referees.

Evanston AYSO pays for all of your training and all of your gear all of the time.  You pay nothing ever.

Refereeing is a ton of fun and allows you to connect to the game in a very meaningful way.

It is good to volunteer-especially to help kids!

Join us!  It is time well spent!

Below are the referee levels that Evanston AYSO will prefer:  There are the six certification levels for AYSO referees per National AYSO. Here is a brief description of the requirements for each. Contact your Regional Referee Administrator (RRA) for more details.

U-8 Official (minimum age 10) Complete the U-8 Official Course and pass the U-8 Official Exam.

To officiate: You must be at least two years older than the level that your are planning on officiating.  For example, to officiate U8, you must be at least 10 years old.  You also should be comfortable managing a game with players of that age.  It is up to the Regional Referee Administrator and the Regional Referee Scheduler to determine where you are ready to officiate.

Assistant Referee (minimum age 12) Complete the Assistant Referee Course and pass the Assistant Referee Exam.

Regional Referee (U8 to U10, U12 ok but Intermediate preferred for U12)(minimum age 12) Complete the Basic Referee Course and pass the Regional Referee Exam.

Intermediate Referee (U8 to U12, U14 ok but Advanced preferred) (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 (U8 to U14, U16 ok but National Level preferred) (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 (U8 to U19, U16 and U19 National Level preferred) (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.