Providing trained and qualified referees for youth soccer games is important for the safety and enjoyment of the game by participants and spectators. AYSA employs a two-tier referee program where referees are assigned to officiate games based on training and experience.
Club Referees – officiate smallsided Recreation games for the U7 and uU8 age groups. The Club Referees are trained by AYSA in a two hour class and are allowed to referee AYSA Recreation games only for the U7 and U8 age.
USSF Certified Referees –officiate Recreation and Select level games up to U19 based on the referees age, certification level (Grade 9 or Grade 8) and experience. Certified Referees can serve in either a Center Referee or Assistant Referee (linesperson) role for a game. Certified Referees are trained by instructors from the Georgia State Soccer Association under the auspices of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). Training classes for Grade 9 and Grade 8 are nine hours in length each, typically conducted over two sessions for each grade level. A Grade 9 referee must officiate for one season before qualifying to take the Grade 8 class. Once certified, a referee is eligible to officiate youth games throughout the State of Georgia and other states (e.g., tournaments, other local soccer associations) based on the guidelines for that grade level and state/local practices.
All referees are paid for games officiated according to the pay scale published by AYSA. Pay levels generally increase in accordance with the age group and level of competition. Referees are assigned to games by the AYSA Referee Assignor based on a number of factors including: games scheduled, referee age, experience and training/certification. Every attempt it made to best match a referee with games that fit with their schedule and capabilities.
The table below summarizes the different types of referees employed by AYSA:
|
|
AYSA
Club Referee
|
USSF Certified Referee
|
|
Grade 9
|
Grade 8
|
| Highest Levels of Competition |
|
Center Referee
|
U8 Recreation
(AYSA only)
|
U14 Recreation
|
U19 Select and
Recreation
|
|
Assistant Referee
|
|
U14 Select and
Recreation
|
U19 Select and
Recreation
|
| Training |
|
Class Length
|
2 hours
|
9 hours
|
9 hours (must be
Grade 9 for
one season
|
|
Cost
|
Free
|
$55
|
$60
|
|
|
|
(course application fees are reimbursed by AYSA upon request after officiating 5 gamesover a seasonal year e.g. Fall/Spring)
|
| Pay Scale (per game) |
$15
|
$15 - $30
|
$15 - $45
|
Additional information regarding the AYSA Referee program is available at www.aysa.net. Additional information regarding the USSF Certified Referee program, course schedules and registration are available at
www.gasoccer.org.
If you have any questions regarding the AYSA Referee program, please contact the AYSA Referee Coordinator at
referee@aysa.net.