Referee Volunteer Points Program

This document describes the implementation details of the Referee Point Program in AYSO Region 20 (Santa Monica).

SUMMARY

The purpose of the “Referee Points Program” is to help ensure that AYSO Region 20 recruits, trains, certifies and fields enough volunteer referees to officiate at our games in the 10U to 14U divisions. The Referee Point Program also helps ensure that Region 20 supply its fair share of referees to Area 1P’s Upper Division and Extra Programs. In this program, volunteers agree to referee games during our Regional Regular Core Season (usually September through November). Referee volunteers earn Referee Points, which they allocate to their desired team(s). Referee Points may also be earned by volunteers who assist with referee administration. Each team in Divisions 9/10U through 14U must be allocated (earn) at least 15 referee points to advance in the secondary rounds of the Regional Playoffs, which lead to Area and Section Playoffs. Teams that fail to accumulate 15 points will play the normal schedule of Regular Season and first round or pool of Playoff games, but will not advance, nor can they become Regional champions.

SPECIFIC GUIDELINES

Regular Season Games and Playoff Games:

During the Pre-Season/Regular Season for Divisions 9U/10U through 14U, teams play each other in a pool play format. At the conclusion of the Regular Season, teams begin competing in a series of Playoff games with other teams in their age/gender Division. All teams participate in the first round (9U/10U/12U) or pool (14U) of the playoffs. Teams may then advance to subsequent rounds of the playoffs, in order to determine our region champions and runners-up. To participate in the subsequent playoff rounds, a team must have earned at least 15 Referee Points, regardless of how well the team performs during the Regular season leading up to the Playoffs.

What this means in practical terms is:  10U & 12U & 14U Divisions – Teams lacking 15 referee points are eligible to play the first round of playoffs only. At the end of the playoff pool play (or first round), teams that did not accrue 15 referee points will not advance.   9/10U Divisions – Teams lacking 15 referee points are eligible to play the first round only. A team lacking 15 referee points will play its first game in the main bracket and regardless of the score, will be considered the loser and play its second game in the consolation bracket (if there is one). Again, regardless of the score, that team will be considered the loser. In both games, their opponents will advance.

(Note: these restrictions do not apply to the 9/10U “play-in” qualifying games (if required) that provide for an even 16-team bracket.)

Team Responsibility to Recruit Volunteers and Track Points:

1. While individual volunteers are welcome to sign up at any time, it is each team’s responsibility (Coach and Team Manager) to recruit its own volunteers to sign up to referee.  It is also the responsibility of that team (the Coach and Team Manager) to know exactly where they stand in terms of points earned!  Since first-time referee volunteers must fill out an AYSO Volunteer Application form, take the on-line Safe Haven Course,  CDC Concussion Awareness Course, Sudden Cardiac Arrest Course, and Safe Sport Course before any referee points can be earned, each team should endeavor to identify as many prospective volunteers that they can AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE and encourage them to register as a volunteer and take these courses right away after team formation. Please note that since an individual volunteer may want to allocate their points to multiple teams, teams should recruit as many as they can–at least three, and preferably 5 or more, referee volunteers. The best way to ensure a healthy number of volunteer referees for the Region is to suggest that each family have at least one person become a certified volunteer parent referee!!!

Note: Region 20 offers “Regional Referee” training classes each Fall.  We require volunteer parent referees on 8U and above teams take the “Regional Referee” training.  You will become “certified” as a match official and good to go for the coming seasons. “Once a ref, always a ref.”

2. Prospective volunteer referees must be at least 12 years old. Prospective volunteers under the age of 18 must have parental consent.

3. It is each team’s responsibility (the Coach and/or Team Manager) to track whether their volunteers are likely to earn enough points to meet the minimum required number of referee points to advance in the playoffs (assuming they win).

4. Extra Program Requirements: To ensure that the Extra program helps to benefit the AYSO Region 20 Core program rather than diminish it, each Extra team is asked to staff three referee slots for each home game they play in a season. For example, if the team has 7 home games scheduled, they should plan on “earning” 21 points/slots total during the Fall season across Core and Extra schedules. A volunteer parent on each team will be designated to keep track of the points earned doing the Core and Extra games. Each Extra team must earn these referee points during the Fall season in order to advance in the Area 1P Extra Playoffs. 

Earning Referee Points:

1. Since there are many facets to our Regional program, there are also multiple ways volunteers earn referee points. The primary way to earn referee points is by officiating games. Certified Regional (Basic) Referees serving as Referee (i.e., the “Center” referee) in any regular season match in the 9/10U, 12U, and 14U divisions will earn one referee point. Certified Regional (Basic) Referees serving as an Assistant Referee in any regular season match in the 9/10U, 12U, and 14U  (NOT 7U or 8U) divisions will earn one referee point. Those certified only at the “8U Official” level, cannot earn points.  Qualified, trained volunteers may also earn referee points officiating at Extra program matches or Upper Division matches. Referee points are not awarded for scrimmages or tournaments (BUT MAY BE AWARDED for refereeing in Region 20’s 5 v 5 Tournament–usually 1 point for every three (3) matches officiated).  Volunteers may also earn referee points for completing training, upgrading certification and helping out with teaching and referee assessment. Referee schedulers and referee administration volunteers also have opportunities to earn points that they can allocate to their team. Here’s how points would be awarded:

a. One (1) referee point is awarded to a volunteer who completes an assigned game as either Center Referee (CR) or Assistant Referee (AR). Multiple games on the same day earn multiple points. (Referees who are scheduled to referee matches that are canceled will still earn referee points for the canceled match.)  Points are awarded only to volunteer referees who:

i. Are certified as AYSO Referees in Region 20’s inLeague (have successfully completed at least the Basic Referee and Referee Safe Haven courses) and submitted an AYSO registration/re-registration for the current season.

ii. Complete their referee assignment(s) in an approved uniform. (NOTE: Club linespersons do not earn referee points.)

b. Three (3) referee points are awarded to a volunteer who successfully completes the Basic Referee and Referee Safe Haven courses and THREE assigned games (9/10U and above) as either CR or AR. These incentive points are in addition to any game assignment points and may be earned once per volunteer per season.

c. One (1) referee point is awarded to a volunteer who successfully completes an assigned game as a first-time CR at 9/10U or above.  A maximum of 2 points may be earned by newly trained Referees officiating as a 8U CR–which is to allow/incentivize newly trained Referees to gain the experience at a lower division before moving up to 9/10U. This incentive is in addition to any game assignment points. You do not earn points by AR’ing 8U or younger games.

d. Three (3) referee points are awarded to a volunteer who successfully completes the AYSO Referee Certification Requirements for the next certification level (e.g., Regional to Intermediate, Intermediate to Advanced or Advanced to National) and one assigned game as either CR or AR following certification. These incentive points are in addition to any game assignment points.

e. One (1) referee point is awarded to a volunteer who participates as an invited instructor during a registered Referee Course sponsored by Region 20. While only one (1) point may be earned per Course, volunteers who teach in multiple Courses earn multiple points.

f. One (1) referee point is awarded to a volunteer who successfully completes an upgrade assessment or “mentors” another referee in Region 20. Multiple assessments/mentoring assignments earn multiple points. In order to earn assessor/mentor referee points for assessments, volunteers must be AYSO Certified Assessors or National Assessors. In order to earn assessor/mentor referee points as a referee mentor, volunteers must be assigned to mentor by the Regional Referee Administrator (RRA), or the RRA’s designee.

g. One (1) referee point is awarded to each certified referee volunteer who attends an “AYSO Laws of the Game Refresher” course. This award may be earned once during the season. (Note: This course is offered by Area 1P, not Region 20)

h. Three (3) referee points are awarded to the following support positions: referee schedulers, referee uniform coordinator, assistant referee administrator, and division referee coordinators. These incentive points will be available only after a minimum of 6 hours of volunteer work. These incentive points are in addition to any game assignment points and may be earned once per volunteer per season.

i. One (1) referee point is awarded to volunteers who assist referee administration by helping to manage clinics or by serving in other temporary administrative capacities. These points are not self-allocatable. In other words, referees need to instruct the region how you earned these points AND how to allocate them by completing the brief Referee Credit for points earned elsewhere form at the bottom of this page. If you refereed a game that you were not scheduled for, and would like to get credit for that game, go to the Referee Credit for PAST GAMES form at the bottom of this page.

2. No points are awarded for missed assignments or failure to successfully complete a training program.

3. In cases of doubt, the Regional Referee Administrator is the final authority on the decision to award referee points under these guidelines.

4. While every effort will be made to record referee points accurately, each volunteer should maintain a separate record of referee points earned.

5. Referee Points expire at the conclusion of the Fall Season.

Allocation of Referee Points to Teams:

Referee points earned by a volunteer referee belong to that volunteer until they are allocated to a team. The guidelines for allocating points to teams follow.

  • When a volunteer signs up to referee, he or she is responsible for specifying to which team should be allocated the referee points. Overall referee points may be split between more than one team, but each allocation must be at least one point.
  • Points for training or other administrative assistance are allocated by the volunteer by completing the brief Referee Credit for points earned elsewhere form at the bottom of this page.
  • To request credit for past games where you refereed when another no-show referee was originally scheduled, fill out the brief Referee Credit for PAST GAMES form at the bottom of this page.
  • In order to promote maximum volunteer participation, a maximum of ten (10) points may be allocated by a volunteer to a single team in Divisions 9/1U – 14U.
  • Points earned may be allocated to any team in conjunction with the rules spelled out above.
  • Referee Points belong to the Volunteer who earns them. Allocation decisions by a Volunteer cannot be appealed.
  • Youth Referees have the same rights and privileges as Adult referees under this program. The minimum age to certify as a Referee is 12 years old.

Signing Up for Games and Getting Trained:

 For referees needing training, dates for referee clinics and additional details are posted on our website www.ayso20.org, under the “Referees” tab. 

Notes:

 No one except the AYSO Region 20 Commissioner may grant an exception to these guidelines.

 These guidelines may be revised as necessary by the AYSO Region 20 Commissioner or Referee Administrator.

 Questions or comments concerning this program should be addressed to the Region 20 Referee Administrator:  rra@ayso20.org

See Also:

Allocating Referee Points
Referee Credit for PAST GAMES Form
Referee Credit for points earned elsewhere