Youth Referee Information Page

Saratoga AYSO is continuing Player Referee Organization (PRO) program where youths can be involved refereeing soccer games. The program is open to soccer players 12 years and older. The youth referees do not need to be a registered soccer player to participate.

The program consists of a one-day training class. The class will be similar to the regular adult regional referee class but geared towards youths already familiar with the game of soccer. The class will cover the Laws of the Game, referee mechanics, foul recognition, and referee teamwork. The training will continue on the field throughout the season. Youth referees will be assigned games appropriate for their age, experience, and skill level. There will be an adult referee at the games as a mentor who will give them feedback and to assist with any special situations. Each referee is encouraged to keep a logbook of his or her games to track their progress. As they gain experience and proficiency, they are eligible to move up to more challenging games.

Some of the benefits of being a youth referee include:

• Build self-confidence and better able to meet new challenges
• Foster leadership and critical thinking skills
• Increased knowledge of the Laws of the Game will help become better players by understanding the finer points of the game.
• Make new friends with people who share the same interests
• For some, a way to fulfill community service requirements

Our region also benefits by having an increased pool of qualified referees for the many games we host. AYSO is for kids to have fun and for learning. This program is also designed with these objectives as its top goals.

To signup, all you need to do is click here and register your email address. (check the “Youth” box under Referees.) All communication about this program, class schedule, and scheduling will be sent to this youth referee email list.

Send email to youthrefadmin@saratogasoccer.org if have any questions or need further information.