How to Become a Referee

5U/6U/7U Parents:        (for 8U/10U/12U/14U parents, see below):

1. First, register as a “volunteer” in Santa Monica AYSO for MY2023–make sure to check the “referee” role under Volunteer Preferences!

  1. Go to InLeague.   https://inleague.ayso20.org/Main/login
  2. Log in by entering your email address and password.
  3. Click “Volunteer Registration” button and then click “Fall 2023” button.
  4. Complete the registration form.  Make sure you use your full LEGAL name; no abbreviations or nicknames.
  5. Under “Volunteer Preferences” check all applicable boxes–be sure and check “Referee”  (even if you plan on ‘specializing’ in the Assistant Referee position). THEN scroll all the way down, and click “Submit Volunteer Preferences”
  6. Sign off on the “Disclosure” page.
  7. Be on the lookout for an email from our background check people at “Sterling Volunteers.” Their email will need a response. (Careful to check spam/junk.)
  8. Congrats, you are enrolled as a “volunteer” in Santa Monica AYSO. Now comes the actual “training/education” piece…

2. Next, attend a ZOOM “Volunteer Parent Referee Orientation”

  1. Attend a 45-minute Zoom “Parent Volunteer Referee Orientation.”  Sessions (you only need one) are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:15 pm-8:00 pm. Try to log in 5 minutes early. Sessions available until first week of games.
  2. Join Zoom Meeting–here’s the link:
    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3856039236?pwd=T3JqaVAyQ1p5TlhLRnFZa1plcURMdz09
    Meeting ID: 385 603 9236
    Passcode: 804349
  3. Make sure you are registered as a volunteer and get the background check underway (see below).

Helpful Links:

***5/6/7U Volunteer Referee Parents POWERPOINT-–what we use in our Zoom Volunteer Parent Referee Orientation; you still need to attend the Zoom meeting (schedule TBD).

***5U/6U Referee Guide–a three page detailed guide for volunteer parent “referees” at these age groups. It’s actually much less complicated than this document makes it seem.

***7U Referee Guide--a three page detailed guide for volunteer parent “referees” at this age group. It’s much less complicated than this document makes it seem.

8U/10U/12U/14U Parents:

1. Register as a “volunteer” in Santa Monica AYSO for MY2023–make sure to check the “referee” role under Volunteer Preferences!

  1. Go to InLeague.   https://inleague.ayso20.org/Main/login
  2. Log in by entering your email address and password.
  3. Click “Volunteer Registration” button and then click “Fall 2023” button.
  4. Complete the registration form.  Make sure you use your full LEGAL name; no abbreviations or nicknames.
  5. Under “Volunteer Preferences” check all applicable boxes–be sure and check “Referee”  (even if you plan on ‘specializing’ in the Assistant Referee position). THEN scroll all the way down, and click “Submit Volunteer Preferences”
  6. Sign off on the “Disclosure” page.
  7. Be on the lookout for an email from our background check people at “Sterling Volunteers.” Their email will need a response. (Careful to check spam/junk.)
  8. Congrats, you are enrolled as a “volunteer” in Santa Monica AYSO.  Now comes the referee training…..

2a.  First, take the online “Regional Referee” coursework/training, then take the in-person classroom session.    You’ll want to take the “NEW – Regional Referee — Online + In-Person Companion Course,” found in eTrainU/AYSOU (the online educational platform).

The in-person classroom sessions will most likely be available on weekends leading up to Opening Day (starting xx/xx) and maybe a couple Sundays after Opening Day. (NOTE: you must complete the online referee training and test prior to coming to the in-person classroom session.)

Dates of “in-person” classroom sessions are being set up. Please let me know if you are interested and I will and put you on a roster (and make sure we have the correct size for your fancy new yellow referee jersey, black shorts, and socks). Reach me at: rra@ayso20.org

eTrainU/AYSOU is our online educational platform, and this is where you’ll find the “NEW Regional Referee – Online + In-Person Companion Course”  online training modules and exam:

  1. Log into InLeague using your OWN email and password (not a spouse’s, otherwise you won’t get credit for it!!!)Go to eTrainU/AYSOU by clicking on the “graduation cap” icon in the upper right corner of your home page.
  2. Click the “Training Library” icon on the left. Then click “Refereeing Courses.”
  3. Click on  “NEW – Regional Referee-Online + In-Person Companion Course” (careful, there are multiple options, so choose the correct one) and take the nine (9) modules/chapters and the exam. Save a screen shot of your “successful completion.”  If you can’t complete them in one sitting, you can always go back in to eTrainU and look under “My Training” to resume where you left off.
  4. Then you’ll need to attend the in-person classroom session. These begin in early August. Contact me directly, and I will add you to a class roster for the date/time that works for you: rra@ayso20.org  There is usually a list of available dates under the “Upcoming Referee Courses” drop-down tab.
  5. Upon successful completion you’ll get your free referee uniform and equipment!
  6. Then I’ll teach you how to sign up for games once the schedule is posted.

2b. The “Regional Referee – Full Day In-Person Course” — no online modules required.

Other Regions will offer the full-day, comprehensive, “Regional Referee – Full In-Person Course”  in the late summer/early fall. It’s a full day (6-8 hours) of learning the ropes. Some people like a full-day, in-person, kind of thing. We won’t be offering that in Santa Monica, but if you are interested. To take the course:

  1. Log into InLeague using your email and password. Go to eTrainU by clicking on the “Graduation cap” icon in the upper right corner of your home page
  2. Click the “Training Event” icon on the left. You will be brought to a “calendar” 
  3. Enter “Regional Referee – Full In-Person Course” in the ‘Courses’ box
  4. Find a place/date that works for you and take the full-day course. If there is a fee, Region 20 will reimburse you for it.

3. Take AYSO’s “Safety Courses”–all volunteers working directly with the kids need to take these AYSO and/or state-mandated courses.

If you have not already done so, you will need to take AYSO’s Safe Haven, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, Safe Sport, and the CDC Concussion Awareness courses. They are offered through AYSO’s learning platform at “eTrainU”   (These are “one-and-done,” except for SafeSport which will have a short annual update.)  Note: the SafeSport online course is a lengthy 90′ affair. The other courses take about 30′

To take the safety courses:

  1. Log into InLeague using your email and password. Go to eTrainU by clicking on the “Graduation cap” icon in the upper right corner of your home page
  2. Click the “Training Library” icon
  3. Click Safe Haven “view courses”
  4. Take the following courses online: AYSO’s Safe Haven – Online; CDC Concussion Awareness – Online; Sudden Cardiac Arrest – Online; Safe Sport
  5. Work your way through each course in this order (including any test at the end). Save your “certificates of completion,” just in case…

Helpful Links for Regional Referee course material: