Welcome Foster City Region 62 Referees

Each fall season, we officiate hundreds of games for over 600 players from ages 5 to 19.  We invite parents and youths, 12 year old or over, to serve as AYSO referees.

Please note each U8 and older team is expected to have at least 2 team referees.

• To become an AYSO referee, you register, complete the training sessions, and then self-assign games. Please see the Registration section below for specifics of each step.
• Please visit our pages for 6U-8U referees (to officiate games for children under 8yo) and for U10+ referees (games for children 10yo and older).
  
• For questions or comments about the referee program please contact us at [email protected]. 

First and foremost: the children need you: soccer cannot be played without referees. Referees keep the game safe, fair, and fun for everyone; we are mentors and real-time mediators. Other reasons to consider:

• It's fun,
  
• It’s great exercise, 
• you control your schedule, all games are self-assigned
  • parents of players under 8yo: you referee your child's game, no extra time needed!
• You learn a lot about the beautiful game, (e.g., you'll know more about soccer rules than many TV commentators!)
• You’d be doing great community work, by helping provide a high-quality sports education to children regardless of race, gender, social strata, etc. 
• Youths aged 12 to 17 may satisfy the community service requirements for their schools. Officiating games also teaches them about leadership and mediation.
  • AYSO would provide you with training, mentoring, and supplies; which may prove very useful if you decide to officiate club or school games.

There is no experience or knowledge of soccer requirements. We will train you in the “Laws of the Game” and on game management. We will support and mentor you so that you are comfortable officiating games.

These steps below are required for BOTH new and returning referees:

1. Register as a Referee Volunteer on our website. Time: 10 minutes.
   • Login, or Register for a new account. 
     • Volunteers under 18yo must have an account of their own, separate from their parent's account, in order to get credit for their online classes.
   • Click the "Select" button on the "Referee" box; click "View Divisions" button and follow the next steps on the page. Use this step-by-step guide to help you navigate through the process.
   • Adults will receive an email from Sterling Volunteers to run a background check. The background check is mandated by California Law (AB-506).
     
     
2. Take the Referee class in AYSOU.  (only NEW referees)
   • To go to AYSOU:
     1. Go to your volunteer profile page: go to My Account, then click the Volunteer link on the left panel. 
     2. Click the AYSOU button on your profile box. You will be automatically redirected and signed in to AYSOU
   • Go to the Training Library
   • Click on Referee courses.
   • Enroll in the online course that fits your preference:
   • to referee 6U and 8U enroll in the 8U Official Course online, Time: 30min
     • email [email protected]  when you complete the course so we can arrange for uniform pickup.
       
       
   • to referee all age groups enroll in the Regional Referee Online + In-Person Companion . Time: 1hr online + 1.5hr in person
     • Schedule the In-Person part in the last module of the training. The system is annoying, you will need to click multiple screens to get to the schedule... and then you may have to click through different dates until you find In-Person Companion Regional Referee Training. Please have patience, we are also very frustrated by how difficult it is.
     • We are currently scheduled to do the In-Person Companion Saturday Aug 20th 9am, Saturday Aug 27th 8am, and Sunday Sep 11th 8am. Feel free to take the class in other regions.
       
       
3. Take the Safe Haven online courses in AYSOU. Time: approx. 2hr
   • In AYSOU, go to the Training Library, then click on Save Haven courses. 
   • Enroll in the following FOUR (4) online courses:
     1. AYSO Safe Haven. You will learn what makes AYSO great and what role you play in our organization. This course is mandated by AYSO National. Only needs to be taken once (all returning referees already took this course).
     2. Concussion Awareness. This course is mandated by California Law AB-379 and must be retaken every 2 years.
     3. Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness. This course is mandated by California Law AB-379 and must be retaken every 2 years.
     4. SafeSport: Abuse and Mandatory Reporting. This course is for adults only. This course is mandated by Federal Law (Title IX regulations) and must be retaken every year.