Become an AYSO Referee Today!
Join the AYSO volunteer family and help grow our local Hollywood-Wilshire soccer community. As an AYSO referee, you play a vital role in creating a safe, fair, and fun environment for young players to learn and enjoy the game. You help teach respect, sportsmanship, and teamwork while ensuring matches are played according to the Laws of the Game.
No prior refereeing experience is required! AYSO provides training, mentorship, and support to help you succeed. By volunteering as a referee, you are not just officiating games. You are supporting player development, strengthening our community, and helping children build confidence and a lifelong love of soccer.
2026 AYSO Referees
All new AND returning referees MUST be registered as 2026 volunteers & up to date on training requirements/ certifications. To see your "volunteer status" & list of certifications, go to the home screen Dashboard in your inLeague account HERE.
REFEREE CHECKLIST:
- Registered as a 2026 Volunteer on inLeague
- Background Check (NOTE: annual requirement - you will receive an email from Sterling Volunteers before expiration)
- Safe Haven
- CDC Concussion (NOTE: If you completed BEFORE 2022, you will need to take updated course)
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest
- SafeSport (NOTE: annual update required - If you completed last season, you will only need to complete the shorter "refresher" course)
- LiveScan Fingerprinting - SEE LIVESCAN INSTRUCTIONS HERE (NOTE: This MUST be done through AYSO - LiveScans through other organizations do NOT transfer over)
- Referee Certification (note badge levels below)
- Required badge level to referee 7U/8U -
- Required badge level to referee 9U-12U - Regional Referee
- Required badge level to referee 14U - Intermediate Referee
- Required badge level to referee 16U & up - Advanced Referee
***NOTE: There may higher badge requirements for EXTRA, All-Star & tournament games versus the usual "CORE" Fall soccer games. Conversely, there may be less strict requirements to "AR" 14U & up. Please contact the Regional Referee Administrator to confirm.
Questions/ need help - Contact: [email protected]
📋 Step-by-Step: How to Get Certified
1. Register as a Volunteer on InLeague
- Log into your InLeague Family Profile.
- Click “Volunteer Registration” on the left menu.
- Select “Referee” under Volunteer Preferences and click Submit.
- Sign the electronic disclosure to begin your background check.
2. Access AYSOU (Powered by eTrainU)
- While logged into InLeague, click the 🎓 graduation cap icon (top right).
- In AYSOU, click Training Library → Refereeing → View Courses.
- For Referee Volunteers starting in 10U & up, enroll in “Regional Referee – Online + In-Person Companion Course”.
- Complete the online modules and quiz at your own pace.
🔁 You can pause and return anytime from the “My Training” tab.
3. Attend an In-Person Referee Class
In the menu bar on the left, click on "Training Events". To find a course hosted by one of the local regions, first de-select "Region 78* since you are searching for classes hosted by any region...then select distance from your location (a good start would be within 25 km). Find the day of the scheduled in-person course you will attend and click the "Enroll" button for that course. Be sure to attend the in-person course as scheduled. Please make sure you read through the class instructions on what online pre-coursework is required & for directions/ special instructions. Any questions if you are unsure, contact us [email protected]
***NOTE: There are multiple versions of the courses listed that might have classes...the most common for a Regional Referee is listed as "Regional Referee Online + In-Person Companion Course".
For 8U Referees, 14U/ Intermediate, Advanced, etc, contact our Regional Referee Administrator (RRA) @ [email protected]
4. Complete Required Safety Courses
Head back to eTrainU (AYSOU) through InLeague — this step is important!
👉 You must access all training, including SafeSport, via the 🎓 graduation cap icon inside your InLeague account. This ensures your certifications are properly recorded and synced with your volunteer profile.
In AYSOU eTrainU, go to:
Training Library → Course Categories → Safe Haven (view courses)
Select and complete the following courses:
- ✅ AYSO’s Safe Haven
- ✅ CDC Concussion Awareness
- ✅ Sudden Cardiac Arrest
- ✅ SafeSport
🔒 The SafeSport Course will open in a new window and prompt you to create an account with the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
⚠️ Important: Make sure the name, email, and date of birth you use match exactly with what’s in your InLeague account — or your completion may not be recorded.
✅ Once completed, all your safety certifications will appear in your InLeague profile under “Volunteer Certifications.”
5. Complete Live Scan Fingerprinting
- Required for all referees 8U and up (even if you’ve done one elsewhere).
- 🔗 [Live Scan Appointment Signup – Coming Soon]
Live Scan fingerprinting is a one-time requirement for AYSO volunteers — it ensures compliance with California state law and AYSO National safety standards. ✅ Once you’ve completed it, you won’t need to do it again!
📝 Quick Facts:
- ✅ Live Scan is different from the Sterling Volunteers background check — both are required.
- 🔐 Your information is handled securely and used solely for screening purposes.
- 🧾 The cost is covered by AYSO Region 78, and we host local sessions to make it easy.