Alamosa, CO AYSO Youth Soccer

Referee Information

General Information

Referees in AYSO, like the coaches, administrators and everyone else who makes the program "go" are volunteers. Most begin when their children are playing in the youngest age groups and move "up" with them. Others (especially those with significant playing or prior referee experience) can start directly with the older kids. All are welcome.

AYSO games follow FIFA (international soccer) Law very closely, with only a few changes to adapt to AYSO's philosophy (e.g. controlled substitution to ensure that "everyone plays") and, at the youngest age levels, to adapt the game to the physical and mental maturity of the players.

Under 12 (Division 4) and above games are run using the "diagonal" system (center referee plus two assistant referees (linesmen)) with neutral referees. Under 10 (Division 5) and Under 8 (Division 6) games are usually officiated by parent referees from the two teams and use either a three referee or two referee team, depending on the number of referees available. Divisions 1-5 use the full FIFA Laws (although younger children in Division 5 play on 9 player teams on reduced size fields). Division 6 players play on 7 player teams on an even smaller field, with a simplified set of Laws. Under 6 (Division K) games are not formally officiated at all; instead they are "facilitated" by their team coaches.

Region 617 provides each Referee a Handbook which gives complete details of all refereeing procedure in Alamosa AYSO, and which also has a mine of useful information on refereeing youth soccer in general. ; extra copies are available from the Regional Referee Administrator.

Training (clinics)

To become an AYSO referee you must attend an AYSO referee training clinic. The introductory clinics cover the Laws of the Game (for those new to soccer); the way AYSO soccer games are structured and held (from coin-toss to end of game handshakes) and the spirit and philosophy of AYSO games and refereeing. More advanced clinics cover the Laws and the practice of refereeing in greater depth and are designed to prepare experienced referees for higher level games.

The introductory clinics are designed to be easy, quick and fun to take - even for those who have no prior soccer experience. There are two introductory clinics, one for those who will referee in Division 6 and one for those preparing to referee in Division 5 or above. Those who have previously refereed in Division 6, and who are planning to referee in Division 5 for the first time, must attend the Division 5 clinic - the Laws change significantly between Divisions 6 and 5, and experience in Division 6, although a good base, is not sufficient to referee successfully in Division 5.

Area and Section Referee clinics will be held November 15 & 16, 1996. If you are interested contact Rynn Nichols or Rob Benon at 589-4892.

The Beginning clinic is also appropriate for a beginning referee. It's a little longer, because it covers the full Laws. It takes two three hour class sessions and there is a subsequent exam on the Laws that is required in order to be awarded an AYSO Regional Referee badge.

The Regional Referee clinic for 1996 will be held twice at

There will also be a "refresher" clinic held for returning referees in Divisions 4 and 5. This clinic will review the Laws briefly, focussing on the more complex ones, and then cover questions and issues of interest to the attendees. It is designed to get referees who officiated games last season, but not since, "back into the flow" at the start of the Fall. It will be held twice at

Over time, we hope to convert much of the referee administrative process to electronic form. To that end, if you are an active referee in Alamosa AYSO and can be contacted by electronic mail for referee related business (e.g. scheduling, clinics, announcements, etc.), please let us know your e-mail address.

update:10/31/96