For Returning Referees

12/02/11: If you will be working, or would like to work, at Tournaments this winter and spring (All-Star, Extra League or other tournaments), then please read our Tournament Referee Opportunities document for information and suggestions.

Welcome back!  We appreciate your commitment to our players as an AYSO volunteer.

We have some exciting new features to the Region 9 Referee Program this season, especially designed for those of you who had so much fun last year, you just couldn't wait to get back in your uniform (hopefully it hasn't shrunk during the off-season!) and back on the field with our kids.

If you do need to replace part or all of your referee uniform, please use our Referee Uniform Form, or contact Gary Bell directly at Refuniforms@ayso9.org

But first, a few maybe-not-so-exciting housekeeping items:

This is what you need to do to be ready for the 2011 season:

1. Make sure you are registered as an AYSO Volunteer for the current season at eAYSO (the same website you used to sign-up your child to play).
   • Be sure to print, sign & date two (2) copies of your eAYSO Volunteer Application and turn them in to Chris Page or another Region 9 Board member.
   • Forgotten how to use eAYSO?  Click here for instructions.
   • Not sure if you are already registered as an AYSO Volunteer? (You only need to do so once each year, no matter how many volunteer positions you hold...)  Click here to see our list of Registered Volunteers.  If your name is on the list and Processed = Yes, you are set!
   • Jot down your AYSO Volunteer ID#. You will need this for scheduling, classes and several other purposes.  (Maybe have it tattooed someplace inconspicuously?)
2. All AYSO Referees, including those who have completed Referee Safe haven prior to August 1, 2011, must take the new online AYSO Safe Haven course.  You will need your AYSO Volunteer ID# in order to take it.
3. Take a minute or two to fill out our Returning Referee Form
4. Be sure that we have you in our Referee Scheduling database (this is separate from eAYSO!).
   • Click here; you will need your AYSO Volunteer ID# (see above) and your last name (sorry, can't help you there!)
5. Refresh yourself on how to Schedule Yourself for games!  We are using the same online program as last year, with a few modifications as noted on the scheduling instructions page.
   • U7 & U8 Team Referees get to join their son or daughter on the field (as an official, not as a player).
   • U10 - U14 Team Referees cannot referee their own child's game in any capacity, but you can choose an assignment that fits in with your schedule and your level of training and experience.
   • Any referee, Team Referee or not, is welcome and encouraged to sign up for additional assignments during the weekend ... Saturdays for our regular program, Sundays for our Extra and Adult Leagues (for our more experienced referees).
6. Come see us at the Referee tent.
   • Grab some water (you'll need it, we have it!)
   • Meet some of your fellow referees (other returning refs like yourself, and some of the new AYSO referees who might appreciate a few pointers before their first game)
   • Be sure to sign in for each of your referee assignments.

Need Some New Challenges?

• The AYSO Extra Program: U10-U15 games Saturdays and Sundays during the Fall season and beyond.  These matches are for the experienced upper level referee.  Extra League offers a level of play much closer to that of Bronze level club soccer. Contact Mark Spear for more information
• The AYSO Region 9 Adult League: The "big kids" 19-99 have some fun on Sunday afternoons.  The Adult League matches present the Intermediate and up level referee the chance to work a full-length match of 90 minutes in a recreational “over 19/under 99” level of play. A new Adult League umbrella association has recently been introduced, so specific requirements for Referees are still evolving. Contact Chuck Huffer for more information.
• Area 10E U16/19 matches: Older players and more challenging matches. Contact Chris Page if you are interested.
• Area and Section Playoffs: Starting in December, Area Playoffs are local to Area E and Section Playoffs are in Bakersfield. Contact Chris Page if you are interested.
• Tournament Teams: Region 9's All-Star and Tournament teams need referees for Tournaments near and far (including our own Pot O' Gold in March).  These matches offer the qualified referee a distinctive tournament environment and challenging level of play to officiate from November through June. As a member of a three-referee crew attached to an All-Star side, you’ll have the chance to travel and officiate in a higher level of play for teams all over Southern California. Contact John Ciolino.
• Premier League: Region 9 offers a non-competitive environment perfect for a Regional Referee to take that first step into the middle as the Referee, or the Intermediate to step up to U14 play. After the Fall Season ends, the Premier League runs from January through early March. Players are focused on developing their skills, so it is important to offer them solid officiating to allow them to experiment, take risks and figure things out in a stress free, fair, fun, & safe way.  Contact Michael Wilson for more information.
• Pot O' Gold Tournament: This is Region 9's primary fund-raiser each year, held at the Creek in March.  Featuring full length, challenging and demanding levels of play, the Pot O' Gold is often the field setting for Advanced and National Referee and Assistant Referee Assessments for referees having completed the certification courses, passed the written exams and the fitness tests in order to upgrade their certifications. Teams from all over Southern & Central California (and sometimes Nevada and Arizona) converge on the Conejo Creek South Soccer Complex to compete in this challenging and rewarding tournament. If your passion is to referee, our Pot O' Gold tournament always lives up to its reputation! We always need a lot of local help, both on the fields and at the ref tent. Contact Chuck Huffer for more information. (FYI, we had 200 teams for the 2011 tournament: 100 boys and 100 girls - and a large waiting list)

New or Improved This Season

Upgrades

Go to the Training & Upgrades page, then click the Updates link.

Mentoring and Advisor Program

Can you help out our new referees as a Mentor?  Don’t forget, the course is enough to get you in trouble, the time on the field is what gets you out of it. Our Mentor & Advisor program is designed to help you get your feet wet, build skills and gain confidence.

Referee Development Initiative

New for Fall 2011, the Referee Development Initiative (RDI) is part of our overall regional referee program, managed by our Referee Advisor and Upgrades Programs with support from our Referee Instructor staff. The Initiative’s goal is to ensure success in referee development for both our U7/U8 program and our competitive league programs. Participants in the Initiative are returning referees who want to lend a hand and their experience to newer and upgrading referees. Upper level referee participants in the Initiative can use their participation towards their Upgrade Service Points. All Initiative participants will be able to participate in our referee incentives program(s) where points can be redeemed for referee specific gear. The Referee Development Initiative is designed to ensure nobody “new” is left on the field all alone. It’s much more fun to be supported and included in something bigger than the 40-90 minutes on the field.

RDI Trainings consist of a morning or afternoon clinic designed to provide Initiative participants with the tools and observation skills they’ll need to assist new and less experienced referees and ensure their new experience as officials in the Game is worth continuing and upgrading.

RDI for U7/U8 Program: Initiative participants will sign-up to work a U7/U8 match with a new U8 Adult or Youth Referee OR observe a newer referee for an entire U7/U8 match and offer specific positive, instructional and encouraging feedback to the referee pre-game, at halftime and following the match. Remember, for many U8 Referees this is their first exposure and experience as an official. Initiative participants are vital in ensuring the greenhorn’s experience is so fantastic they’ll want to come back and continue as a referee!

If you are participating in our Referee Development Initiative for U7/U8 through our Referee Advisor Program, you should attend our refresher training in addition to any RDI training session to bolster your skills and knowledge specific to the U8 program.

RDI for Competitive Program: Initiative participants will sign-up to work a U10, U12 or U14 match and work as an AR or Referee with a less experienced AR or Referee who wants to do more or improve their skills. Upper level referees may also wish to mentor an upgrading AR or Referee, or a first time Referee, and offer specific positive, instructional and encouraging feed-back pre-game, at the half and following the match. A third opportunity for Initiative participants who are upper level referees is to work under the guidance of one of our Regional Referee Assessors to participant in the Region’s informal Observation program, observing and documenting referee performance during the season. The Observation program is an important part of our Referee Instruction program evaluating the success of certification courses and trainings in actual match performance.

Contact our Regional Referee Administrator (RRA),  Chris Page, if you have any other questions or need additional information.