Referee Class Sign-up Steps

📢 Next AYSO Regional Referee Certification Class: April 17 & 18, 2026

To sign up for the class and be notified when our Atlanta youth soccer region will host the next class please fill out our referee interest form on the "How to become an AYSO referee" page.

Our referee classes are free. Please email Regional Referee Instructor for more information: [email protected]

Referees

AYSO Atlanta Region 1612 Referees

Supporting a fun, fair, and safe soccer experience for every player

Referees play a vital role in every AYSO match. In fact, games cannot happen without enough trained referees on the field. Their presence helps create an environment that is fun, fair, and safe for all players.

Just like our players and coaches, referees are developing too. AYSO emphasizes learning, encouragement, and growth, giving referees the support they need to build confidence and improve with experience.

Whether you are brand new to soccer or already know the game well, AYSO referee training will give you the tools you need to get started. No prior referee experience is required.

What AYSO Referees Gain

Knowledge of the Laws of the Game
Confidence managing players, coaches, and spectators
Practical on-field experience in a supportive environment
Opportunities for advanced training and certification

To help encourage participation, AYSO Atlanta Region 1612 pays referees for games worked.

Training and Support

AYSO referee training is widely respected and includes both in-person instruction and online learning opportunities. Our goal is to help every referee feel prepared, supported, and confident on the field.

If you are willing to learn and want to support our players, we would love to have you join us.

Useful Resources

AYSO Returning Referees 2025-2026 Registration Instructions

Register as a Referee for 2025-2026 Season (to be done once per year)

Register Now

Positions

Referees ONLY 2025-2026

Youth Referee Youth Referee will referee U8 level games. There is an online course that will provide training for this position.

Adult Referee Adult Referee 18+

+ Sign Up

Updating my Availability

Update My Availability on Stack Officials

You must set your availability to get games assigned to you

AYSO Atlanta Region Rules

Please, be flexible and remember that our job is to keep the game Safe, Fair and Fun.

Work with our coaches if certain exceptions need to be made:

In extreme heat, if both coaches agree the referee can shorten the halves by up to 5 minutes each.
In the event one or both teams are short players and both coaches agree, sides can be smaller.

Here is a brief summary of some key points:

There will not be official Quarters. A substitution break will be announced by the ref when the ball is out of play closest to halfway through the 1st Half, and halfway through the 2nd Half. The clock will continue to run during these breaks. This means coaches will need to have their subs ready, have a quick water grab by the players remaining on the field, and then get the game re-started. This is not intended to be a coaching break—2 minutes, max. To recap, substitutions only at: halfway through the 1st Half, Halftime, halfway through the 2nd Half.
Injured players that need to come off the field can be substituted for immediately but won’t be able to return until the next substitution break / half.
No intentional headers in any Division 12 and under.
- Infraction results in: Indirect Free Kick to the opposing team.
Build-out lines will be enforced in 10U matches.
GK punts are OK in Upper Division Girls & Upper Division Boys only.
For divisions with GKs (10U & older), penalty kicks will be enforced for direct free kick fouls inside the penalty area.
For 10U & older, offside Law will be enforced. Video: applying the build-out line in 10U matches