Important information for Referees for the 2023 Spring Season:

The Spring Season is considered a player development season with a goal of maximizing player touches.  As such. all games will be short-sided, with 6U/7U/8U teams playing side-by-side 4v4 games and 10U/12U/14U/19U playing 7v7 games on a 10U-sized field.  Before officiating games, please familiarize yourself with the season-specific rules below. 

2023 Spring Season Rules: please read full rules prior to signing up for games
Other resources can be found on our Laws and Resources page, including a referee guide for 6U to 8U games. 


How to sign-up for games:

For 6U, 7U, and 8U: Sign-up for games on this spreadsheet

For 10U and above: Sign up for games at refscheduler.net (we are Section 2, Area D, Region 218)

Field maps can be found here

All referees must be registered as a volunteer (see link below) and approved. 


Summary of key information for Referees: 

1) Game format:
- 8U and below: Two games 4v4 with no goalkeepers on side-by-side 20x30 yard fields
- 10U and up: 7v7 games (including goalkeeper) on a 65x45 yard (10U-sized) field 
- Minimum number of players to start 7v7 matches is 5 (including keeper). 

2) Length of halves (5 minute halftime)
- 8U and below: 15 minute halves 
- 10U and up: 25 minute halves
- Games must start and end on time. If a game starts late, it should end no later than 55 minutes after the hour (e.g. 5:55pm for a 5pm start)
- No stoppage time should be added to any game

3) Start of play:
- No coin toss, Home team will kick-off the first half and the away team will choose the direction of play
- At the start of the second half, teams will switch ends and the Away team will kick off.

4) Substitutions: 
- Unlimited substitutions can be made at any stoppage in all divisions. Intent is for rapid restart of play.
- Coaches are responsible for monitoring even playing time in accordance with the AYSO philosophies. No game cards. 

5) Offside:
- 8U and below: no offside violations
- 10U: offside position begins at the build-out line (standard 10U rules)
- 12U and up: offside position begins at the halfway line (standard IFAB rules)

6) Age-specific AYSO rules:
- 6U and 7U: kick-ins instead of throw-ins. Goals cannot be directly scored on kick-ins
- 8U and below: goal kicks should be taken within 5 yards of the goal
- no heading at 12U and under
- no goalkeeper punting at 10U
- 10U games will utilize build-out lines

7) Incident Reports: Referees should contact the Regional Referee Administrator ([email protected]) within 24 hours to report any cautions, send-offs (including coaches), or other incidents or serious injuries.