Welcome to AYSO Region 253 Serving the communities of Bentley, Halstead, Kechi, North Wichita, Park City, Sedgwick, Valley Center and Whitewater.
	Referees As referees, our goal is to ensure that the games are safe, fair and fun. Just like the coaches and everyone else involved in Region 253, our referees are volunteers. That person out there on the field with the whistle is a parent just like all of us. You don’t need any experience to become a referee- just the desire to see that the kids have a safe, fair and fun match! We have a number of beginning referee clinics which will provide you with all the information you need to know. In addition, we will provide you with a uniform and, of course, a whistle.   Under the AYSO guidelines, coaches are required to make sure that their coaching is done in a positive, instructional and encouraging manner. As parents, it is important that we keep the same attitude-even in those exciting and competitive play-off games. Remember that this applies to the referees as well. In fact, AYSO has instituted an Referee Abuse and Assault Policy that expressly prohibits referee abuse and/or assault of any kind. The officials at AYSO soccer games are volunteers from the community - people like you and me. We referee because: It helps kids learn and play soccer safely! It's not hard to learn how! Experience is not necessary. Training and mentoring are at hand. It is a great way to help kids learn ethics, values and sportsmanship! It's a great exercise and great for building self esteem and self discipline! There is no better vantage point to see soccer played! We have fun! Youth Referee Program PRO stands for Player Referee Organization. It is the standard name given to AYSO Referee programs geared towards kids 18 years old and younger. Anyone is welcome to become a youth referee - they do not have to be a soccer player to join PRO. However, 95% of AYSO youth referees are also soccer players and therefore the program is named Player Referee Organization. National guidelines state that kids 12 years old and older can become certified Referees (U-5 thru U-8 games) or Regional Referees (U-5 thru U-10 games). Youths under 12 are welcome too, but usually need to join the program as Assistant Referees. If you love the game of soccer,here's a great chance to become involved in the sport in a whole new way: being a referee. Click Here for more information! REFEREE'S CODE: Always remember the game is for the players. Player safety and fair play come first. Study and learn the Laws of the Game and understand the "spirit" of the Laws. Help fellow referees do the same. Encourage and enforce the AYSO Philosophies - Everyone Plays, Positive Coaching and Good Sportsmanship. Respect other referees' decisions and do not publicly criticize another official. Wear the proper uniform and keep it in good condition. Maintain good physical condition so you can keep up with the action. Stay calm when confronted with emotional reactions from players, coaches and parents. Honor accepted game assignments. In an emergency, find a replacement. Support good sportsmanship with a kind word to players, coaches and parents of both teams when deserved. Always be fair and impartial, avoiding conflicts of interest. Decisions based on personal bias are dishonest and unacceptable. Helpful Referee Links AYSO Referee Page Click Here Section 4  Page Click Here US Soccer Federation (USSF) Referee Page Click Here Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Referee Page Click Here Ken Aston Organization Click Here Corsham Referee Page Click Here Changes in AYSO Referee Certification and Advancement Click Here AYSO Ready -Set-Ref Workbook Click Here AYSO National Rules and Regulations for Refs 2007 Click Here AYSO Guidance for Referees and Coaches Click Here USSF Advice to Refs on the Laws of the Game Click Here Referees, you make the call... A fun interactive Q&AClick Here AYSO Help - Ask a Question Click Here Joe Knows AYSO Click Here Why I Can’t Be a Referee To save you the trouble of being redundantly creative, we have condensed here most of the common excuses for nonparticipation in this most critical function in the AYSO program. For you convenience, just put an ‘X’ next to the excuse or excuses which best apply to you OR…fill out a volunteer application to be a referee and learn how much fun soccer can be, not just for your child, but for you as well!I I Don’t Know Anything (Enough) About the Game Most of us knew little, or less than you, about soccer when we became referees. Not to worry…for the investment of a day (8 hours) we will train you with more knowledge of the Laws of the Game than most Americans ever possess. I Don’t Have Time Becoming a referee is the perfect slot for those AYSO parents who have crowded schedules. Your commitment consists of eight hours of class and, when the season begins, games scheduled around your child’s games (when you would be at the fieldsanyway). I’m Not the Right Kind of Person Yes you are. You obviously care about your child. This is a youth development program run by volunteers. Would you want your child involved with someone who is not as good as you? Who would be better than a concerned parent like you? I’m in too High a Tax Bracket to be Able to Handle the Extra IncomeNot to worry. When we last heard, satisfaction and enjoyment were not yet taxable. Since that will be your only compensation (AYSO is a volunteer organization) we suggest you collect as much compensation as you can. I’d Look Silly in That Uniform Good heavens…. You obviously haven’t seen the Referee Administrator. I’d Be EmbarrassedEveryone makes mistakes (even those of us who have been officiating for years). The import thing is to approach the job with enthusiasm and enjoyment, because that will be passed on to the players and coaches (and we can team you up with anexperienced referee to help you through the initial learning process). I’m A Woman – I Never See Them Referee Wrong! We have quite a few qualified women referees – AND THEY ARE GREAT! We could use more. What other time in your life will you ever…with just one breath (or tweet)…be able to make 22 kids stop what they are doing, actually listen to you, and the do what they are told? I Don’t Care Well here it is…if in fact you are signing up your child to play AYSO soccer and you honestly don’t care about the quality, safety or enjoyment involved in this program…then you have come up with the correct excuse and we no longer have to ask why, because YOU CAN’T BE A REFREE, and that is that. However, if this last excuse does not apply to you (and we hope it doesn’t), then we need you badly. In return, we promise you: Enjoyment Exercise Commitment A Free Uniform Jersey AND…you’ll never be able to watch any major sporting event quite the same way again. AND, ON TOP OF THAT…the kids will be darn glad to that you were there. ONE FINAL NOTE…if you still don’t think you are the right kind of person for this job…you took the time to read this whole flyer…that means you care…that means you are exactly the right kind of person. Please consider volunteering as a referee for AYSO Region 253.
Last Updated 9/29/2007