Nurturing and Retaining Youth Referees 08/19/14 Nurturing and Retaining Youth Referees AYSO National Referee Program - #514 1

What Are We Doing Today? Provide recommendations that Regions 08/19/14 What Are We Doing Today? Provide recommendations that Regions can use to nurture youth referees Encourage participation Instructor Notes Set the tone – Ask “What do you expect to get out of this session?” Take a couple of seconds to collect answers, which should be compared with the topics covered as the session continues. Document the answers that are different than the topics covered in this presentation and please submit them to Thomas Bobadilla at the National Office for potential integration into this session. Briefly share the objectives for this session.

What is the AYSO Youth Referee Program? A special program to support referees between the ages of 10 and 17 Sometimes referred to as the Player Referee Organization Program (PRO), since many are both players and referees

A Youth Referee Program Includes: The Youths Boys & girls between the ages of 10 & 17 The Adults The organizer; PRO coordinator Instructors and mentors must be current AYSO registered and certified volunteers

Minimum Certification Ages 8U Official 10 years Assistant Referee 12 years Regional Referee Intermediate Referee 14 years Advanced Referee 16 years National Referee 18 years

Group Activity What are some of the important steps you can take to help prepare youth volunteers to be referees? “What is important to PREPARE and DEVELOP youth referees? Leave this slide up and divide into small groups if possible. The students should brainstorm ideas. Come back together and capture their ideas. Summarize important points on the next slide.

Suggestions Train them well Assign them adult mentors Pair them with an experienced youth referee Provide them proper, fitting uniforms Teach them to deal with abuse and whom to turn to for help before, during and after a game “What is important to PREPARE and DEVELOP youth referees? Leave this slide up and divide into small groups if possible. The students should brainstorm ideas. Come back together and capture their ideas. Summarize important points on the next slide.

Eliminate Abuse: Post This! AYSO Kids Zone signs help remind adults about unacceptable behavior – before it occurs.

The Big Question How do you keep them coming back, season after season? “How to keep them coming back.” Leave this slide up and divide into small groups if possible. The students should brainstorm ideas. Come back together and capture their ideas. Summarize important points on the next two slides.

Suggestions Make sure they’re well trained Assign mentors to support them Enforce a zero tolerance for negative behavior towards referees Establish a youth referee club Recruit teammates and siblings Work around their schedules Let them work with a buddy

More Suggestions Provide ongoing training Establish communications with them Don’t assign them to challenging games that will chase them away Encourage them to upgrade Always have at least one adult working with them when they referee

Keep Them Coming Back! Thank them Reward them Recognize them Appreciate them Discuss ideas that will help Regions do each of the actions listed on this slide.

Good Youth Referee Programs Have: Support from the Regional Board Support from adult referees/coaches Respect from parents and spectators Zero tolerance for negative behavior Discuss ideas that will help Regions provide the support/respect listed on this slide.

…and in case you missed it! Thank them Reward them Recognize them Appreciate them Discuss ideas that will help Regions do each of the actions listed on this slide.

Thank you for attending! programs@ayso.org #514