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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. …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.

15. Thank you for attending!
#514