Important information for Referees for the 2024 Fall Season:
Before officiating games, please familiarize yourself with the season- and age-specific rules below.
Other resources, including IFAB changes, can be found on our Laws and Resources page.
New AYSO National Guidelines for Hair Beads and Clips can be found here.
Youth Referee Protection Policy - Davis AYSO has a zero-tolerance policy for dissent towards our youth referees
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)
Refscheduler instructions can be found here.
Field maps can be found here
All referees must be registered as a volunteer and approved. Instructions here.
Age-Specific Rules:
To view in table format click here
6U
Ball size: 3
Length of half: 10 min
Players: 4 per side (3 minimum)
Subs: Midway of each half ("quarter"), half, and injury
Playing time: Three "quarters" of the game
Heading: Deliberate heading not allowed, results in indirect free kick for opposing team
Misconduct: does not apply
Offside: does not apply
Free kicks: all indirect
Goalkeepers: none
Build-out line: does not apply
Restart if ball leaves field over the touchline: kick-in
7U/8U
Ball size: 3
Length of half: 20 min
Players: 4 per side (3 minimum)
Subs: Midway of each half ("quarter"), half, and injury
Playing time: Three "quarters" of the game
Heading: Deliberate heading not allowed, results in indirect free kick for opposing team
Misconduct: does not apply
Offside: does not apply
Free kicks: all indirect
Goalkeepers: none
Build-out line: does not apply
Restart if ball leaves field over the touchline: throw-in
(note: referee may have player repeat throw-in with some instruction, but just continue play if second throw is bad).
10U
Ball size: 4
Length of half: 25 min
Players: 7 per side (5 minimum)
Subs: Midway of each half ("quarter"), half, and injury
Playing time: Three "quarters" of the game
Heading: Deliberate heading not allowed, results in indirect free kick for opposing team
Misconduct: see note below
Offside: judged at the build-out line
Free kicks: per IFAB laws
Goalkeepers: may not punt or drop-kick
Build-out line: defensive players must move behind build-out line on goalkeeper possession and goal kicks
Restart if ball leaves field over the touchline: per IFAB laws
12U
Ball size: 4
Length of half: 30 min
Players: 9 per side (6 minimum)
Subs: Midway of each half ("quarter"), half, and injury
Playing time: Three "quarters" of the game
Heading: Deliberate heading not allowed, results in indirect free kick for opposing team
Misconduct: see note below
Offside: per IFAB laws
Free kicks: per IFAB laws
Goalkeepers: per IFAB laws
Build-out line: does not apply
Restart if ball leaves field over the touchline: per IFAB laws
14U
Ball size: 5
Length of half: 35 min
Players: 11 per side (7 minimum)
Subs: Substitutions can be made at any stoppage of play with the referee’s permission
Playing time: all players should have equal playing time
Heading: per IFAB laws
Misconduct: per IFAB laws
Offside: per IFAB laws
Free kicks: per IFAB laws
Goalkeepers: per IFAB laws
Build-out line: does not apply
Restart if ball leaves field over the touchline: per IFAB laws
Misconduct and showing cards in 10U and 12U
Misconduct is rare in younger players’ games. If it occurs, referees should generally be able to deal with it informally, without showing cards. If a young player is behaving unacceptably, the referee may choose to involve the coach. In particular, if a player’s behavior is uncontrolled (for example, they throw a tantrum and strike other players), the referee should get the coach involved and the player moved off the field. A misbehaving player maybe cautioned or sent off, but the cards should not be shown in 10U and is discouraged but not prohibited in 12U games. Instead of showing a card, the referee should explain the misconduct to both the player and the coach.
Incident and Misconduct Reports
Incident reports are required for any of the following: Caution or send-off of players or coaches, ejection of spectators, significant injuries, other significant incidents (e.g. fight, abandoned game, coach or spectator dissent without send-off or ejection), any kind of referee abuse. Complete a Misconduct/Incident Report (PDF) and email it to [email protected] within 24 hours. Contact the Regional Referee Administrator ([email protected]) with any question.