Important information for Referees for the 2025 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 3v3 games and 10U/12U/14U/16U playing side-by-side 4v4 games on a small field with small goals and no goalkeepers. Thus, the role of the referee volunteers this season will be primarily game management and keeping games SAFE, FAIR, and FUN. 

Before officiating games this Spring, please familiarize yourself with the season-specific rules below. 

2025 Spring Season Rules: please read full rules prior to signing up for games


How to sign-up for games:

Sign-up for games on this spreadsheet
Field maps can be found here

All referees must be registered as a volunteer and approved. 


Summary of key information for Referees: 

1) Game format:
- 8U and below: Two games 3v3 with no goalkeepers on side-by-side 25x35 yard fields
- 10U and up: Two games 4v4 with no goalkeepers on side-by-side 25x35 yard fields

2) Length of halves (5 minute halftime)
- 8U and below: 15 minute halves 
- 10U and up: 20 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 time (hockey-style). Intent is for rapid restart of play.
- Coaches are responsible for maintaining the allowed number of players on the field.
- Coaches are responsible for monitoring even playing time in accordance with the AYSO philosophies. No game cards. 

5) No Offside violations, but "cherry-picking" - players positioning themselves in front of their opponents' goal to score easy goals - is discouraged. 
- 8U and below: if occurring, ask the coaches to remind their players
- 10U and up: blatant violations may be enforced at the referee's discretion by awarding a free kick to the opposing team.

6) Scoring - goals can only be scored from within the half field of the goal.

7) Restarts:
- All restarts are indirect and opponents must be at least 5 yards away
- Goal kicks are taken anywhere within 5 yards of the goal
- Goal kicks must stay within their own half. If a goal kick crosses the half, a free kick is awarded. 
- Corner kicks are taken anywhere within 1 yard of the corner. 
- Throw-ins as usual.  For 6U the ball should be kicked into play. 

8) Other:
- no deliberate heading at 12U and under
- no build-out lines

9) Incident Reports: Referees should contact the Regional Referee Administrator ([email protected]) within 24 hours to report any incidents or serious injuries.