AYSO Region 19 Referee & Volunteer Points System

(Updated 08/25/2024)

Purpose:

In order for teams to qualify for playoffs or the soccer fest (U7 & U8 only), each team must earn both Referee Points and Region Volunteer Points during the season. The volunteer points system in Region 19 for the 2024 season is designed to ensure adequate volunteer coverage, not to punish teams.

Implementation:

REGIONAL VOLUNTEER POINTS:
All teams U7 - U14 must earn a minimum of 5 Regional Points.
Regional volunteer points can be earned by adult volunteers only which can be any parent/relative on a team.

REFEREE POINTS:
All teams should provide two or more adult referee volunteers.
Each U10, U12, and U14 team must earn 12 Referee Points, by the Thanksgiving break.
Each U7 and U8 team must earn 7 Referee Points by Thanksgiving break.

Teams earn Regional Volunteer Points as follows:

• Fiesta La Ballona AYSO Information Booth (August 23-25, 2024) 2 hrs. = 1 point
• Field Maintenance Event (when scheduled) 2 hrs. = 1 point
• Equipment Event (when scheduled or announced) 2 hrs. = 1 point
• Picture Day 2nd volunteer 2 hrs. = 1 point (1st or only volunteer = zero points)
• Snack Bar Assistance (adults only) 2 hrs. = 1 point
• Playground Assistance (limited sign up when available) 8:30-10:00am = 1 point
• Other announced events that arise during the season.

Teams earn Referee Points as follows:
(Can only be earned by certified referees)

• One (1) point will be awarded for each referee (Center or Assistant Referee) assignment fulfilled in weeks one (1) to eleven (11).
• Each newly Certified Referee will receive a bonus of 2 points once the newly certified referee has completed 3 game assignments in the same season as certified.
• Referees that complete an upgrade process in the Fall 2024 season to Intermediate, Advanced, or National shall receive a bonus of 2 points.
• Current certified referees that attend a validated refresher class or any law review session shall receive a one-time 1-point bonus.

Apart from the bonus referee points, no team may earn more than 3 referee points per week, in order that all teams have the opportunity to earn points. Starting on October 26, 2024, teams can earn 4 points per week.

Since the objective of the volunteer points system is to increase volunteer participation, the Region reserves the right to change the points requirement as circumstances dictate.

A referee must be identified as representing a team at the time he or she accepts a referee assignment for points to be awarded. Volunteer referee names must be provided by the team coaches to their respective Division Commissioners within the first three (3) weeks of the season.
No points can be earned retroactively, except for documented errors and the 3-week grace period at the start of the season.

Referees are expected to only represent one team but may represent more than one team if they are a close family relation to a player on each team.

Referees must sign the back of the game card, legibly writing the team's name they are representing; (example: Laura Love - BU12 Zetina).

Certification Requirements:

All volunteer referees must be certified AYSO referees and have a current Fall 2024 volunteer application on file with the Regional Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA). All volunteer referees must have completed SAFE Haven, Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and CDC Concussion Awareness certifications within the past 3 years. All volunteer referees must also have an unexpired Risk Status and SafeSport Training date.

Any referee who referees a game without having completed all required certifications will not receive Referee Points for that game.

All referees must be in uniform. An exception will be made for newly certified referees who have not yet received their uniforms. Such referees cannot be a Center Referee but may act as a “club linesperson” and will be allowed to earn points.

The total point count assumes a 10-week season. The point requirement will be either pro-rated by 1 point per weekend for which games are canceled, or points will still be awarded based on the assignments at the time the games are canceled. In any event, no points will be awarded for games that are added to make up for canceled games.

To be eligible for post-season tournaments, referees must have officiated at least 5 games during the regular season. Those who will serve as the Center Referee must have a minimum of 3 games as Center. Additionally, all required training and certifications must be current at the time of the tournament.

Summary:

• U7 and U8 teams must earn 7 referee points by the Thanksgiving break.
• U10, U12, and U14 teams must earn 12 referee points by the Thanksgiving break.
• All teams must earn 5 regional points.

Injury:

Points will be given for a referee who is unable to fulfill a referee assignment through injury at the field on the day they were due to referee. This does not apply for subsequent weekends. The replacement referee will also earn volunteer points for that game.

Rewards/Consequences:

All U7/U8 teams that fulfill their volunteer and referee points will be invited to participate in a soccer fest event scheduled this Fall 2024 on November 24, 2024.
All U10 and higher teams that do not fulfill the point requirements will not be eligible to advance to quarterfinals/semi-finals. AYSO Region 19 offers a scheduled 10-week primary program for all teams. Any playoffs (quarterfinals, semi-finals, finals, or advancements) are considered a secondary program associated with the primary program.

Youth Referees:

Youth referees are welcome and encouraged to referee for school hours, fun, etc., but Youth Referees who are active U10-U14 players cannot earn points towards the volunteer point requirement. Upper Division players (U16-U19) can earn volunteer points.

Record Keeping:

Game cards will be used to record and verify referee assignments. Referees must legibly write their names on the back of the game card along with their team’s name they are representing.

For example: Laura Love - BU12 Zetina

Division Commissioners or an assigned Volunteer will report the assignments to the Volunteer Points Coordinator; they may also keep a copy of the assignment list at the field. Referees can be added to a team’s list of active referees later in the season, but points will not be credited retroactively. Referees cannot change their team affiliation once they are identified as representing a team (i.e., you can't distribute your referee points at the end of the season).

Notification:

The Referee Points accumulated by each team will be posted weekly in RefCentral. It is the responsibility of each coach to review their team's points. Any discrepancies must be emailed to the Volunteer Points Coordinator and the Division Commissioner prior to the next week's regularly scheduled game.

Please note that at this time the website is not programmed to post the Non-Referee points (Region Volunteer Points); however, these are recorded electronically by use of QR Codes and verified by at least two board members.  The Region Volunteer Points will be posted to the website as a PDF document in late October after Picture Day has occurred.  In the meantime we encourage teams to encourage their parents to take advantage of all announced means of volunteer points.

When requesting to verify missing points, please provide the following:

• Date of game or Volunteer Event,
• Location (i.e. Botts, Blanco, Lindberg, CCHS, etc.)
• Field#, Game Time,
• Age Division.
• For example: Sat 09/07,  CCHS Field#10, 5 pm, BU12.

The Volunteer Points Coordinator will post updates to the Region website and update Division Commissioners. Where possible, the Division Commissioners should notify team coaches who may be falling short of achieving the required points.

WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS GIVING OUR TIME FREELY SO THE KIDS CAN HAVE A POSITIVE, FUN, SAFE, EXPERIENCE AT ALL TIMES - PLEASE THINK "KID ZONE" AT ALL TIMES - ALL AYSO FIELDS ARE SAFE HAVEN FOR OUR PLAYERS AND VOLUNTEERS!

THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING!!!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING AYSO REGION 19