MANDATORY VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
The purpose of these requirements is to insure that Region 820 recruits, trains, and certifies enough volunteers to cover every event and referee every game. To accomplish this, we are implementing the following point program.
Each team in Divisions U08 through U14 must earn a minimum of 25 total Team Points to be eligible to proceed past Regional season play, including Regional and Area playoffs:
TO PROCEED TO REGIONAL PLAYOFFS YOU MUST:
(a) Each team in Divisions U08 through U14 must earn a minimum of 10 Volunteer Points by supplying the required number of volunteers for Field Painting, Opening Day game booths, and Picture Day, on the dates and times indicated for your team on the appropriate schedules, AND
(b) Each team in Divisions U08 through U14 must earn a minimum of 15 Referee Points by supplying a three-person referee team for the ten regular season games.
TO PROCEED TO AREA PLAYOFFS YOU MUST ALSO:
(c) Each team in Divisions U08 through U14 must earn a minimum of 6 Referee Points by supplying a three-person referee team for the Regional playoffs and covering the game(s) assigned to you.
Every team that earns at least 25 points during the regular season, as outlined above, will be eligible to advance to Regional playoffs. Every team that does not earn a minimum of 25 points will not be eligible to compete in Regional playoffs, and will not be eligible to advance to Area playoffs. IN ADDITION, every team that participates in Regional playoffs must earn an additional 6 Referee Points during Regional playoffs in order to be eligible to advance to Area playoffs.
This does not exclude teams in Division U06 from completing any assigned volunteer duties!
HOW TO EARN 10 VOLUNTEER POINTS
You can earn 6 Volunteer Points by supplying two volunteers for Field Painting on the three dates scheduled for your team (2 points on each date), as indicated on the appropriate schedule;
You can earn 2 Volunteer Points by supplying two volunteers to work an Opening Day game booth, as indicated on the appropriate schedule;
You can earn 2 Volunteer Points by supplying two volunteers to help out at various stations on Picture Day, as indicated on the appropriate schedule.
You may make up two missed assignments by doing any of the following:
You can earn 2 Volunteer Points by supplying two volunteers to help set up the fields and the Board tent at 7:00am on Saturday game days;
You can earn 2 Volunteer Points by supplying two volunteers to help with the mid-day trash pick-up between 11:00am and 12:00pm on Saturday game days;
You can earn 2 Volunteer Points by supplying two volunteers to help put away equipment and the Board tent at 3:00pm on Saturday game days.
It is the volunteer’s responsibility to locate the Board member on duty, and make sure you and your team is given credit for your work hours.
HOW TO LOSE VOLUNTEER POINTS
Teams playing the last games of the day on their assigned fields (check the game schedules at least a week beforehand) are responsible for the final clean up of that field (picking up all the trash), hauling the trash bags to the dumpster and the trash cans to the storage shed, and packing up the goals and field equipment and hauling it to the storage shed. Home teams are responsible for the north and west sides of the field, while Visitors are responsible for the south and east sides. If at the end of the day your equipment and sides of the field are not clean and clear (forcing board members to stay and do your job), you will lose one Volunteer Point. One point will be deducted each and every time you fail to complete this duty.
HOW TO EARN 20 REFEREE POINTS
Each team in Divisions U08 through U14 must supply a three-person referee team (either a qualified Center referee and two Sidelines) for each of the ten regular season games AND for Regional playoffs.
(a) Every time a Home team supplies their own Center referee, they will be awarded 2 points, making a total of 10 points if you supply your own Center referee for 5 of your 10 regular season games.
(b) Every time a Visiting team supplies their own two Sideline referees, they will be awarded 1 point for each referee, making a total of 10 points if you supply your own Sideline referees for 5 of your 10 regular season games.
Registration and Save Haven
Before officiating their first game, every referee must turn in a completed Volunteer Application (required every year) and must obtain Safe Haven certification (a one-time requirement). Minors must complete a Youth Volunteer Application, including the signature of the minor’s parent or guardian, and must obtain Safe Haven certification (a one-time requirement).
Check-In
All referees are required to check in at the Referee Tent 20 minutes before their game. Failure to do so may result in a standby referee being assigned to your game, thus costing you your referee points for the day. During check-in, each referee must identify on the Sign-In Sheet the team to which the points will be credited. When a referee is being shared between one or more teams, that referee can only give credit to one team per game.
The Center referee is responsible for walking the game field prior to the game to insure safe playing conditions.
Check-Out
The Center referee is responsible for turning in game cards, and for the accuracy of the information on them (making sure that all referees and coaches have signed the card, recorded their team numbers, and that scores and substitutions have been recorded). Please print full names; if the information is not accurate or legible, teams may not get proper credit. The Center referee must also make sure that all misconducts are reported and recorded on the game cards, as well as the issuances of any yellow or red cards, coach and/or spectator ejections, etc.
Sharing Referees
If your team “shares” a referee with another team, you must make sure that referee will be your core referee for the Regional playoffs. Referees cannot be shared during playoffs.
Standby Referees
Teams short points may have opportunities throughout the regular season to make them up by coming to the referee tent and taking a standby assignment. Standby referees will earn 1 Referee Point, regardless of whether it is a Center or Sideline assignment. If you wait until the end of the season to try and make up points, there may be more standby referees than there are assignments!
Uniform
Every referee must be in full uniform: SHIRT (official referee shirt or the Region-approved “Referee” t-shirt), SHORTS (or black sweatpants), referee SOCKS, SHOES, and BADGE. First-year referees will be provided with the “Referee” t-shirt, shorts, and socks. We will award an official referee shirt to anyone who passes an assessment from any of the Region’s referee mentors. Any referee can purchase an official shirt at any time. We will provide a whistle one time only.
In addition to the work assignment points credited to your team, one additional point will be awarded to each referee in full uniform. These points will not be credited to your team, but will be tallied separately; they will only be used for the purpose of a drawing. The top three teams with the most uniform points at the end of the regular season will be entered into a drawing to win a Region check for $50.00, $75.00, or $100.00, to be used toward their team party only. Standby referees will not be awarded the additional uniform point.
Certification Upgrades
Any referee who successfully upgrades their referee certification (Regional to Intermediate, Intermediate to Advanced, or Advanced to National) will receive a one-time award of 5 Referee Points towards their team total, and a referee gear package in appreciation from the Region!
Youth Referees
Region 820 strongly encourages the use of youth referees. It is our highest priority to train, mentor, and protect them, insuring that all are treated with the utmost respect by the players, coaches, and spectators. Youths age 10 and older will be allowed to referee at their comfort level, at the discretion of our referee staff. To referee Divisions U10 and above, you must be certified at a “regional” badge level. U08 referees may not referee out side of that division at any time.
AYSO REGION 820 ENFORCES A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR ANY DISRESPECT TO OUR YOUTH REFEREES. IF ANY COACH, PARENT, OR SPECTATOR IS FOUND TO BE ANYTHING BUT SUPPORTIVE AND POSITIVE, HE/SHE WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE GROUNDS AND MAY FACE A NEXT-GAME SUSPENSION!
Appreciation Program
All standby referees will earn 2 points for Centering, 1 point for Sidelining, and 1 additional point for being in full uniform. Staff and volunteers can also earn 1 point per hour of service. Every time you earn 10 points, over and above your team requirements, you may trade them in for an appreciation award (to be determined; normally gift cards, movie tickets, free pizza certificates, etc.). An appointed staff member will maintain possession of all appreciation cards and verify all points earned.
Community Service Credit
AYSO is a non-profit organization and volunteer hours can be used toward a high school student’s Community Service credits. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain and bring the appropriate school forms. Please see any staff member for more information.
The Regional Referee Administrator is the final authority on the number of volunteer points awarded under these guidelines as tabulated by the Regional
Statistician. While every effort will be made by the Region to accurately record completed assignments, volunteers should maintain their own records and communicate them weekly to their coach. Teams will be able to track their Volunteer Points on the region website; points will be posted by the Wednesday following each weekend of play.
No one person may grant an exception to these guidelines. The AYSO Region 820 Governing Board may revise these guidelines.
Questions or comments should be addressed to the Region 820 Referee Administrator.
Board approved July 7, 2009