Referees are used for all divisions beginning with 8U, but each division uses referees to a different extent. The different referee procedures for each division are explained below.
8 and Under (8U) Division Refereeing
Referees normally start in the 8U division.
• Matches are worked by one referee.
• Each 8U team is required to provide a trained referee volunteer. Each 8U team referee is required to be the center referee for that team's home games (where the team is listed first on the sign-up schedule; 4-5 games across the season) unless someone else signs up first.
• Hillsborough does not offer the 8U Official course so all 8U referee volunteers will be certified as an AYSO Regional Referee. No additional training is required for 10U and Regional Referees can often work in higher divisions in some capacity.
• Standings are not kept and scores are not recorded in the 8U division. In the AYSO spirit, the fun is in playing the game!
• Referees however must still collect game cards from each coach prior to the match, record "quarters" played and goals scored by each player. This information is key to helping us monitor if one team is having consistent blowouts and to help us form balanced teams in future seasons.
10 and Under (10U) and 12 and Under (12U) Division Refereeing
• Each 10U and 12U team is required to provide at least one trained referee volunteer to join the general referee pool for Hillsborough.
• Each team's referee volunteers must fill at least eight (8) match positions in 10U or above, combined, across the regular season in order for their team to qualify for the Hillsborough Cup, e.g., two pool referees could do five games each.
• Referees must be certified as an AYSO Regional Referee or above.
• Three officials are used at each match – a referee (center) and two assistant referees. Referee volunteers do not referee (center) their own children's matches but they can serve as assistant referees for those matches.
• The center referee is responsible for collecting the game cards from each coach prior to the match. The first assistant referee (AR1) records "quarters" played and goals scored by each player.
14 and Under (14U), 16 and Under (16U) and 18 and Under (18U) Division Refereeing
• There is no team referee requirement, but volunteers are always needed, and welcome.
• Three officials are used at each match – a referee (center) and two assistant referees. Referees volunteers do not referee (center) their own children's matches but they can serve as assistant referees for those matches.
• In these older divisions, players become much more skillful. Refereeing requires increased skill and higher levels of AYSO certification.
• Teams are responsible for monitoring the playing time of their own players since substitution in these divisions occurs throughout the match.