Cross-certification is available to referees of AYSO and USSF who have been certified as referees for six months or more and who are not certified with both organizations. All games officiated for AYSO or USSF may be applied toward the certification requirements of either AYSO or USSF.
Important note: You may cross-certify ONE TIME ONLY. It is strongly recommended that AYSO referees who wish to become USSF certified complete their Intermediate AYSO certification first and then cross-certify rather than taking a USSF grade 8 course.
2014 Aug Update:
USSF restructured the entry level training for referees to effectively line up training with the type of games that referees will officiate. The reclassification of USSF’s entry level grades is as follows:
- Grade 8 is focused on delivering training for referees who will work youth games.
- Grade 7 is focused on delivering training for referees who will work adult games.
The AYSO referee program trains referees to officiate youth games only. USSF Grades 7 and higher referees, typically have officiated youth games and primarily focus on adult games. Therefore, the cross-over process needs to reflect the reclassification of USSF grades. Effective immediately, the cross-over agreement between USSF and AYSO is as follows:
- All AYSO referee levels Intermediate or higher can only cross over to a USSF grade 8
- USSF referee Grade 8 will cross over to AYSO Regional
- USSF referee Grade 7 will cross over to AYSO Intermediate
- USSF referee Grade 6 (or higher) will cross over to AYSO Advanced
This updated cross-over agreement will transition referees back and forth to the appropriate levels. As with all referee levels in all soccer organizations, this cross-over process is the starting point for referee assignments. The referee assignors need to track and understand the experience level of their referees to make appropriate game assignments.
The updated crossover form (click here) has been updated to reflect the changes.
AYSO to USSF
If you are an AYSO referee (Intermediate or higher) who wants to become a USSF certified referee, you need to complete the following steps:
- Fill out the AYSO/USSF cross-certification agreement
- If you are an AYSO Intermediate or Advanced referee, have the form signed by your Area Referee Administrator. National Referees will need the form signed by the Section Referee Administrator.
- Keep a copy of the completed cross-certification form!
- Register with USSF as a Referee. Complete the instructions provided on the CalSouth Referee Registration webpage.
Join a Referee Association for game assignments. See the topic Getting USSF Game Assignments below for guidance.
USSF to AYSO
If you are a current USSF referee (Grade 8 or higher) who wants to become an AYSO certified referee you need to complete the following steps:
- Fill out the AYSO/USSF cross-certification agreement.
- Have the cross-certification form signed by the USSF State Referee Administrator (contact Cal South State Referee Committee Education Coordinator and Registrar at 714-451-1502 or [email protected]). You should include a self addressed stamped envelope with your mailing to expedite its return.
- Complete your AYSO volunteer registration on your Region's Blue Sombrero website.
- Once you are registered as an AYSO volunteer, have your cross-certification form signed by the Regional Commissioner of the Region you registered in.
- Keep a copy of the completed cross-certification form!
- Send the completed form to:
AYSO National Office
19750 S. Vermont Ave., Suite 200
Torrance , CA 90502
(800) USA-AYSO (800-872-2976)
(310) 525-1155 FAX
Hours of Operation: 8:00 am PT - 5:00 pm PT
7. Contact your Regional Referee Administrator and let him or her know of your availability.
Getting USSF Game Assignments
The assignment of referees to games in USSF Youth leagues are coordinated by independent Referee Associations. You must join a Referee Association to be assigned matches. Associations in and around Section 1 are listed on the CalSouth Referee Association page.