How Much Do Refs Make at Youth Level?

Discussion in 'Referee' started by celeste4life, Feb 21, 2010.

  1. celeste4life

    celeste4life Member

    Dec 16, 2007
    United States
    Club:
    CA Peñarol
    Nat'l Team:
    Uruguay
    Im getting into refereeing again, and getting my certification. I live in Florida btw.

    About how much/game does a referee make? How much do you make refereeing at the youth level? What level and age do you referee?
     
  2. mjlee22

    mjlee22 Quake & Landon fan

    Nov 24, 2003
    near Palo Alto, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In the San Francisco Bay Area, high school soccer refs are making ~$50 a game per official for 2-man and 3-man systems.
     
  3. RichM

    RichM Member

    Nov 18, 2009
    Meridian, ID
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In JUSA (north Orange County, California):

    U7/U8 (used to be "parent" refs, now to be USSF refs starting this spring)
    fees are $12 per team. This is a new program so I'm not sure if that's $12 per ref or $24 for a single ref...should find out at the spring meeting on Wednesday.

    U9/U10
    1-man: $25 (rarely)
    2-man: $25 ea. (rarely happens except in post-season all-stars or if a 3rd doesn't sign up)
    3-man: $20/$10/$10

    U12
    1-man: $30 (rarely unless there's a no-show)
    2-man: $23 ea. (rarely happens except in post-season all-stars)
    3-man: $26/$18/$18

    U14
    1-man: $30 (rarely unless there are 2 no-shows)
    2-man: $27 ea. (rarely happens unless there's a no-show)
    3-man: $30/$20/$20

    U16
    1-man: $42 (I doubt this happens much)
    2-man: $32 ea. (I doubt this happens much)
    3-man: $36/$24/$24

    U19
    1-man: $50 (I doubt this happens much)
    2-man: $37 ea. (I doubt this happens much)
    3-man: $44/$28/$28


    I started out doing U6-U8, single (mostly) or 2-man for my own kids' teams for the last 5 years. This past season, I mostly did U10 and U12 centers/AR's and will also be doing U14 AR's this spring and hopefully U14 centers by fall 2010.
     
  4. ChelseaSounder

    Nov 5, 2009
    Seattle, WA, USA
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Here's the table for the Seattle area:

    Rec Select
    Age Ref AR Ref AR
    U19 46 32 52 37
    U18 46 32 52 37
    U17 46 32 52 37
    U16 40 29 46 32
    U15 40 29 46 32
    U14 35 24 40 29
    U13 35 24 40 29
    U12 29 20 35 23
    U11 29 20 35 23

    High School is 45 and 32 for league, varsity matches.
     
  5. celeste4life

    celeste4life Member

    Dec 16, 2007
    United States
    Club:
    CA Peñarol
    Nat'l Team:
    Uruguay
    That's good pay. I dont know how much they pay here, but would it be inpolite to ask in the first email I send to my assignor?
     
  6. NHRef

    NHRef Member+

    Apr 7, 2004
    Southern NH
    Pay will vary league to league and state to state. In general the older or more competitive the league, the more the money

    I wouldn't ask the assignor, it will be in the league rules, if not, ask after you're assigned but before you go. You do need to know a couple things related to money:

    - how much (obvious)
    -who pays, could be home team, split between, on the field, monthly by the league....
     
  7. portiere

    portiere Member

    Jan 11, 2007
    One MD/DC/VA travel league pays
    58-35 for U17-U19
    53-32 for U-15-16
    45-28? for U14
    and I don't remember for the lower levels
    a lower level travel league pays:

    U8-U10 30 $32.00 $20.00
    U11-U12 30 $36.00 $22.00
    U13-U14 35 $40.00 $28.00
    U15-U19 40 $46.00 $32.00

    High school will do 70-80 each for 2, 90/100-45 for 3.
     
  8. MOREFFIN

    MOREFFIN Member

    Sep 5, 2008
    Kansas City
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think asking for a copy of the pay scale is a fair and expected question. I don't know that you wouldn't take a day job without knowing what you are getting paid before hand.

    Many leagues will post the scale under the referee portion of their websites.
     
  9. mjlee22

    mjlee22 Quake & Landon fan

    Nov 24, 2003
    near Palo Alto, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And don't forget to report all that income on your tax return!
     
  10. Rufusabc

    Rufusabc Member+

    May 27, 2004
    Wide variations in pay across a wide variation of leagues. As high as 70 for a center in u19 here in NJ to a low of 30 for a center in u-littles.
     
  11. ctreferee

    ctreferee Member

    Nov 19, 2007
    CT
    Club:
    Olympique de Marseille
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In CT premier rates run around 70/50/50 for the u17/u18 age groups, down to around 50/30/30 for younger levels. Rec/Travel levels in my town go from 35/25/25 for U9/U10 to 50/35/35 for U17/U19.

    best part of travel soccer in CT is that some towns have begun to pay 65/45/45 for what is essentially rec level U12 soccer... Almost worth making the drive

    CT high school is 83 Varsity 53 Sub varsity -- All 2 man
    MA high school is 75 Varsity 56 Sub varsity -- All 2 man
     
  12. sluggo271

    sluggo271 New Member

    Feb 7, 2005
    council bluffs
    Several years ago after watching soccer on TV for 14 years, I decided to get involved locally by becoming a referee. PURELY for love of the game.

    I had no idea you got paid for it until the two day class was almost over. BONUS.

    I honestly could care less about getting paid because I love this game and am too old to play. However, the pay is a nice bonus and has came in handy. Paid for a vacation to Colorado and New Mexico.

    But Honestly I would probably do this even if I didn't get paid.
     
  13. ManiacalClown

    ManiacalClown Member+

    Jun 27, 2003
    South Jersey
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Brazos Valley TX:

    Code:
    Youth Recreational:
    
    AGE	TYPE		CENTER	AR	LENGTH
    U7	standard	$13.00	n/a	2x20 or 4x10
    U8	standard	$13.00	n/a	2x20 or 4x10
    U9	standard	$15.00	$10.00	2x25
    U10	standard	$15.00	$10.00	2x25
    U12	standard	$17.00	$12.00	2x30
    U14	standard	$19.00	$14.00	2x35
    U16	standard	$22.00	$16.00	2x40
    U18	standard	$23.00	$18.00	2x45
    U13-U18	6v6		$30.00	n/a	2x30
    
    Youth Competitive:
    
    AGE	TYPE		CENTER	AR	LENGTH
    U8	regular		$24.00	$16.00	2x20
    U10	regular		$26.00	$18.00	2x25
    U12	regular		$28.00	$20.00	2x30
    U14	regular		$30.00	$24.00	2x35
    U16	regular		$40.00	$26.00	2x40
    U19	regular		$50.00	$28.00	2x45
    U13-U18	6v6		$30.00	n/a	2x30
    
    Adult:
    
    DIVISION	TYPE	CENTER	AR	LENGTH
    Adult		11v11	$50.00	$35.00	2x45
    All		7v7	$30.00	n/a	2x30
    
    College Club:
    
    DIVISION	TYPE	CENTER	AR	LENGTH
    College		11v11	$60.00	$35.00	2x45
    
    High School:
    
    DIVISION	SYSTEM	REFEREE	AR	LENGTH
    Jr High		1 Ref	$60	n/a	2x25
    Jr High		2 Ref	$40	n/a	2x25
    Jr High		3 Ref	$40	$25	2x25
    Jr Varsity	1 Ref	$60	n/a	2x35
    Jr Varsity	2 Ref	$45	n/a	2x35
    Jr Varsity	3 Ref	$45	$30	2x35
    Varsity		1 Ref	$60	n/a	2x40
    Varsity		2 Ref	$50	n/a	2x40
    Varsity		3 Ref	$50	$35	2x40
     
  14. RichM

    RichM Member

    Nov 18, 2009
    Meridian, ID
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Found out that it will be $24 for a single ref for U7/U8. These games will be assigned as opposed to the rest which are first come-first served with priorities based on "ranking" of the referees by the mentors. They also aren't going to put the younger refs (ages 12-18/19??) on the U7/U8 games since the point is to educate the parents, early, how to behave while watching a soccer match.

    By the time they get to U9, we often get 5-6 parents yelling instructions simultaneously, some of which are sitting well down the line near the penalty area. Plus, in U7, you sometimes get coaches that want to run around on the field with the players and coaches/parents that want to coach from the goal post. Hopefully they'll now learn to sit down, watch the game, and let the coach do the coaching from mid-field!
     
  15. LiquidYogi

    LiquidYogi Member

    Sep 3, 2009
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    In SoCal, Foothill Citrus Association it's 56 Varsity 33 Jr. Varsity (or sub Varsity) 2 man system.

    Yeah I need to move.
     
  16. andymoss

    andymoss BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 4, 2007
    Nashville, TN
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Where do I sign?
     
  17. code1390

    code1390 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 25, 2007
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    LOL.

    $24 to ref a U7 game? Why do you need USSF refs for a U7 game?
     
  18. falcon.7

    falcon.7 New Member

    Feb 19, 2007
    We are by far the highest paid high school soccer officials in the country. Sometimes you almost feel bad about taking that kind of money.......almost.

    A more accurate description of CT youth rates is "there is a MINIMUM clubs must pay". After that it's up to each individual club. Some pay the minimum, others much more. You can do 3 U-17 games in the same day and get paid 3 different amounts.
     
  19. Elizondo

    Elizondo Member

    Jul 6, 2009
    USA
    I'm far more concerned with who is on the u-little games this weekend, and what sort of field marshal talent is out there than I am with who is on the B19 games. There's a lot less drama on those.

    When you have depth in the referee pool, it's nice to be able to make sure each team sees a state referee at least once a season. It serves to "train" the coaches and parents in what is expected of them.

    Besides, and I'm sure Andy would agree...it's fun to get back to the roots once in a while and be a part of a game with absolutely no cynicism on the part of the players. It's just pure joy at that level, and whenever a tiny one trots up to thank me (and proclaim something like "Wow, how tall are you?) I just squat down and thank them for letting me be part of their game.
     
  20. RichM

    RichM Member

    Nov 18, 2009
    Meridian, ID
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I know.. $24 to do four 10-minute quarters of 8v8 (12.5 min quarters for U8). I just wish I could get $24 per game, retroactively, for the last 5 years that I've been doing my 3 kids' U7/U8 games as a volunteer...

    The kids are fine although it's a bit like herding cats sometimes trying to get them lined up for a kick-off. The parents, however, are another story since every time their tiny little child falls down it must be a foul, every ball that gets near an arm is a "hand ball!" and even my own kids' coaches would give me a hard time on various calls... The worst is trying to explain to new soccer parents why the "goal" their kid just scored directly off an indirect free kick doesn't count.
     
  21. sjquakes08

    sjquakes08 Member+

    Jun 16, 2007
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Here in a little town in northern california, in a season you'll make about enough to pay for your registration, uniform, whistle, gas to and from the game, and a hot dog meal every weekend for the season (rec league).

    Not complaining though, I love it.
     
  22. celeste4life

    celeste4life Member

    Dec 16, 2007
    United States
    Club:
    CA Peñarol
    Nat'l Team:
    Uruguay
    So I will now post the stats here:p

    This is for the normal travel league that I work for most weekends.

    U8-12 CR-$30 AR $20
    U13-15 CR-42 AR $24
    U16-17(never done U-18 so dont know) CR- 50 AR- 30
    High School (3 man crew like in basketball) $50 each


    Tournaments have shitty pay here but there's a lot of games which makes up for it. Some of the other travel leagues around here have lower pay than this, MUCH lower. But we have a lot of opportunities to move up here, which is good, as well as a lot of quality games
     
  23. cleansheetbsc

    cleansheetbsc Member+

    Mar 17, 2004
    Club:
    --other--
    Foot in the air on throw ins. Lots.
     
  24. jayhonk

    jayhonk Member+

    Oct 9, 2007
    Approx. $17 per hour.

    I calculated this rough figure last year. It averages all games, (U-10 to U19, HS, and adult) and includes (roughly again) most of the travel. Not great, but not bad for a hobby.
     
  25. Law5

    Law5 Member+

    Mar 24, 2005
    Beaverton OR
    We typically pay by grade. Competitive youth games usually pay grade 8's $35, grade 7 $45, grade 6 $50, grade 5 $55 and grade 4 $60. That's without regard to the age group of the players. Yeah. U-12's, 30 minute halves, grade 7 and above? And you don't even have to buy a gun or wear a mask to get that kind of money. :)
     

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