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.
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 Lisa Wolfs, Cal South State Referee Committee Administrative Coordinator, at 714-451-1503 or lwolfs@calsouth.com). You should include a self addressed stamped envelope with your mailing to expedite its return.
- Fill out an AYSO volunteer registration form on eAYSO, the AYSO online registration tool. Complete the instructions provided.
- 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:
Programs Department
12501 S. Isis Avenue
Hawthorne, CA 90250
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 Section One include:
