refereeing u16

[kg6jvz]

Is it alright for some that is not playing and is 14 years old and an Area Ref to AR. u 16 division?

[ref5678]

I would say as long as they are confident in their abilities and have been able to prove themselves then it would be allright however you mmight wish to check state child labor laws first

[FIFA ref]

It is NOT reccomended to have a person act as center referee if that person is younger than the players or equal to them in age. My personal reccomendation is that the center ref be at least two years older than the players. In some leagues/associations, the use of a center ref younger than or equal to the players may actually be PROHIBITED.

Assistant refs can be any age so long as they are licensed if league rules require this. Club assistant referees should never be less than 12 years old.

[kansassoccerref]

One of the prouder moments I've had as a referee came this fall, when my 14-year-old son, at the beginning of his second season as a referee, worked a line opposite me on a U-19 girls game. At the end, one of the coaches made a point of telling him he did a good job. To see the pleased, surprised smile slowly spread across his face was a great moment. If younger referees have the ability and confidence to work higher age group games as ARs, it can be beneficial to their growth. However, that should be balanced against the potential for coaches/parents to give them a hard time because of their age. The bottom line: let the younger refs push their boundaries, but monitor the first few games to make sure they're not in over their heads and they're not being abused.

[FIFA ref]

Good for your son! As I said in my first post, AR'ing a match at that level is OK. If he is doing well as an AR at that level already, he should be watched carefully and assessed often. You may be the father of a future MLS or FIFA referee!