Dear parents/coaches of LAYSL competitive/pre-competitive team players,
Your child plays on a LAYSL competitive/pre-competitive soccer team and plays games in either SF (Northern Alliance Program) or Albuquerque (Duke City Soccer League, DCSL). DCSL, specifically, is a volunteer run organization just like LAYSL. All of their referees and field marshals are volunteers. DCSL is a very well-run organization, thanks to the many hard-working volunteers. Nevertheless, DCSL (and Northern Alliance) is in constant demand for qualified referees.
As such, every team that plays in the DCSL is required to provide at least one team referee that must referee at least four games each season either as either a Center Referee (CR) or an Assistant Referee (AR). The penalty for your team referee not refereeing the required number of games is rather severe. In fact, the DCSL handbook says the following about team referees:
All teams playing in the Metro Schedule are required to have at least one team referee. The naming of this person(s) is required before you can be registered in Duke City or be accepted as a Metro Team. The team referee must be certified and registered with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and must referee at least four games (center or AR) in a season. Negative ranking points are to be given to team when their referee(s) does not participate in at least 4 games. Also, if a team referee does not referee at least four games the coach of that team shall be suspended from coaching in the following Metro League Season until these missing games have been made up. In addition, the club will be charged a fee equal to the game fee of the games not refereed.
Exception: — Approved out of town teams (teams from Durango, Clovis, Las Cruces and Amarillo).
LAYSL teams are not considered “out of town” teams. LAYSL teams are considered to be Metro teams. The out-of-town teams are not part of the ranking. Games against out-of-town teams do not count towards the ranking.
You will need to take a referee clinic provided by the New Mexico Soccer Referee Association, which has both online and in-person components. (Once you are certified, you will need to get re-certified each year.) The mentoring session for first time referees will be held in February, prior to the start of the competitive/pre-competitive seasons. LAYSL will reimburse you for the cost of the referee clinic. In addition, LAYSL will waive the registration fee for your child(ren) should you chose to become a certified referee. There are other benefits.
- You will not need to pay the $5 parking fee at the Bernalillo Soccer Complex on the days you referee.
- DCSL will also give you $15-30 per game that you ref, depending on the age group of the players and whether you are the CR or AR.
- The greatest benefit is that you will have a much better understanding and appreciation of the “Beautiful Game.”
All new referees and recertifying referees must complete online training per the attached instructions. For new referees, the mentoring session will be offered in February. Time and location will be determined shortly and posted on the LAYSL website (www.laysl.org) homepage.
Please do not hesitate to contact any LAYSL board member if you have any questions, and we look forward to keeping the LAYSL program strong and vibrant!
