Aloha AYSO Ohana,
Mahalo for being part of our AYSO soccer community here in Hawaii. As part of the U.S. Soccer Federation, AYSO is a youth soccer program that thrives because of the dedication of our volunteers—coaches, referees, and parents—who give their time to guide and support our keiki on and off the field.
Our keiki are the heart of AYSO. They’re out there to learn, grow, and most importantly, have fun playing the beautiful game. Just like our coaches, our referees—many of whom are youth themselves—are volunteers who deserve our full respect and aloha. No one should ever face mistreatment while giving back to our community.
This past spring, U.S. Soccer updated its policy on referee abuse, and as a proud member, AYSO is committed to upholding those standards. You can learn more about this policy here: https://www.ussoccer.com/rap.
Let’s remember: this isn’t the World Cup—it’s about creating a safe, positive space where our keiki can thrive. That same respect we show our players should be extended to our coaches and referees too.
We also want to teach our keiki the true meaning of sportsmanship—how to win with humility and lose with grace. These are life lessons that go far beyond the soccer field and help shape the kind of people they’ll grow up to be.
If you’ve ever thought about stepping up, we encourage you to take a referee course. It’s not easy—it takes patience, confidence, and a good understanding of the game—but it’s one of the most rewarding ways to support our players.
Mahalo for your kokua and continued support. Let’s keep our fields full of aloha.
AYSO Hawaii, Section 7