My 13-year-old is earning money by refereeing soccer games. It's a great gig.

As he sprints up the middle of the field, the striker whizzes by the defenders and settles the perfect pass and fires into the upper corner out of reach of the diving keeper. He celebrates the goal with his teammates as they confidently jog back to midfield. Parents are cheering wildly on the sidelines. Simultaneously, the sideline referee raises the dreaded flag. Offsides. The goal is called back and the defending team heaves a sigh of relief.

My 13-year-old son didn't score that goal. He was the ref who called it back, but watching that happen was just as exciting to me.

He loves all things soccer. He plays for his club team. He follows at least 6 professional leagues throughout Europe and the United States. He has no problem waking up by 6 a.m. to start watching his favorite teams play on the weekends. His whole fashion sense is grounded in soccer jerseys. For him, soccer is a way of life.

I'm so glad that we found a way to turn his passion into an after-school job that teaches him leadership, strong communication skills, and decision making.

His teammates were already getting paid to referee

I had a passing idea that teens can work as referees because some of the refs during my son's soccer career have seemed quite young. One day, the mom of one of his teammates mentioned the US Soccer Association First Time Referee course during a sideline chat while watching our kids play. Both of her kids are soccer referees and she highly recommended that my son give it a try.

Lucky for us, 13 is the minimum age requirement to work as a referee. Perfect for my son who isn't old enough to get a regular after-school or summer job, but does meet the requirements for this.

My son completed the training and started reffing a few weeks later

At the beginning of the summer, he took the referee course which is open to anyone. It's a five-hour online course plus three hours of training on the field.

When I first told him about the process to get referee certified, he already knew some of his friends were working refs and he was excited to join their ranks. I fronted the $99 fee with the promise that he would pay me back with his first paycheck.

It's important to me that my son invests in his own job skills. I wanted him to take his first job seriously. I also agreed to advance him the funds for his referee uniform and equipment (whistle, sideline flags, red and yellow cards, official score cards, and the bright yellow referee jersey), which was around $55.

The author said her son's after-school job as a referee has helped him hone leadership, communication, and decision-making skills. Courtesy of Ariel Frager

"At my age I can't make money playing soccer but I can be a part of the game I love while also making money," he said, showing off his brand new US Soccer Federation 2026 referee patch before his first game in August.

He's learning important skills

My son coordinates his schedule with a local assignor who matches my son's skill level as a referee with the appropriate game. I know the executive functioning skills he is developing are essential work skills he will carry with him throughout his career.

I also appreciate how working as a referee allows my son to utilize his natural leadership abilities and to be someone younger players can look up to. But being a referee can be emotionally challenging. Players and their parents often have big feelings during a match and it's the referees job to not add fuel to the fire.

My son has been playing soccer since he was 4. Becoming a referee is just the next step in his journey of growing up both on and off the field. He is thrilled to turn his love of the game into cash and all important teenage work experience.