What is the minimum age to work as a youth sports referee in California?

14 (12+ agriculture/household; entertainment any age with permit) No referee/official carve-out in Cal. Lab. Code 1394 (only parent-controlled agricultural/horticultural/domestic work outside school hours, and minors exempt from compulsory attendance). AB 3234 (2025) audit disclosure only. State law keys on 'employ/permit to work' - no 1099 carve-out.

When is a final paycheck due in California if you let someone go?

Immediately at termination Waiting-time penalty: daily wage up to 30 days (Lab. Code 203). Accrued vacation/PTO must be paid out.

How does California decide whether a coach or referee is a 1099 contractor or an employee?

ABC test (strict), Lab. Code 2775 (AB5/AB2257) with Borello for exempt occupations; Lab. Code 2783(j) exempts 'competition judge... including an amateur umpire or referee' to Borello. Youth sports coaches NOT exempt (ABC applies)

For youth sports organizations and event operators · California rulebook

Youth sports labor rules in California: who can you put in the game, and what do you owe them?

State rules for everyone a youth sports organization pays: coaches and trainers on payroll, officials and event staff on 1099, program and front-office staff, and the teenagers you hire for a season. Wages, final pay, minors, contractor status and youth safety, 50 states + DC, checked against statute text.

Last reviewed Sep 9, 202651 jurisdictions · 29 rules each

Step 1

Pick the state where the work happens

Rules follow where people work, not where you are based. Running an event? Use the event state. Operating a club or league? Use the state where your staff coach, officiate and work.

Color the map by

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Set a role, age and pay type below to see which rules apply to your organization.

Step 2

Check a staffing plan

Tell us who you are paying, how old they are, and whether they are on payroll or 1099. We rank what applies.

State where the work happens

Role

Worker age

Paid as

Not sure if someone should be 1099 or on payroll?Answer 5 plain-English questions. We explain the sticking points in your state.5-question check

Tourney Direct does not decide classification. Confirm with a tax advisor or attorney before you onboard anyone as a contractor.

Step 3

Everything on file for California

All 29 rules for this state, with the statutes and agency pages they came from.

Wages and pay
Minimum wage (2026): $16.90 (indexed 1/1/2027; higher local/industry rates)
Required pay frequency: Semi-monthly (weekly/bi-weekly allowed)
Final paycheck if you let them go: Immediately at termination
Final paycheck if they quit: Within 72 hours (at quitting if ≥72 hrs notice)
Final-pay penalties: Waiting-time penalty: daily wage up to 30 days (Lab. Code 203). Accrued vacation/PTO must be paid out.
State income tax withholding: Yes
Workers' comp required at: 1+
New-hire report due (days): 20
Minors
Minimum working age: 14 (12+ agriculture/household; entertainment any age with permit)
Work permit: Yes, under 18 while enrolled (Permit to Employ and Work, B1-1/B1-4) issued by school district; not needed for HS grads
Ages 14 to 15, school in session: 3 hrs/day, 18 hrs/wk; 7am-7pm
Ages 14 to 15, summer and breaks: 8 hrs/day, 40 hrs/wk; 7am-9pm June 1-Labor Day
Ages 16 to 17: 4 hrs/school day, 8 hrs non-school day, 48 hrs/wk; 5am-10pm (12:30am before non-school day)
Weekend and evening games: 16-17 may work 8 hrs Sat/Sun and until 12:30am before a non-school day; permit needed even for weekend-only jobs
Referee, coach and recreation exemptions: No referee/official carve-out in Cal. Lab. Code 1394 (only parent-controlled agricultural/horticultural/domestic work outside school hours, and minors exempt from compulsory attendance). AB 3234 (2025) audit disclosure only. State law keys on 'employ/permit to work' - no 1099 carve-out.
Contractors and leave
How this state decides 1099 vs. payroll: ABC test (strict), Lab. Code 2775 (AB5/AB2257) with Borello for exempt occupations; Lab. Code 2783(j) exempts 'competition judge... including an amateur umpire or referee' to Borello. Youth sports coaches NOT exempt (ABC applies)
Same question, for unemployment insurance: ABC test (Unemp. Ins. Code 621(b) incorporates Lab. Code 2775)
Referee-specific rule: Lab. Code 2783(j): amateur umpires/referees judged under Borello (multi-factor) rather than the ABC test for wage/UI purposes; Lab. Code 3352(a)(14): amateur sports officials excluded from workers' comp 'employee' when officiating amateur/school events
Seasonal or recreation carve-out: Lab. Code 1182.4 / IWC Wage Order 10 (Amusement & Recreation) allows alternative OT for certain seasonal recreation; organized camp counselors exempt from MW (Lab. Code 1182.4), youth day-of-event staff generally NOT exempt
Paid sick leave: Yes: HWHFA (SB 616): 1 hr/30 hrs, min 40 hrs/5 days; part-time/seasonal covered after 30 days worked in CA
Paid family and medical leave: Yes: SDI/PFL, employee-funded: 1.3% of all wages in 2026 (no taxable wage cap since 1/1/2024) (EDD).
What it costs to get it wrong: Lab. Code 226.8: $5k–$15k per willful violation, $10k–$25k for pattern; PAGA exposure
Safety
Background checks: Yes: Bus. & Prof. Code §18975 (AB 506, eff. 1/1/2022): youth service organizations must DOJ/FBI Live Scan fingerprint (Penal Code §11105.3) all administrators, employees and 'regular volunteers' (18+, >16 hrs/mo or >32 hrs/yr), plus mandated-reporter + abuse-prevention training and 2-adult policies. Also B&P §18900 et seq. (community youth athletic programs may run checks). Subsequent-arrest notification; no fixed renewal.
Concussion law: Ed. Code §49475 (AB 25, 2011) schools; H&S Code §124235 (AB 2007, 2016) youth sports organizations: annual concussion info sheet, coach/administrator concussion training (at least once per biennium via CDC or equivalent), removal, graduated RTP with licensed health-care-provider clearance.
Sudden cardiac arrest law: Yes: H&S Code §124235 (youth sports orgs) & Ed. Code §33479-33479.9 (Eric Paredes SCA Prevention Act, schools): SCA info sheet; coaches complete SCA training every 2 years (AB 1639, eff. 2017/2018).
CPR and AED: Ed. Code §35179.6 (AB 1639/AB 379): school coaches CPR/first aid; Ed. Code §35179.4 (AB 2009, 2019) AEDs at school interscholastic athletics. No AED/CPR mandate for private youth leagues (H&S §1797.196 AED immunity).
Coaches as mandated reporters: Coaches named: Penal Code §11165.7(a) includes athletic coaches/administrators/directors employed by schools and (via B&P §18975) youth service org staff/regular volunteers must be trained as mandated reporters. Abuse-prevention training mandated for youth service orgs (B&P §18975).
Coach certification: None statewide for private youth coaches beyond AB 506 training; school coaches: Ed. Code §35179.6 (first aid/CPR, sports safety course).
Assault-on-official law: Yes: Penal Code §243.8 (battery against sports official).

All states

Rulebook by state

California at a glance: minimum wage $16.90 (indexed 1/1/2027; higher local/industry rates). Final paycheck when you let someone go: Immediately at termination. Minimum working age: 14 (12+ agriculture/household; entertainment any age with permit). Background checks for youth sports: Yes: Bus. & Prof. Code §18975 (AB 506, eff. 1/1/2022): youth service organizations must DOJ/FBI Live Scan fingerprint (Penal Code §11105.3) all administrators, employees and 'regular volunteers' (18+, >16 hrs/mo or >32 hrs/yr), plus mandated-reporter + abuse-prevention training and 2-adult policies. Also B&P §18900 et seq. (community youth athletic programs may run checks). Subsequent-arrest notification; no fixed renewal.