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

14 (9+ newspaper/handbill delivery, gardening/lawn, shoe shine, caddying; 12+ door-to-door, agriculture, non-hazardous with parent consent) No referee/official carve-out in C.R.S. 8-12-104 (exempt: school work, home chores, unpaid work for parent/guardian, newspaper carriers; actors/models; director may grant individual exemptions). 9+ caddying allowed. State law keys on 'employ/permit to work' - no 1099 carve-out.

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

Immediately (within 6 hrs of next workday start if payroll off-site; 24 hrs if off-site) Penalties up to 2-3x wages after written demand (CRS 8-4-109). Earned vacation must be paid out.

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

Modified ABC-like (C.R.S. 8-4-101(5); free from control AND customarily engaged in independent trade) + 9-factor rebuttable-presumption test

For youth sports organizations and event operators · Colorado rulebook

Youth sports labor rules in Colorado: 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 Colorado

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

Wages and pay
Minimum wage (2026): $15.16 (indexed 1/1/2027; Denver higher)
Required pay frequency: Monthly
Final paycheck if you let them go: Immediately (within 6 hrs of next workday start if payroll off-site; 24 hrs if off-site)
Final paycheck if they quit: Next regular payday
Final-pay penalties: Penalties up to 2-3x wages after written demand (CRS 8-4-109). Earned vacation 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 (9+ newspaper/handbill delivery, gardening/lawn, shoe shine, caddying; 12+ door-to-door, agriculture, non-hazardous with parent consent)
Work permit: Age certificate on request only; School Release Permit required only to work during school hours
Ages 14 to 15, school in session: 6 hrs/school day (state), 40 hrs/wk; no work 9:30pm-5am before school day - FLSA 3/18, 7pm stricter
Ages 14 to 15, summer and breaks: 8 hrs/day, 40 hrs/wk; FLSA 9pm summer curfew applies
Ages 16 to 17: 8 hrs/day, 40 hrs/wk (CYEOA); no night curfew
Weekend and evening games: 8/40 daily-weekly cap applies to all under 18 incl. weekends (overtime for minors requires exemption from CDLE)
Referee, coach and recreation exemptions: No referee/official carve-out in C.R.S. 8-12-104 (exempt: school work, home chores, unpaid work for parent/guardian, newspaper carriers; actors/models; director may grant individual exemptions). 9+ caddying allowed. State law keys on 'employ/permit to work' - no 1099 carve-out.
Contractors and leave
How this state decides 1099 vs. payroll: Modified ABC-like (C.R.S. 8-4-101(5); free from control AND customarily engaged in independent trade) + 9-factor rebuttable-presumption test
Same question, for unemployment insurance: Modified ABC (C.R.S. 8-70-115(1)(b): free from control + customarily engaged in independent business; written-document presumption)
Referee-specific rule: None found (no officials-specific statute; general tests apply) (assault-on-officials law only)
Seasonal or recreation carve-out: COMPS Order exempts certain seasonal camp/outdoor education employees from OT (7 CCR 1103-1 §2.4); no MW carveout for youth sports staff
Paid sick leave: Yes: Healthy Families & Workplaces Act: 1 hr/30 hrs up to 48 hrs; part-time/seasonal covered
Paid family and medical leave: Yes: FAMLI: 0.9% of wages, split 50/50 employer/employee (employers <10 exempt from employer share)
What it costs to get it wrong: C.R.S. 8-72-114: up to $5,000/misclassified employee (willful), $25,000 for repeat; CDLE Direct Investigations
Safety
Background checks: Yes: C.R.S. 26.5-4-402/-403 (SB24-113 'Safer Youth Sports', signed 5/17/2024, background-check mandate eff. 8/7/2024): youth sports organizations must obtain a criminal history check (consumer reporting agency incl. sex-offense/felony/CO judicial records) on every coach; disqualification for listed offenses; occasional volunteer assistants exempt. Annual mandatory-reporter training required from 7/1/2025. Renewal interval not specified in statute.
Concussion law: C.R.S. §25-43-101 to -103 (Jake Snakenberg Youth Sports Concussion Act, SB 11-040), schools AND private/public youth sports organizations (ages 11-18); coaches annual concussion training; removal; RTP with health-care-provider clearance.
Sudden cardiac arrest law: None specific (SCA not in statute; school EAPs via CHSAA policy).
CPR and AED: None statewide for youth leagues.
Coaches as mandated reporters: Coaches named: C.R.S. §19-3-304(2) includes youth sports organization coaches (SB24-113) with required annual training. SafeSport-style training required for youth sports coaches (SB24-113).
Coach certification: Only SB24-113 training/check; no state coaching certificate.
Assault-on-official law: No.

All states

Rulebook by state

Colorado at a glance: minimum wage $15.16 (indexed 1/1/2027; Denver higher). Final paycheck when you let someone go: Immediately (within 6 hrs of next workday start if payroll off-site; 24 hrs if off-site). Minimum working age: 14 (9+ newspaper/handbill delivery, gardening/lawn, shoe shine, caddying; 12+ door-to-door, agriculture, non-hazardous with parent consent). Background checks for youth sports: Yes: C.R.S. 26.5-4-402/-403 (SB24-113 'Safer Youth Sports', signed 5/17/2024, background-check mandate eff. 8/7/2024): youth sports organizations must obtain a criminal history check (consumer reporting agency incl. sex-offense/felony/CO judicial records) on every coach; disqualification for listed offenses; occasional volunteer assistants exempt. Annual mandatory-reporter training required from 7/1/2025. Renewal interval not specified in statute.