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

14 (state; under 14 not in mercantile/manufacturing; federal 14 governs) No sports carve-out; state statute is minimal (I.C. 44-1301 et seq.). State law keys on 'employ/permit to work' - no 1099 carve-out; misclassifying minor officials as contractors does not avoid child-labor rules.

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

Next regular payday or within 10 days, whichever first (48 hrs if written request) Treble damages available (IC 45-615). PTO per policy.

Does a youth sports league in Idaho need workers' compensation for 1099 referees and coaches?

Idaho requires coverage from the first employee and does not cover independent contractors, defined in Idaho Code 72-102 as a person who renders service for a specified recompense for a specified result "under the right to control or actual control of the principal as to the result of the work only and not as to the means." The Industrial Commission applies a right-to-control test weighing direct evidence of control, method of payment, furnishing of equipment and the right to terminate. There is no waiver or certificate for 1099 workers. Sole proprietors, partners, LLC members and qualifying corporate officers are exempt (72-212(6)) and may elect coverage; family members of a sole proprietor can be exempted by a filed declaration (72-212(5)). Statutory employer: an employer that contracts out work is liable for compensation to the contractor's or subcontractor's uninsured workers, with a right of reimbursement (72-216). Sports officials: 72-212(11) exempts only "officials of athletic contests involving secondary schools" as defined in 33-119, so club, rec and youth-league referees get no exemption. The unemployment statute (72-1316) has no sports-official exclusion and uses a two-part free-from-control plus independently-established test. Bottom line: non-school youth referees and all coaches are judged under the control test; a league that schedules, directs and pays them hourly is at real risk, and an uninsured employer is personally liable plus penalties under 72-210.

For youth sports organizations and event operators · Idaho rulebook

Youth sports labor rules in Idaho: 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, workers' comp, safe sport and youth safety, 50 states + DC, checked against statute text.

Last reviewed Oct 1, 202651 jurisdictions · 32 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.

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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 Idaho

All 32 rules for this state, with the statutes and agency pages they came from.

Wages and pay
Minimum wage (2026): $7.25
Required pay frequency: Monthly
Final paycheck if you let them go: Next regular payday or within 10 days, whichever first (48 hrs if written request)
Final paycheck if they quit: Same as fired
Final-pay penalties: Treble damages available (IC 45-615). PTO per policy.
State income tax withholding: Yes
Workers' comp required at: 1+
New-hire report due (days): 20
Minors
Minimum working age: 14 (state; under 14 not in mercantile/manufacturing; federal 14 governs)
Work permit: No
Ages 14 to 15, school in session: State: 9 hrs/day, 54 hrs/wk; 9pm-6am ban - FLSA 3/18, 7am-7pm governs
Ages 14 to 15, summer and breaks: State 9/54; FLSA 8/40, 9pm summer governs
Ages 16 to 17: None: federal has none
Weekend and evening games: State law is looser than FLSA on all counts - FLSA controls
Referee, coach and recreation exemptions: No sports carve-out; state statute is minimal (I.C. 44-1301 et seq.). State law keys on 'employ/permit to work' - no 1099 carve-out; misclassifying minor officials as contractors does not avoid child-labor rules.
Contractors and leave
How this state decides 1099 vs. payroll: Common law / right to control
Same question, for unemployment insurance: Common law / right to control (Idaho Code 72-1316(4): 'free from control' + 'independently established', 2-part test, effectively AC)
Referee-specific rule: Idaho Code 72-212(11): officials of athletic contests involving secondary schools are exempt from WC coverage (does not cover non-school youth leagues)
Workers' comp for 1099 referees and coaches: Idaho requires coverage from the first employee and does not cover independent contractors, defined in Idaho Code 72-102 as a person who renders service for a specified recompense for a specified result "under the right to control or actual control of the principal as to the result of the work only and not as to the means." The Industrial Commission applies a right-to-control test weighing direct evidence of control, method of payment, furnishing of equipment and the right to terminate. There is no waiver or certificate for 1099 workers. Sole proprietors, partners, LLC members and qualifying corporate officers are exempt (72-212(6)) and may elect coverage; family members of a sole proprietor can be exempted by a filed declaration (72-212(5)). Statutory employer: an employer that contracts out work is liable for compensation to the contractor's or subcontractor's uninsured workers, with a right of reimbursement (72-216). Sports officials: 72-212(11) exempts only "officials of athletic contests involving secondary schools" as defined in 33-119, so club, rec and youth-league referees get no exemption. The unemployment statute (72-1316) has no sports-official exclusion and uses a two-part free-from-control plus independently-established test. Bottom line: non-school youth referees and all coaches are judged under the control test; a league that schedules, directs and pays them hourly is at real risk, and an uninsured employer is personally liable plus penalties under 72-210.
Seasonal or recreation carve-out: Idaho Code 44-1504(4) exempts 'seasonal employees of a nonprofit camping program' from state MW; no seasonal amusement/recreation or coach exemption (Idaho has no state OT law).
Paid sick leave: No
Paid family and medical leave: No
What it costs to get it wrong: No dedicated statute
Safety
Background checks: None statewide: check municipal/league policy (Idaho Code §67-3008 permits fingerprint checks; NCPA channeling via ISP).
Safe sport: state law: No state safe-sport statute for private youth leagues; federal SafeSport Act baseline and NGB rules apply. Idaho has no statute requiring abuse-prevention or SafeSport-style training for youth coaches, staff or volunteers, no mandated written policies on two-adult supervision, one-on-one contact, electronic communication, locker rooms or travel, and no abuse information-sheet duty to parents for private leagues, clubs, camps or tournaments. No Idaho statute references the U.S. Center for SafeSport Code or the federal SafeSport Act. The hazing offense (Idaho Code 18-917) is limited to student organizations at schools and colleges and is not coach-specific. Every person, including any coach or volunteer, is a mandatory reporter within 24 hours to Health and Welfare or law enforcement (Idaho Code 16-1605, see mandatory_reporter_coaches). Background checks are permissive through Idaho Code 67-3008 and ISP channeling (see background_check_youth_sports). Concussion legislation applies only to schools. No youth-sports abuse-prevention or background check bill was identified in the 2025 or 2026 Idaho Legislature. Private leagues are governed by their own policies, city recreation rules and NGB requirements.
Safe sport: federal SafeSport Act and NGB rules: Nationally, the SafeSport Act (36 U.S.C. 220541-220543, as amended by Pub. L. 116-189 in 2020; no enacted amendments since, the Safer Sports for Athletes Act remains pending) requires USOPC national governing bodies and the amateur sports organizations they sanction or that compete interstate with adults in regular contact with minors to deliver SafeSport Core training, adopt MAAPP-style policies limiting one-on-one adult-minor contact, and report suspected child abuse to law enforcement within 24 hours and to the Center. Idaho-specific: Idaho Code 16-1605 gives every coach a parallel 24-hour state reporting duty to Health and Welfare or police, so federal and state deadlines coincide but the recipients differ; the federal duty adds the Center. Idaho clubs regularly compete across state lines into Washington, Oregon and Utah, keeping them inside the Act. IHSAA uses NFHS coach education, not SafeSport.
Concussion law: Idaho Code §33-1625 (2012), school/interscholastic only; coach training biennially; RTP clearance by qualified health-care professional.
Sudden cardiac arrest law: None.
CPR and AED: None for youth leagues.
Coaches as mandated reporters: All persons: Idaho Code §16-1605.
Coach certification: None.
Assault-on-official law: No (supportive resolution only).

All states

Rulebook by state

Idaho at a glance: minimum wage $7.25. Final paycheck when you let someone go: Next regular payday or within 10 days, whichever first (48 hrs if written request). Minimum working age: 14 (state; under 14 not in mercantile/manufacturing; federal 14 governs). Background checks for youth sports: None statewide: check municipal/league policy (Idaho Code §67-3008 permits fingerprint checks; NCPA channeling via ISP).