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

14 (under 14: parents, newspaper carriers, performers, work-based learning) IC 22-2-18.1-2 exempts parent-employed, newspaper carriers, performers, work-based learning; no referee carve-out. 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 Indiana if you let someone go?

Next regular payday Liquidated damages up to 2x for bad-faith violations (IC 22-2-5-2). PTO per policy.

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

Common law / right to control (IC 22-2-2-3 follows FLSA)

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

Indiana's Worker's Compensation Act covers employees under any contract of hire and excludes independent contractors. The Act adopts the IRS guidelines as its test: a person is an independent contractor and not an employee if he or she qualifies as one under the IRS 20-factor/common-law control analysis (IC 22-3-6-1(b)(7)). Indiana also has a coaching-specific carve-out: a person who signs an independent contractor agreement with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to perform youth coaching services on a part-time basis is not an employee (IC 22-3-6-1(b)(11)). Sole proprietors and partners are not employees unless they elect in (IC 22-3-6-1(b)(4) and (5)). A contractor may file an independent contractor certificate of exemption (clearance certificate, Form WCE-1/State Form 45899) with the Department of Revenue and the Board for $15; a stamped certificate bars the contractor's WC claim and holds the hiring party harmless (IC 22-3-2-14.5). Hiring entities that sublet work must obtain a certificate of compliance from the subcontractor or become liable for the subcontractor's employees (IC 22-3-2-14). Sports officials: None found for WC or UI. UI uses the ABC test (IC 22-4-8-1(b)). Bottom line: nonprofit leagues paying part-time 1099 coaches under a written IC agreement are expressly outside WC; referees are outside if they pass the IRS test, and a clearance certificate removes doubt. For-profit operators and UI are at risk if misclassified.

For youth sports organizations and event operators · Indiana rulebook

Youth sports labor rules in Indiana: 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.

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 Indiana

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: Bi-weekly or semi-monthly
Final paycheck if you let them go: Next regular payday
Final paycheck if they quit: Next regular payday
Final-pay penalties: Liquidated damages up to 2x for bad-faith violations (IC 22-2-5-2). PTO per policy.
State income tax withholding: Yes
Workers' comp required at: 1+
New-hire report due (days): 20
Minors
Minimum working age: 14 (under 14: parents, newspaper carriers, performers, work-based learning)
Work permit: No: work permits ended 7/1/2021; YES registration (employers of 5+ minors) repealed by HB 1302 eff. 7/1/2026; employer should keep proof of age
Ages 14 to 15, school in session: 3 hrs/school day, 18 hrs/school wk; 7am-7pm
Ages 14 to 15, summer and breaks: 8 hrs/day, 40 hrs/wk; 7am-9pm any day June 1-Labor Day (since 1/1/2025)
Ages 16 to 17: None since 1/1/2025 - same hours/days as adults, no parental permission needed
Weekend and evening games: 16-17 fully unrestricted on weekends/evenings; 14-15 get 8 hrs Sat/Sun but 7pm curfew in school year
Referee, coach and recreation exemptions: IC 22-2-18.1-2 exempts parent-employed, newspaper carriers, performers, work-based learning; no referee carve-out. 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 (IC 22-2-2-3 follows FLSA)
Same question, for unemployment insurance: ABC test (IC 22-4-8-1(b))
Referee-specific rule: None found (no officials-specific statute; general tests apply)
Workers' comp for 1099 referees and coaches: Indiana's Worker's Compensation Act covers employees under any contract of hire and excludes independent contractors. The Act adopts the IRS guidelines as its test: a person is an independent contractor and not an employee if he or she qualifies as one under the IRS 20-factor/common-law control analysis (IC 22-3-6-1(b)(7)). Indiana also has a coaching-specific carve-out: a person who signs an independent contractor agreement with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to perform youth coaching services on a part-time basis is not an employee (IC 22-3-6-1(b)(11)). Sole proprietors and partners are not employees unless they elect in (IC 22-3-6-1(b)(4) and (5)). A contractor may file an independent contractor certificate of exemption (clearance certificate, Form WCE-1/State Form 45899) with the Department of Revenue and the Board for $15; a stamped certificate bars the contractor's WC claim and holds the hiring party harmless (IC 22-3-2-14.5). Hiring entities that sublet work must obtain a certificate of compliance from the subcontractor or become liable for the subcontractor's employees (IC 22-3-2-14). Sports officials: None found for WC or UI. UI uses the ABC test (IC 22-4-8-1(b)). Bottom line: nonprofit leagues paying part-time 1099 coaches under a written IC agreement are expressly outside WC; referees are outside if they pass the IRS test, and a clearance certificate removes doubt. For-profit operators and UI are at risk if misclassified.
Seasonal or recreation carve-out: IC 22-2-2-3 excludes from 'employer' any employer subject to FLSA MW (so FLSA 13(a)(3) governs those), and excludes from 'employee' (l) persons performing services for camping, recreational, or guidance facilities operated by a charitable, religious, or educational nonprofit. No state for-profit seasonal amusement exemption.
Paid sick leave: No
Paid family and medical leave: No
What it costs to get it wrong: No dedicated statute; UI audit penalties
Safety
Background checks: None statewide for private leagues, check municipal/league policy (IC 10-13-3-27 permits limited criminal history for orgs serving children; 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. Indiana imposes no abuse-prevention training, written policy (two-adult, one-on-one, electronic communication, locker room, travel), or parent information-sheet duty on private leagues, clubs, camps or tournaments, and no Indiana statute adopts the SafeSport Code. School-based requirements exist only for concussion (IC 20-34-7) and sudden cardiac arrest (IC 20-34-8); SB 500 (2025) would have added venue emergency action plans and cardiac/AED training for school coaches, not abuse content. Coach-relevant criminal law: IC 35-42-2-2 (hazing, a misdemeanor or felony depending on injury) and IC 35-42-4-7 (child seduction), which reaches adults in a care, supervision or instruction role over 16-17 year olds, including a "child care worker" category that can cover program coaches. No 2025-26 bill extending safe-sport duties to private leagues was located (checked Oct. 1, 2026). Cross-reference: Indiana's universal mandated-reporter rule (IC 31-33-5-1) and the absence of a background-check mandate are in the existing columns.
Safe sport: federal SafeSport Act and NGB rules: National baseline: the SafeSport Act (36 U.S.C. 220541-43, 18 U.S.C. 2258, Pub. L. 115-126 as amended by Pub. L. 116-189 in 2020, no later amendment found) binds NGBs and their member clubs in interstate competition to SafeSport Core training, MAAPP policies and 24-hour reporting to the Center and law enforcement. Indiana overlay: because every Indiana adult is already a mandated reporter (IC 31-33-5-1, immediate DCS report), the federal 24-hour duty adds nothing to timing but does add the parallel report to the Center. Indiana has no stricter state rule; IHSAA requirements bind member-school coaches only. Private non-NGB leagues are not legally bound to MAAPP, though insurers commonly require it.
Concussion law: IC 20-34-7 (2011; HEA 1290 2014), core duties (info sheets, removal, RTP written clearance by licensed health-care provider trained in concussion, 24-hr minimum, IC 20-34-7-4/-5) apply to school 'student athletes' (grades 5-12, interscholastic/intramural, IC 20-34-7-1.7). Non-school reach is limited: an 'organizing entity' (any recreational/extracurricular sports program for under-20s using state/political-subdivision property, IC 20-34-7-1.5) must have tackle-football head/assistant coaches complete a DOE-approved player-safety course (concussion, heat, equipment) before coaching (IC 20-34-7-6; every 2 yrs per state board rule). Non-football youth-league coaches: no statutory training mandate.
Sudden cardiac arrest law: Yes (school), IC 20-34-8 (2017): coach SCA training incl. AED; parent RTP permission. Youth leagues not covered.
CPR and AED: IC 20-34-7-6: football coaches (school) safety course; school AED (IC 20-34-3-?). None for youth leagues.
Coaches as mandated reporters: All persons: IC 31-33-5-1.
Coach certification: None for non-school coaches.
Assault-on-official law: No.

All states

Rulebook by state

Indiana at a glance: minimum wage $7.25. Final paycheck when you let someone go: Next regular payday. Minimum working age: 14 (under 14: parents, newspaper carriers, performers, work-based learning). Background checks for youth sports: None statewide for private leagues, check municipal/league policy (IC 10-13-3-27 permits limited criminal history for orgs serving children; NCPA channeling via ISP).